Rachel Hunt

Rachel H. Hunt is a member of the North Carolina State Senate. A Democrat, Hunt was elected in November 2022 to represent the 42nd district based in Mecklenburg County. Prior to that, Hunt served two terms in the North Carolina House, twice beating Republican Bill Brawley. She is the Democratic Nominee in the 2024 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election.

Early life and education
Hunt is the daughter of former governor Jim Hunt and his wife Carolyn. An attorney and certified college counselor, she is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Elections
Hunt was first elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives in 2018, after defeating the incumbent Republican incumbent William M. Brawley. The 2018 race was decided by only 68 votes after being one of the most expensive legislative races in the state that year. Hunt was re-elected in 2020 by 9.86% in a rematch against Brawley. In 2022, Hunt was elected to the North Carolina Senate to replace Jeff Jackson who vacated the seat to run for the United States Senate. On November 8, 2022, Hunt defeated Cheryl Russo in the race to represent the 42nd State district.

Tenure
Despite serving in the minority, Hunt helped pass several pieces of bipartisan legislation including clean energy legislation to cut carbon emissions by 70%. Hunt has also co-sponsored bills to codify Roe v. Wade and expand Medicaid.

Committee assignments

 * 2023–2024 session
 * Agriculture, Energy, and Environment
 * Appropriations on General Government and Information Technology
 * Judiciary
 * Pensions and Retirement and Aging


 * 2021–2022 session
 * Appropriations
 * Appropriations - Education
 * Education - Community Colleges (Vice Chair)
 * Education - K–12
 * Families, Children, and Aging Policy
 * Judiciary I


 * 2019–2020 session
 * Appropriations
 * Appropriations - Capital
 * Education - Community Colleges
 * Agriculture Committee
 * Families, Children, and Aging Policy
 * Judiciary

Personal life
Hunt is a mother of two children, and is married to Olav Nilender, a physician.