Curtis Mcrae JR

Curtis McRae (Jr.) is the Democratic nominee for the North Carolina House of Representatives in District 32 in the November 3, 2026 general election. State representatives serve two‑year terms, introduce and vote on legislation, and represent the interests of their district’s residents in the General Assembly ¹.

McRae was born and raised in Granville County, North Carolina. He graduated from J.F. Webb High School in 1987 and then served in the United States Marine Corps, earning an honorable discharge in 1995 ¹⁵. After his military service he pursued further education at Vance‑Granville Community College, North Carolina Central University, and Ashford University ¹⁵.

He spent 25 years with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, rising to senior leadership positions including Associate Warden and Warden of the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, North Carolina. His career took him to facilities across the country and to headquarters in Washington, D.C., giving him experience in public‑safety policy, inter‑agency collaboration, and institutional accountability ¹⁵.

In the 2026 Democratic primary for House District 32, McRae defeated Melissa Elliott, receiving 63.7 % of the vote (5,062 votes) to Elliott’s 36.3 % (2,884 votes) ¹. He will face Republican Frank Sossamon in the November general election ¹.

McRae’s campaign platform emphasizes three priority areas: strengthening public schools with increased funding and higher teacher pay; improving affordability for working families by addressing rising costs of groceries, healthcare, and housing; and protecting affordable healthcare, including Medicaid and rural hospital services ¹⁵. He frames his public‑service philosophy around “showing up, listening, and delivering real results” for the community that raised him ¹⁵.

Beyond his professional background, McRae is active in his local faith community as a deacon and sound‑technician at Impact Church of Durham, and he is a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He is married to Donna, with two daughters and two grandchildren, and enjoys coaching youth sports, writing music, and traveling with his family ¹⁵.

If elected, McRae would bring a blend of military discipline, law‑enforcement leadership, and community‑focused values to the state legislature, aiming to shape policies that support education, economic security, and health‑care access for North Carolinians.

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