# Charles Graham (American politician)

Charles Vinson Graham Jr. (born February 26, 1951) is an American politician who served as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 47th district. Graham, a member of the state-recognized Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, was the only Native American who was serving in the General Assembly until the election of his successor Jarrod Lowery.

## Career

Graham is a former member of the Election Law Committee in the North Carolina State House of Representatives, and of the Subcommittee on Business and Labor in the North Carolina State House of Representatives. He also now serves on seven legislative committees: he is Vice Chair of the Agriculture committee, he serves on the Appropriations committee, he serves as the vice chair of the committee for Commerce and Job Development, he is a member of the insurance committee, he serves in the Subcommittee on Appropriations, Justice and Public Safety, he serves in the Subcommittee on Education, K-12, and also in the Transportation committee.
During the 2016 legislative session, Graham was one of 11 Democrats to vote in favor of the House Bill 2, the controversial "Bathroom Bill." In October 2021, Graham issued an apology for voting in favor of the bill.

### 2022 congressional campaign

On October 5, 2021, Graham announced he was running for Congress in North Carolina's 9th congressional district. His campaign video went viral on Twitter, where it received over 5 million views.
Following redistricting, however, Graham switched to the 7th congressional district.

## Electoral history
### 2022

United States House of Representatives North Carolina's 7th congressional district Democratic primary election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Charles Graham | 13,054 | 31.23% |
| | Democratic | Charles E. Evans | 12,263 | 29.34% |
| | Democratic | Steve Miller | 9,744 | 23.31% |
| | Democratic | Yushonda Midgette | 6,738 | 16.12% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,799 | 100% |
United States House of Representatives North Carolina's 7th congressional district general election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Rouzer (incumbent) | 164,047 | 57.71 |
| | Democratic | Charles Graham | 120,222 | 42.29 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 284,269 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

North Carolina House of Representatives 47th district general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Charles Graham (incumbent) | 14,470 | 52.44% |
| | Republican | Olivia Oxedine | 13,126 | 47.56% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 27,596 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2018

North Carolina House of Representatives 47th district general election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Charles Graham (incumbent) | 11,496 | 58.91% |
| | Republican | Jarrod Lowery | 8,018 | 41.09% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,514 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2016

North Carolina House of Representatives 47th district Democratic primary election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Charles Graham (incumbent) | 5,634 | 58.39% |
| | Democratic | Randall Jones | 4,015 | 41.61% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 9,649 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 47th district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Charles Graham (incumbent) | 17,366 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,366 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2014

North Carolina House of Representatives 47th district general election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Charles Graham (incumbent) | 9,978 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 9,978 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2012

North Carolina House of Representatives 47th district general election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Charles Graham (incumbent) | 18,322 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,322 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2010

North Carolina House of Representatives 47th district Democratic primary election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Charles Graham | 4,544 | 51.04% |
| | Democratic | Ronnie Sutton (incumbent) | 4,358 | 48.96% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,902 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 47th district general election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Charles Graham | 7,865 | 66.83% |
| | Republican | Brawleigh Jason Graham | 3,903 | 33.17% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,768 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2008

North Carolina House of Representatives 47th district Democratic primary election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ronnie Sutton (incumbent) | 6,932 | 59.53% |
| | Democratic | Charles Graham | 4,713 | 40.47% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,645 | 100% |