{"biography":"Norman Wesley Sanderson\u202fJr. is the incumbent Republican State Senator for North Carolina\u2019s Senate District\u202f2, which covers Carteret, Craven and Pamlico counties. He began his current term on\u202fJanuary\u202f1,\u202f2025 and is on the ballot for re\u2011election in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election; the Republican primary was cancelled [1].  North Carolina senators serve two\u2011year terms, must be at least 25 years old, a qualified voter, and have lived in the state for two years and in the district for one year prior to election; they earn a salary of $13,951 per year plus a $104 per\u2011day per diem [2].\n\nBorn July\u202f7,\u202f1951, Sanderson earned a B.A. in Christian education from Logos University in\u202f2002 [1].  Before entering politics he worked as a sheriff\u2019s deputy, owned a real\u2011estate business, and has run small\u2011business enterprises for more than two decades, including the Kids Heaven School\u2011Age Care Center [1].\n\nSanderson first won elective office in the North Carolina House of Representatives, serving the 3rd House district from\u202fJanuary\u202f2011 to\u202fJanuary\u202f2013 [12].  He was elected to the State Senate in\u202f2012 and has represented District\u202f2 (with a brief stint in the 1st district during the 2023\u20112025 session) continuously since\u202fJanuary\u202f2013 [12].  Throughout his Senate career he has held numerous leadership positions, most recently chairing the Agriculture, Energy, and Environment Committee and the Appropriations on Agriculture, Natural and Economic Resources Committee for the 2025\u20112026 session [1].  He also serves on the Senate Appropriations on Justice and Public Safety Committee, the Appropriations/Base Budget Committee, the Education/Higher Education Committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the Rules and Operations of the Senate Committee [1].\n\nLegislatively, Sanderson has focused on agricultural policy, budgetary matters, and public safety.  In 2021 he introduced a bill to prohibit gender\u2011confirmation surgery for individuals under 21 and to require state employees to notify parents of children displaying gender nonconformity, reflecting his stance on LGBTQ+ issues [12].  He has also been appointed to the North Carolina Military Affairs Commission, representing the Marine Corps Air Station at Cherry Point and advocating for military\u2011community interests [7].\n\nIn October\u202f2025 Sanderson was arrested on a DWI charge with a reported blood\u2011alcohol level of 0.16; he described the incident as a \u201cregrettable mistake\u201d and the case received local media coverage [12][15][16].  Despite the controversy, he remains the Republican nominee for 2026 and continues to campaign from his official website, normansanderson.com [12].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Norman Sanderson - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Norman_Sanderson)\n- [2] [North Carolina State Senate District 2 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_State_Senate_District_2)\n- [7] [The Honorable Norman Sanderson | DMVA](https://www.milvets.nc.gov/nc-mac/commission-members/honorable-norman-sanderson)\n- [10] [Senator Norman W. Sanderson - Biography - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/s/375)\n- [11] [2026 North Carolina Senate election - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_North_Carolina_Senate_election)\n- [12] [Norman W. Sanderson - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_W._Sanderson)\n- [15] [Norman Sanderson, a North Carolina State Senator who ...](https://www.facebook.com/wcti12/posts/norman-sanderson-a-north-carolina-state-senator-who-represents-enc-was-arrested-/1248072397352131/)\n- [16] [Norman Sanderson has served in the North Carolina ...](https://www.facebook.com/WFMYNews2/posts/norman-sanderson-has-served-in-the-north-carolina-general-assembly-since-2013/1241302848040768/)\n- [17] [North Carolina State Sen. Norman Sanderson - Biography | LegiStorm](https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/192898/Norman_Wesley_Sanderson_Jr_.html)\n- [18] [State Senator Norman Sanderson | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/4980)\n- [20] [Norman Sanderson - North Carolina Candidate - Transparency USA](https://www.transparencyusa.org/nc/candidate/norman-sanderson)","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_senate_002","county":"carteret","county_count":8,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc State Senate District 02"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Norman","fullname":"Norman Wesley Sanderson JR","lastname":"Sanderson","middlename":"Wesley","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_senate_002","contest_title":"Nc State Senate District 02","county":"carteret","county_count":8,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_senate","office_title":"State Senator","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"state_senate_002","contest_title":"Nc State Senate District 02","county":"carteret","county_count":8,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_senate","office_title":"State Senator","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"REP","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"state_senate","office_title":"State Senator","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"suffix":"JR","summary":"Norman Sanderson is the Republican NC State Senator for District\u202f2 seeking re\u2011election in 2026.","terms":[],"token":"958919768ac3b6de"}