Elaine Folk Marshall (born November 18, 1945) is an American attorney and politician who has served as the
North Carolina Secretary of State since 1997. A member of the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to:
*Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to:
Active parties Africa
* Botswana Democratic Party
* Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
*Gabonese Democratic Party
*De ...
, she is the first woman to be elected to statewide office in North Carolina. Marshall was the Democratic nominee for the
United States Senate seat currently held by Republican
Richard Burr in the
2010 election, which she lost.
In
2020
2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global social and economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, worldwide lockdowns and the largest economic recession since the Great Depression in ...
, Marshall was re-elected to a seventh term as
North Carolina Secretary of State with 51.16 percent of the vote.
Early life, education and career
Marshall was born on November 18, 1945, in
Lineboro, Maryland
Lineboro (also Linesboro) is an unincorporated community located in northeastern Carroll County, Maryland, United States. The community was named for its founder, Jonathan Line. Coincidentally, its name refers to its location near the Mason–D ...
.
[Baker, Mike (October 18, 2010)]
Marshall recalls roots, woos rural N.C.
Star News. Her father was a farmer who, for many years, served as a volunteer fire fighter and community leader, and her mother was the organist in the family's small rural church for more than 60 years. She attended public schools as a child and became the first person in her family to graduate college. She studied textiles at the
University of Maryland from 1964 to 1968, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Textiles and Clothing.
[ While at Maryland, she became a member of ]Alpha Gamma Delta
Alpha Gamma Delta (), also known as Alpha Gam, is an international women's fraternity and social organization. It was founded on May 30, 1904, by eleven female students at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York, making it the youngest member ...
. During her undergraduate years, she spent her summers working as a camping director for the Maryland 4-H
4-H is a U.S.-based network of youth organizations whose mission is "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development". Its name is a reference to the occurrence of the initial letter H four times i ...
Foundation, an organization she has continued to support.[
After graduation, Marshall taught in the public schools of ]Lenoir County, North Carolina
Lenoir County is a county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 55,122. Its county seat is Kinston, located on the Neuse River, across which the county has its territory.
Lenoir County comprises the K ...
, and then ran a book and gift store. She later returned to the field of education as an instructor at Lenoir Community College
Lenoir Community College (LCC) is a public community college in Lenoir County, North Carolina. LCC's main campus is located in the city of Kinston in Lenoir County and it has satellite institutions in Greene and Jones counties. It is part of the ...
and Johnston Technical Community College.[
Marshall returned to school to study law at the ]Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law
The Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law (also known as Campbell Law School or Campbell University School of Law) is a private law school in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1976, the law school is one of six graduate programs ...
at Campbell University
Campbell University is a private Baptist university in Buies Creek, North Carolina. It is affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (Southern Baptist Convention). Southern Baptist ConventionColleges and Universities sbc.ne ...
and earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree in 1981,[ where she was accepted into the ''Who's Who Among American Universities and Colleges'' honors program. She has been admitted to practice before all North Carolina courts, the U.S. District courts in the Eastern and Middle Districts of North Carolina, the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. She is a member of the NC State Bar, the NC Bar Association, the NC Association of Women Attorneys, and the ]Delta Theta Phi
Delta Theta Phi () is a professional law fraternity and a member of the Professional Fraternity Association. Delta Theta Phi is the only one of the two major law fraternities to charter chapters (senates) in the United States at non-American Bar ...
legal fraternity. She also holds multiple honorary degrees from Campbell University
Campbell University is a private Baptist university in Buies Creek, North Carolina. It is affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (Southern Baptist Convention). Southern Baptist ConventionColleges and Universities sbc.ne ...
, Meredith College
Meredith College is a private women's liberal arts college and coeducational graduate school in Raleigh, North Carolina. As of 2021 Meredith enrolls approximately 1,500 women in its undergraduate programs and 300 men and women in its graduate ...
, Lees–McRae College
Lees–McRae College is a private college in Banner Elk, North Carolina, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Lees–McRae College sits in the Appalachian Mountains at above sea level, the highest elevation of any American college or un ...
and Testemitanu State University.[Fitzsimon, Chris (June 19, 2006]
Marshall sees stronger enforcement of lobbying
NC Policy Watch. NC Justice Center. She was a partner in Lillington, North Carolina
Lillington is a town in Harnett County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,194 at the 2010 census, and was estimated in 2018 to be 3,604. It is the county seat of Harnett County. Lillington is a part of the Dunn Micropolitan Are ...
law firms Bain & Marshall (1985–1992) and Marshall & Marshall (1993–1997).[Secretary Marshall's Resume]
Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall.[The Honorable Elaine F. Marshall]
Our Board of Visitors. Campbell University.
Political career
From the early 1970s, she was active in the Young Democrats organization and eventually became National Secretary of the Young Democrats of America. In Harnett County, where she practiced law, Marshall served in 1983–1987 as President of Democratic Women and in 1991–1992 served as chair of the Harnett County Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to:
*Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to:
Active parties Africa
* Botswana Democratic Party
* Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
*Gabonese Democratic Party
*De ...
.[
]
State Senator
Marshall was first elected to public office in 1992 as a member of the North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is the upper chamber of the North Carolina General Assembly, which along with the North Carolina House of Representatives—the lower chamber—comprises the state legislature of North Carolina. The term of office for e ...
representing the 15th Senate District, serving from 1993 to 1994.[
]
Secretary of State
In 1996, she ran for the post of North Carolina Secretary of State against Republican challenger and former stock car racer
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing run on oval tracks and road courses measuring approximately . It originally used production-model cars, hence the name "stock car", but is now run using cars specifically built for racing. It ori ...
Richard Petty. She won the election
''The Election'' () is a political drama series produced by Hong Kong Television Network (HKTV). With a budget of HK$15 million, filming started in July 2014 and wrapped up on 28 October 2014. Popularly voted to be the inaugural drama of ...
by a margin of 53% to 45%, becoming the first woman elected to a statewide executive office in North Carolina history.[ Marshall has won re-election six times and in 2008 received the second highest vote total of any candidate in the state. Elaine Marshall is only the third elected Secretary of State of North Carolina since 1936, as office-holders have commonly been re-elected many times. Marshall has been credited with bringing the office into the technological age by introducing e-commerce and providing online registration for lobbyists and businesses. Marshall's work has been recognized by the ]U.S. Chamber of Commerce
The United States Chamber of Commerce (USCC) is the largest lobbying group in the United States, representing over three million businesses and organizations. The group was founded in April 1912 out of local chambers of commerce at the urging ...
, the National Notary Association
The National Notary Association (NNA) is an American organization at 9350 De Soto Avenue, Chatsworth, California, which provides education to and about notaries public. It is similar to the American Society of Notaries.
History
Originally the C ...
and Campbell University
Campbell University is a private Baptist university in Buies Creek, North Carolina. It is affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (Southern Baptist Convention). Southern Baptist ConventionColleges and Universities sbc.ne ...
. In 2007, Marshall served as president of the National Electronic Commerce Coordinating Council, "an organization of public and private sector leaders aimed at identifying best technology practices that make government agencies more efficient and modernize their services".
2002 U.S. Senate campaign
In 2002, Marshall ran for United States Senate in the race to replace retiring Sen. Jesse Helms. However, she was defeated in the Democratic primary by Erskine Bowles
Erskine Boyce Bowles (born August 8, 1945) is an American businessman and political figure from North Carolina. He served from 2005 to 2010 as the president of the University of North Carolina system. In 1997–98 he served as White House C ...
, who served as White House Chief of Staff under President Bill Clinton.[
]
2010 U.S. Senate campaign
In 2009, Marshall decided to enter the 2010 Senate race against incumbent Republican Richard Burr. She faced Cal Cunningham
James Calvin "Cal" Cunningham III (born August 6, 1973) is an American lawyer, politician, and retired military officer. A member of the Democratic Party and a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve, he served one term as a North C ...
, Ken Lewis, and other lesser-known candidates in the May 2010 primary, and won the endorsement of '' The Charlotte Observer''. After failing to garner above 40% of the vote in the May 4 primary election, Marshall had to face Cunningham in a runoff
Runoff, run-off or RUNOFF may refer to:
* RUNOFF, the first computer text-formatting program
* Runoff or run-off, another name for bleed, printing that lies beyond the edges to which a printed sheet is trimmed
* Runoff or run-off, a stock marke ...
in June.
On June 22, 2010, Marshall defeated Cunningham (with approximately 60 percent of the vote) to secure the Democratic nomination. For the general election, she was again endorsed by ''The Charlotte Observer'', the state's largest newspaper. On election day Marshall lost to incumbent Richard Burr, who had received 55% of the vote.[
]
Electoral history
Personal life
Marshall has five stepchildren and seven grandchildren.
Marshall married attorney Bill Holdford in 2001. Holdford had two daughters from a previous relationship. He died in 2009 from cancer. Marshall married J. Thomas "Tommy" Bunn in 2017.News & Observer: Secretary of State Marshall remarries
/ref>
References
External links
Elaine Marshall
campaign website
Office of the North Carolina Secretary of State Biography
government website
*
*
Column archives
on '' The Huffington Post''
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marshall, Elaine
1945 births
Living people
20th-century American politicians
20th-century American women politicians
21st-century American politicians
21st-century American women politicians
Campbell University alumni
North Carolina lawyers
Democratic Party North Carolina state senators
People from Carroll County, Maryland
People from Lillington, North Carolina
Secretaries of State of North Carolina
University of Maryland, College Park alumni
Women state legislators in North Carolina