Patricia Earlene McElraft (born March 20, 1947) is a former

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. She represented the 13th district (including all of Carteret and Jones counties) from 2007 to 2023. She is currently one of the Deputy Majority Whips. McElraft announced in December 2021 that she would not run for reelection in 2022. McElraft and her husband, retired Colonel Roger McElraft, live in

Emerald Isle, North Carolina Emerald Isle is a town in Carteret County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Crystal Coast and is located entirely on Bogue Banks. The population was 3,655 at the 2010 census, but as many as 50,000 tourists each week inhabit the are ...

and have two grown children. She was a technical sales representative for Microbiology Product Company. Previously, she served 3 terms as an Emerald Isle Town Commissioner and a partial term as Carteret County Commissioner before being elected to the State House.

Political positions

During the 2011-2012 session, McElraft was chairman of the Environment committee and Vice-Chairman of the Insurance committee. McElraft drafted House Bill 819 (S.L. 2012-201), which prevented local and state agencies from incorporating recent scientific estimates of projected

sea level rise Globally, sea levels are rising due to human-caused climate change. Between 1901 and 2018, the globally averaged sea level rose by , or 1–2 mm per year on average.IPCC, 2019Summary for Policymakers InIPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cry ...

due to climate change in planning efforts, making it easier to expand development in low coastal areas.

Electoral history

2020

2018

2016

2014

2012

In 2012, McElraft did not face any primary opponents. She faced a rematch with Wyatt Rike (now a Libertarian candidate) in the general election. McElraft easily won re-election with nearly 90% of the vote.

2010

In 2010, McElraft faced a primary challenge from

Morehead City Morehead City is a port town in Carteret County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 8,661 at the 2010 census. Morehead City celebrated the 150th anniversary of its founding on May 5, 2007. It forms part of the Crystal Coast. Hist ...

resident Wyatt Rike. She defeated Rike 77%–22% and went on to defeat the Democratic candidate, environmental scientist and teacher Craig Hassler (also of Morehead City), with 73% of the vote.

2008

In 2008, McElraft did not face any primary opponents, continuing on to the general election to face the Democratic party candidate Barbara Garrity-Blake. Garrity-Blake, a doctorate anthropologist from

Down East "Down East", also "Downeast", is a term for parts of eastern coastal New England and Canada, particularly the U.S. state of Maine and Canada's Maritime Provinces, an area that closely corresponds to the historical French territory of Acadia. Th ...

and former commissioner on the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission, also did not face any primary challenge. McElraft defeated Garrity-Blake 57%–43%.

2006

After serving several years as both a town and county commissioner, McElraft ran, in 2006, for the North Carolina House of Representatives district 13 seat held by Jean R. Preston who decided to run for

state Senate A state legislature in the United States is the legislative body of any of the 50 U.S. states. The formal name varies from state to state. In 27 states, the legislature is simply called the ''Legislature'' or the ''State Legislature'', whil ...

. McElraft defeated Dave Fowler in the Republican primary 68%–32%. In the general election, McElraft faced Democratic veteran politician Malcolm Fulcher who had previously served in the state House in the late 1970s to early 1980s. McElraft won the seat 58%–42%.

Committee assignments

2021-2022 session

*Appropriations (Vice Chair) *Appropriations - Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources (Chair) *Environment (Chair) *Health *Insurance *Judiciary I *Regulatory Reform

2019-2020 session

*Appropriations (Vice Chair) *Appropriations - Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources (Chair) *Environment (Chair) *Insurance *Regulatory Reform *State and Local Government

2017-2018 session

*Appropriations (Vice Chair) *Appropriations - Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources (Chair) *Environment (Chair) *Insurance *Regulatory Reform *State Personnel *Ethics *Health Care Reform

2015-2016 session

*Appropriations (Vice Chair) *Appropriations - Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources *Appropriations - Information Technology *Commerce and Job Development *Environment (Chair) *Insurance *Regulatory Reform *State Personnel *Ethics

2013-2014 session

*Appropriations (Vice Chair) *Environment (Chair) *Insurance (Vice Chair) *Regulatory Reform *Transportation

2011-2012 session

*Appropriations *Environment (Chair) *Insurance (Vice Chair) *Education *Transportation

2009-2010 session

*Appropriations *Environment and Natural Resources *Local Government II *Education *Juvenile Justice *Marine Resources and Aquaculture

References

External links

*
North Carolina General Assembly page
* {{DEFAULTSORT:McElraft, Pat Living people 1947 births People from Hugo, Oklahoma People from Emerald Isle, North Carolina 21st-century American legislators 21st-century American women politicians Women state legislators in North Carolina County commissioners in North Carolina Republican Party members of the North Carolina House of Representatives