Talk:Deb Butler

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democrat or republican?

A recent news aricle on The Mountaineer identifies her as a RepublicanRich (talk) 00:33, 19 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Edit request: Full biography draft for Deb Butler

Hello, I have a conflict of interest because I am related to Deb Butler, so I will not edit her page directly. I would like to suggest a change to the "Personal Life" section.

Proposed text:

Early life and education Deborah Armfield “Deb” Butler was born in Columbia, South Carolina, and raised in rural North Carolina. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 1983, followed by a Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1986. After graduating, Butler practiced law in New York City for approximately seven years before returning to Wilmington, North Carolina, where she continued her legal career.

References:

Ballotpedia – Deb Butler profile (birthplace, education)
WHQR CoastLine Candidate Interview (upbringing, New York career, return to Wilmington)
ContactGovernors.com profile (education, legal career).

2. Early career In the early 1990s, Butler began investing in real estate and co-founded Port City Properties, Inc. in Wilmington, North Carolina.^[1] She later established The Butler Firm, PLLC, a Wilmington-based law practice.^[2] Butler has worked as an attorney in Wilmington, focusing on real estate and business matters.^[3]^[4]

Butler is one of the first openly lesbian members of the North Carolina General Assembly, a milestone noted in state and regional media at the time of her appointment and subsequent elections.^[5]^[6]^[7]

3. Political career

3.1 Local Campaign (2010)

Butler ran for the New Hanover County Commission in 2010 as a political newcomer. She filed to run for one of two open seats on the commission but was not elected.^[8]^[9]

3.2 State Senate Campaign (2012)

In 2012, Butler ran for the North Carolina State Senate, challenging incumbent Republican Thom Goolsby. She was defeated by a margin of approximately eight percentage points, earning about 45.8% of the vote to Goolsby's 54.2%.^[10]^[11]

3.3 Appointment to the House (2017)

On February 6, 2017, Butler was appointed to the North Carolina House of Representatives to replace Susi Hamilton, who resigned to join Governor Roy Cooper’s administration.^[12]^[13]

3.4 Electoral history

**2018** – Won her first full term in the NC House (District 18).^[14]
**2020** – Re-elected, defeating Warren Kennedy with approximately 59.8% of the vote to Kennedy’s 40.2%.^[15]
**2022** – Re-elected, defeating John Hinnant with approximately 53.3% of the vote to Hinnant’s 46.7%.^[16]
**2024** – Re-elected following district redistricting, winning approximately 82.7% of the vote against Wallace West.^[17]

3.5 Legislative roles and committees

**Democratic Whip (2018–2022):**

 Butler served as the Democratic Whip in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2018 to 2022. This leadership role involved coordinating party strategy and legislative priorities within the Democratic caucus.  
 ^[18]  
 ^[19]

**Committee Assignments (2025–2026):**

 Butler is currently serving on the following standing committees for the 2025–2026 legislative session:  
 - Agriculture and Environment  
 - Finance  
 - Judiciary 2  
 - Transportation  
 - Wildlife Resources  
 ^[20]

**Previous Committee Service:**

 In earlier legislative sessions, Butler served on several key committees, including:  
 - Banking  
 - Commerce  
 - Finance  
 - Judiciary  
 ^[21]  
 ^[22]

4. Environmental sustainability and the Cape Fear River fight

Deb Butler has been a prominent advocate for environmental sustainability, particularly in addressing the contamination of the Cape Fear River by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever chemicals."

**2018 – House Bill 968:**

 In 2018, Butler co-sponsored House Bill 968, which aimed to repeal the Hardison Amendment, thereby empowering regulators to enforce stricter water safety standards and allocating funding for cleanup efforts. However, the proposal was ultimately rejected at that time.  
 ^[23]

**2021 – Filtration Infrastructure Bill:**

 In 2021, Butler introduced legislation requiring Chemours, the company responsible for PFAS discharges, to directly fund the installation of filtration infrastructure to remove toxic chemicals from drinking water. Despite its defeat, the initiative brought renewed public awareness and policy momentum.  
 ^[24]

**2025 – House Bill 881 ("PFAS Free NC"):**

 Building on previous efforts, Butler remains a primary sponsor of House Bill 881, known as "PFAS Free NC," introduced in 2025. The bill aims to ban non-essential PFAS uses, fund regional health-effect studies, mandate full effluent disclosure, and eliminate discharges to drinking water systems.  
 ^[25]  
 ^[26]

**Bipartisan DEQ Reimbursement Bill:**

 Alongside these measures, Butler supported a bipartisan bill empowering the Department of Environmental Quality to require PFAS polluters to reimburse utilities for remediation efforts.  
 ^[27]

Butler's environmental advocacy reflects her dual investment in sustainable development and regional health. Her efforts integrate regulatory enforcement, corporate accountability, and community protection, underpinned by her real-world experience in real estate and local water infrastructure.

5. Defining Moments in Deb Butler’s Political Career

5.1 Notable Protest on the House Floor in 2019

On September 11, 2019, during a session of the North Carolina House of Representatives, Rep. Deb Butler became widely recognized for vocally protesting a surprise vote to override Governor Roy Cooper’s budget veto. Many Democratic representatives were absent from the chamber that morning, having received assurances from House leadership that no votes would be held. When Republicans unexpectedly called the vote, Butler objected from the House floor, repeatedly declaring, “I will not yield, Mr. Speaker!” Her protest centered on what she characterized as an abuse of procedural norms and a breach of trust, accusing House leaders of taking advantage of a solemn day to push through a key legislative action. The event drew significant state and national attention, marking a prominent moment in Butler’s legislative career.

[News & Observer: "Deb Butler's protest on House floor draws national attention"](https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article234989347.html)
[ABC11: "NC Democratic lawmaker Deb Butler responds after outburst garners national attention"](https://abc11.com/post/nc-democrat-responds-after-outburst-garners-national-attention/5538682/)
[Ms. Magazine: "We Heart: Deb Butler's 'Melt-Up' on the North Carolina House Floor"](https://msmagazine.com/2019/09/16/we-heart-deb-butlers-melt-up-on-the-north-carolina-house-floor/)

5.2 The NC Progressive House Caucus

Deb Butler serves as co-founder and co-chair of the North Carolina Progressive House Caucus, an organization within the state’s House of Representatives dedicated to advancing policies centered on equality, humanity, safety, and health in North Carolina. Alongside Representatives Renne Price, Marcia Morey, Maria Cervania, and Pricey Harrison, with whom she helped launch the caucus, Butler works to unify progressive legislators and promote a shared legislative agenda in the General Assembly. The caucus is committed to supporting Democratic lawmakers who advocate for issues such as public education, access to affordable health care, criminal justice reform, and environmental protection. Under the leadership of Butler and her colleagues, the caucus coordinates policy and advocacy efforts, connects with advocacy groups, and mobilizes support for key progressive initiatives intended to improve the lives of North Carolinians.

[NC Progressive House Caucus: "Who are We?"](https://ncprogressivehousecaucus.com/who-are-we%3F)
[State Affairs: "Progressive Democrats launch new caucus in North Carolina"](https://pro.stateaffairs.com/nc/politics/progressive-democrats-caucus-north-carolina)
[Instagram: "Representative Deb Butler is a Co-Chair and founding member of the Progress Now NC caucus"](https://www.instagram.com/p/DGQ6-9aysJd/)

6. Recognitions & Awards

Tammy Baldwin Breakthrough Award (2019)

Deb Butler was honored with the Tammy Baldwin Breakthrough Award—an international accolade recognizing a state or local LGBTQ elected official who has significantly advanced equality. She received this award from the Victory Institute in October 2019, following national attention for her spirited defense of democratic process during a surprise budget veto override vote in the North Carolina General Assembly. ^[28] ^[29] ^[30]

Indy Week “19 People You Need to Know” (2019)

In 2019, Butler was featured by Indy Week in their "19 People of 2019" series, recognizing her as a key progressive leader and local influencer in North Carolina politics. ^[31]

InStyle Magazine’s “Badass Women” (2020)

Named among InStyle Magazine’s “Top 50 Badass Women” in 2020, Butler was celebrated for her bold leadership and unapologetic approach to defending LGBTQ+ rights and democratic norms. ^[32] ^[33]

Cucalorus Leadership Award (2019)

Butler received the Cucalorus Leadership Award during the Cucalorus Festival, honoring her viral floor speech "#Iwillnotyield" as a compelling statement of principle and civic courage. ^[34] ^[35] ^[36]

NC League of Conservation Voters Green Tie Legislator of the Year

Butler received the Green Tie Award from the NC League of Conservation Voters for her environmental leadership and early legislative efforts addressing PFAS chemical contamination in the Cape Fear region. ^[37]

Local Recognition by Wilmington City Council (2022)

In March 2022, Wilmington’s City Council formally recognized Representative Butler for her tireless advocacy on local priorities—such as expanding electric vehicle infrastructure, improving PFAS detection and reporting, and ensuring pollutants pay their fair share for environmental cleanup. ^[38] Isabela Lujan Pazos (talk) 17:36, 9 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

[1] ttps://www.newhomesagents.com/realestateagents.html?ID=117098&city=wilmington&state=north-carolina

[2] ttps://www.manta.com/c/mb4c9pf/the-butler-firm-pllc

[3] ttps://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/730

[4] ttps://www.womennc.org/news/nc-notable-woman-rep-deborah-butler

[5] ttps://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article130307374.html

[6] ttps://indyweek.com/news/northcarolina/19-people-of-2019-deb-butler/

[7] ttps://www.wwaytv3.com/rep-deb-butler-files-marriage-equality-bill-to-protect-same-sex-marriage-in-nc/

[8] ttps://www.wect.com/story/11818579/nhc-commission-race-gets-another-candidate/

[9] ttps://www.wilmingtonbiz.com/government/2010/10/29/county_commission_candidates_face_tight_budget_high_unemployment/1966

[10] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deb_Butler

[11] ttps://ballotpedia.org/Deb_Butler

[12] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deb_Butler

[13] ttps://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/nc-legislative-update-february-2017-80754/

[14] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deb_Butler

[15] ttps://ballotpedia.org/Deb_Butler

[16] ttps://ballotpedia.org/Deb_Butler

[17] ttps://ballotpedia.org/Deb_Butler

[18] ttps://www.ncleg.gov/Members/DistrictRepresentation/H/18

[19] ttps://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/265124/Deb_Butler.html

[20] ttps://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Committees/H/730

[21] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deb_Butler

[22] ttps://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/265124/Deb_Butler.html

[23] ttps://www.ncnewsline.com/briefs/house-members-file-bill-to-fund-deq-target-actions-by-chemours/

[24] ttps://www.wect.com/2021/03/27/pay-up-lawmaker-wants-chemours-buy-equipment-rid-drinking-water-toxic-chemicals/

[25] ttps://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookup/2025/H881

[26] ttps://www.portcitydaily.com/latest-news/2025/04/13/new-bill-would-ban-non-essential-pfas-uses-fund-study-on-cape-fear-region-health-effects/

[27] ttps://apnews.com/article/519dba1b2b6d12a966bc729e5f4d1ddf

[28] ttps://victoryinstitute.org/former-peruvian-congressman-alberto-de-belaunde-and-north-carolina-rep-deb-butler-to-receive-2019-tammy-baldwin-breakthrough-award/

[29] ttps://www.wect.com/2019/10/09/rep-deb-butler-wins-international-tammy-baldwin-breakout-award/

[30] ttps://electdebbutler.com/news/rep-deb-butler-wins-international-tammy-baldwin-breakout-award/

[31] ttps://indyweek.com/news/northcarolina/19-people-of-2019-deb-butler/

[32] ttps://www.wect.com/2020/01/10/rep-deb-butler-named-top-women-changing-world-by-instyle-magazine/

[33] ttps://lillianslist.org/candidate/rep-deb-butler/

[34] ttps://www.wect.com/2019/11/19/rep-deb-butler-receives-cucalorus-leadership-award/

[35] ttps://electdebbutler.com/news/rep-deb-butler-receives-cucalorus-leadership-award/

[36] ttps://lillianslist.org/candidate/rep-deb-butler/

[37] ttps://climateintegrity.org/projects/leaders-network/deborah-butler

[38] ttps://electdebbutler.com/news/wilmington-city-council-recognizes-rep-deb-butler-for-environmental-advocacy/

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