G. K. Butterfield

G. K. Butterfield
Official portrait, 2019
House Democratic Senior Chief Deputy Whip
In office
January 3, 2021 – December 30, 2022
LeaderNancy Pelosi
Preceded byJohn Lewis
Succeeded byJan Schakowsky
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Carolina's 1st district
In office
July 20, 2004 – December 30, 2022
Preceded byFrank Ballance
Succeeded byDon Davis
Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus
In office
January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2017
Preceded byMarcia Fudge
Succeeded byCedric Richmond
Associate Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court
In office
February 5, 2001 – January 1, 2003
Appointed byMike Easley
Preceded byI. Beverly Lake Jr.
Succeeded byEdward Thomas Brady
Personal details
Born
George Kenneth Butterfield Jr.

(1947-04-27) April 27, 1947 (age 77)
Wilson, North Carolina, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
(m. 1971; div. 1991)
Sylvia Chester Butterfield
(m. 2021)
Children3
EducationNorth Carolina Central University (BA, JD)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1968–1970
RankSpecialist

George Kenneth Butterfield Jr. (born April 27, 1947) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the U.S. representative for North Carolina's 1st congressional district from 2004 to 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected in a special election after the resignation of Frank Ballance.

His district was in the state's northeastern corner, which included all or parts of 19 counties. A longtime advocate of civil rights, Butterfield was appointed an associate justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court by Governor Mike Easley in 2001, retaining the position until 2003. He was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and served as its chair from 2015 to 2017.

In November 2021, Butterfield announced that he would not run for re-election in 2022.[1]

On December 30, 2022, Butterfield resigned from his position to take up a lobbying position.[2]

  1. ^ Shepard, Steven; Everett, Burgess (November 17, 2021). "Another blow to Dems' House hopes: Butterfield retiring in N.C." Politico. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  2. ^ Brooks, Emily (December 30, 2022). "Butterfield resigns from Congress ahead of starting lobbying job". The Hill. Archived from the original on December 30, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2022.