Kelly Alexander
American politician from North Carolina (1948–2024)
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Kelly Miller Alexander Jr. (October 17, 1948 – September 6, 2024) was an American politician who was a Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, representing the 107th district from 2009 until his death in 2024.[2][3][4] During the 2015 legislative session, Alexander was one of 22 African Americans in the North Carolina House of Representatives.[5]
October 17, 1948
Kelly Alexander | |
|---|---|
| |
| Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 107th district | |
| In office January 1, 2009 – September 6, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Pete Cunningham |
| Succeeded by | Bobby Drakeford |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kelly Miller Alexander Jr. October 17, 1948 |
| Died | September 6, 2024 (aged 75) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Relatives | Kelly Alexander Sr. (father) Frederick Alexander (uncle) |
| Alma mater | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (BS, MPA)[1] |
Early life
Alexander was the son of NAACP chair Kelly Alexander Sr. and nephew of civil rights activist Frederick Alexander.[6]
He attended West Charlotte High School and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[7] While at UNC, in 1969, he was one of the students who started Project Uplift, designed to provide high school seniors exposure to college life by allowing the high school students to stay in the university students' rooms and showing them the university.[8]
Alexander returned to Charlotte after college to manage the Alexander Funeral Home.[7] He has taught classes at Central Piedmont Community College, Johnson C. Smith University, Queens University of Charlotte and University of North Carolina at Charlotte.[9]
Political career
Following in his father's footsteps, Alexander became President of the NC NAACP and served on the national NAACP board.[7] He first ran for NC General Assembly in 2008 and won, taking his oath in 2009.[9]
Alexander was the first African American to be appointed to the Airport Advisory Committee from 1978 to 1984. He was involved in preventing an NC amendment that would allow state assemblymen to serve for four terms instead of two.[4]
Death
Electoral history
2022
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kelly Alexander (incumbent) | 5,602 | 83.50% | |
| Democratic | Vermanno Bowman | 1,107 | 16.50% | |
| Total votes | 6,709 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kelly Alexander (incumbent) | 18,896 | 81.86% | |
| Republican | Mark Alan Cook | 4,187 | 18.14% | |
| Total votes | 23,083 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2020
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kelly Alexander (incumbent) | 37,421 | 81.33% | |
| Republican | Richard Rivette | 8,591 | 18.67% | |
| Total votes | 46,012 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2018
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kelly Alexander (incumbent) | 24,453 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 24,453 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2016
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kelly Alexander (incumbent) | 10,304 | 90.14% | |
| Democratic | Robert Blok | 1,127 | 9.86% | |
| Total votes | 11,431 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kelly Alexander (incumbent) | 34,305 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 34,305 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2014
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kelly Alexander (incumbent) | 18,049 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 18,049 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2012
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kelly Alexander (incumbent) | 32,275 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 32,275 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2010
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kelly Alexander (incumbent) | 13,132 | 67.26% | |
| Republican | Debbie Ware | 6,392 | 32.74% | |
| Total votes | 19,524 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2008
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kelly Alexander | 8,542 | 63.53% | |
| Democratic | Mary Nixon Richardson | 4,903 | 36.47% | |
| Total votes | 13,445 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kelly Alexander | 27,502 | 75.26% | |
| Republican | Gary Hardee | 9,043 | 24.74% | |
| Total votes | 36,545 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||