Michael H. Wray (born April 6, 1967) is a Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives.[1][2] Wray has represented the 27th district (including constituents in Halifax and Northampton counties) since 2005.[3] Wray is also a small business owner in Gaston, North Carolina.

Michael Wray
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 27th district
Assumed office
January 1, 2005
Preceded byStanley Fox
Succeeded byRodney Pierce (elect)
Personal details
Born
Michael H. Wray

(1967-04-06) April 6, 1967 (age 57)
Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseKay
Children2
ResidenceGaston, North Carolina
Alma materBarton College (BA)
Occupationsmall business owner

North Carolina House of Representatives

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A former Gaston town commissioner, Wray was first elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives in 2004.

He had been re-elected a total of 8 times defeating both primary and general election challengers, before being defeated in the 2024 Democratic primary by public school teacher Rodney Pierce.[4]

Wray was a founding member of the North Carolina Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus in 2011 and serves as the group's Democratic Co-Chair in the House.[5] In 2015, Wray became a charter member of the Main Street Democrats Caucus in the North Carolina General Assembly. The Main Street Democrats describe themselves as pro-business, moderate Democrats.[6]

During the 2016 legislative session, Wray was one of 11 Democrats to vote in favor of House Bill 2, the controversial "Bathroom Bill."[7]

Committee assignments

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2023–2024 Session

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  • Ethics (Chair)
  • Finance (Senior Chair)
  • Agriculture (Vice Chair)
  • Alcoholic Beverage Control
  • Energy and Public Utilities
  • Health
  • Insurance
  • Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
  • Wildlife Resources

2021–2022 Session

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  • Ethics (Chair)
  • Finance (Chair)
  • Agriculture (Vice Chair)
  • Energy and Public Utilities
  • Health
  • Insurance
  • Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

2019–2020 Session

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  • Appropriations
  • Appropriations - Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources
  • Ethics (Chair)
  • Agriculture (Vice Chair)
  • Energy and Public Utilities
  • Health
  • Insurance
  • Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

2017–2018 Session

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  • Appropriations
  • Appropriations - Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources
  • Energy and Public Utilities
  • Health
  • Insurance
  • Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
  • Health Care Reform
  • Wildlife Resources
  • University Board of Governors Nominating
  • Transportation

2015–2016 Session

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  • Appropriations
  • Appropriations - Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources
  • Commerce and Job Development (Vice Chair)
  • Ethics
  • Health
  • Insurance
  • Public Utilities
  • Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
  • Education - Universities
  • Wildlife Resources
  • Committee on Chowanoke Nation Recognition (Non-Standing)
  • Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations (Non-Standing)
  • Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services (Non-Standing)
  • Committee on Land Development (Non-Standing)

2013–2014 Session

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  • Appropriations
  • Commerce and Job Development
  • Health and Human Services
  • Insurance
  • Public Utilities
  • Environment

2011–2012 Session

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  • Appropriations
  • Commerce and Job Development
  • Health and Human Services
  • Insurance
  • Public Utilities

2009–2010 Session

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  • Appropriations
  • Agriculture
  • Commerce, Small Business, and Entrepreneurship
  • Insurance
  • Transportation
  • Wildlife Resources

Electoral history

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2024

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North Carolina House of Representatives 27th district Democratic primary election, 2024[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rodney Pierce 5,986 50.14%
Democratic Michael Wray (incumbent) 5,952 49.86%
Total votes 11,937 100%

2022

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North Carolina House of Representatives 27th district Democratic primary election, 2022[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Wray (incumbent) 10,866 79.00%
Democratic Jerry McDaniel 2,889 21.00%
Total votes 13,755 100%
North Carolina House of Representatives 27th district general election, 2022[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Wray (incumbent) 18,116 61.44%
Republican Wes Tripp 11,370 38.56%
Total votes 29,486 100%
Democratic hold

2020

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North Carolina House of Representatives 27th district Democratic primary election, 2020[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Wray (incumbent) 6,856 55.75%
Democratic Kelby Hicks 4,536 36.89%
Democratic Jerry McDaniel 905 7.36%
Total votes 12,297 100%
North Carolina House of Representatives 27th district general election, 2020[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Wray (incumbent) 23,169 66.78%
Republican Warren Scott Nail 11,527 33.22%
Total votes 34,696 100%
Democratic hold

2018

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North Carolina House of Representatives 27th district Democratic primary election, 2018[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Wray (incumbent) 7,319 56.15%
Democratic Franklin D. Williams Jr. 5,716 43.85%
Total votes 13,035 100%
North Carolina House of Representatives 27th district general election, 2018[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Wray (incumbent) 16,783 69.33%
Republican Raymond (Ray) Dyer 7,426 30.67%
Total votes 24,209 100%
Democratic hold

2016

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Wray was challenged in the Democratic primary by Franklin D. Williams Jr. Wray won the primary and was unopposed in the general election.

North Carolina House of Representatives 27th district Democratic primary election, 2016[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Wray (incumbent) 7,418 52.39%
Democratic Franklin D. Williams Jr. 6,741 47.61%
Total votes 14,159 100%
North Carolina House of Representatives 27th district general election, 2016[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Wray (incumbent) 29,200 100%
Total votes 29,200 100%
Democratic hold

2014

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Wray was challenged in the Democratic primary by Franklin D. Williams Jr. Wray won the primary and was unopposed in the general election.

North Carolina House of Representatives 27th district Democratic primary election, 2014[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Wray (incumbent) 8,458 57.97%
Democratic Franklin D. Williams Jr. 6,132 42.03%
Total votes 14,590 100%
North Carolina House of Representatives 27th district general election, 2014[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Wray (incumbent) 17,446 100%
Total votes 17,446 100%
Democratic hold

2012

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Wray was challenged in the May 8, 2012 Democratic primary by James Mills.[19] Wray won the primary and defeated Libertarian candidate Jesse Shearin in the general election.[19][20]

North Carolina House of Representatives 27th district Democratic primary election, 2012[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Wray (incumbent) 9,052 61.71%
Democratic James Mills 5,616 38.29%
Total votes 14,668 100%
North Carolina House of representatives 27th district general election, 2012[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Wray (incumbent) 29,714 90.94%
Libertarian Jesse Shearin 2,960 9.06%
Total votes 32,674 100%
Democratic hold

2010

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Wray was unopposed in the Democratic primary and the general election.

North Carolina House of Representatives 27th district general election, 2010[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Wray (incumbent) 17,701 100%
Total votes 17,701 100%
Democratic hold

2008

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Wray was unopposed in the Democratic primary and the general election.

North Carolina House of Representatives 27th district general election, 2008[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Wray (incumbent) 27,387 100%
Total votes 27,387 100%
Democratic hold

2006

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Wray was challenged in the Democratic primary by Anthony Butler and Howard Ervin. Wray won the primary and was unopposed in the general election.

North Carolina House of Representatives 27th district Democratic primary election, 2006[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Wray (incumbent) 8,551 76.71%
Democratic Anthony Butler 1,878 16.85%
Democratic Howard Ervin 718 6.44%
Total votes 100%
North Carolina House of Representatives 27th district general election, 2006[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Wray (incumbent) 13,839 100%
Total votes 13,839 100%
Democratic hold

2004

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Wray was one of five candidates to seek the Democratic nomination to fill the vacant District 27 seat in 2004. Other Democratic primary candidates were Richard M. Henderson, Grace M. Edwards, John Soles, and Julius O. Webb. Wray finished second behind Henderson but finished ahead of Henderson in the subsequent runoff election.

North Carolina House of Representatives 27th district Democratic primary election, 2004[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard M. Henderson 2,882 29.31%
Democratic Michael Wray 2,874 29.23%
Democratic Grace M. Edwards 2,290 23.29%
Democratic John Soles 1,586 16.13%
Democratic Julius O. Webb 200 2.03%
Total votes 9,832 100%
North Carolina House of Representatives 27th district Democratic primary run-off election, 2004[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Wray 2,982 51.36%
Democratic Richard M. Henderson 2,824 48.64%
Total votes 5,806 100%
North Carolina House of Representatives 27th district general election, 2004[29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Wray 21,237 100%
Total votes 21,237 100%
Democratic hold

References

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  1. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  2. ^ "Michael Wray (North Carolina)". Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  3. ^ "NCCPPR | North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research". www.nccppr.org. Archived from the original on 2013-04-22.
  4. ^ Martin, Lance. "Pierce takes state house seat by 42-vote margin". RR Spin. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus".
  6. ^ "Main Street Democrats Mission".
  7. ^ http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article141701219.html – 'Here’s how every NC legislator voted on the HB2 repeal bill(MARCH 30, 2017)
  8. ^ "NC SBE Contest Results".
  9. ^ "NC SBE Contest Results".
  10. ^ "NC SBE Contest Results".
  11. ^ [1] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  12. ^ [2] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  13. ^ [3] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  14. ^ [4] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  15. ^ [5] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  16. ^ [6] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  17. ^ [7] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  18. ^ [8] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  19. ^ a b "North Carolina Board of Elections Candidate Lists". Archived from the original on March 11, 2013.
  20. ^ "威尼斯432888can登录主页-威尼斯432888can". jesseshearin.com. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012.
  21. ^ [9] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  22. ^ [10] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  23. ^ [11] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  24. ^ [12] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  25. ^ [13] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  26. ^ [14] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  27. ^ [15] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  28. ^ [16] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  29. ^ [17] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
North Carolina House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 27th district

2005–Present
Incumbent
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