Elaine Marshall: Difference between revisions

{{short description|American politician from North Carolina}}

{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}

| name = Elaine Marshall

| image = Elaine Marshall IACA 2018.jpg

| office = 23rd [[North Carolina Secretary of State|Secretary of State of North Carolina]]

| governor = {{ubl|[[Jim Hunt]]|[[Mike Easley]]|[[Bev Perdue]]|[[Pat McCrory]]|[[Roy Cooper]]}}

| term_start = January 3, 1997

| term_end =

| predecessor = [[Janice H. Faulkner|Janice Faulkner]]

| successor =

| state_senate1 = North Carolina

| state1 = North Carolina

| district1 = [[North Carolina's 15th Senate district|15th]]

| term_start1 = January 1, 1993

| term_end1 = January 1, 1995

| predecessor1 = [[N. Leo Daughtry|Leo Daughtry]]

| successor1 = Daniel Page

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1945|11|18}}

| birth_place = [[Lineboro, Maryland]], U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]

| education = [[University of Maryland, College Park]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])<br>[[Campbell University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])

| website = {{url|elainemarshall.com|Campaign website}}

| caption = Marshall in 2018

'''Elaine Folk Marshall''' (born November 18, 1945) is an American attorney and politician who has served as the [[North Carolina Secretary of State]] since 1997. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], she is the first woman to be elected to statewide office in North Carolina. Marshall was also the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for the [[United States Senate]] seat then held by Republican [[Richard Burr]]<ref>[http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/cunningham_wont_run_for_u_s_senate News & Observer blog] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091221071024/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/cunningham_wont_run_for_u_s_senate |date=December 21, 2009 }}</ref> in the [[2010 United States Senate election in North Carolina|2010 election]].<ref name="defeat">{{cite news |title=Burr vanquishes Marshall to keep US Senate seat |first=Mike |last=Baker |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=November 2, 2010 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/02/AR2010110206725.html }}</ref>In[[2020 North Carolina Council of State elections#Secretary of State|2020]], Marshall was re-elected to a seventh term as [[Secretary of State of North Carolina|North Carolina Secretary of State]] with 51.16 percent of the vote.<ref name="2020 el">{{cite web |title=State Composite Abstract Report - Contest.pdf |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/State_Board_Meeting_Docs/2020-11-24/Canvass/State%20Composite%20Abstract%20Report%20-%20Contest.pdf |website=North Carolina State Board of Elections |access-date=March 31, 2021}}</ref>

==Early life, education, and career==

Marshall was born on November 18, 1945, in [[Lineboro, Maryland]].<ref name=lineboro>Baker, Mike (October 18, 2010). [https://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20101018/News/605065747 Marshall recalls roots, woos rural N.C.] Star News.</ref> Her father was a farmer who, for many years, served as a volunteer fire fighter and community leader, and her mother was the organist in the family's small rural church for more than 60 years. She attended public schools as a child and became the first person in her family to graduate college. She studied textiles at the [[University of Maryland, College Park|University of Maryland]] from 1964 to 1968, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Textiles and Clothing.<ref name=lineboro/> While at Maryland, she became a member of [[Alpha Gamma Delta]]. During her undergraduate years, she spent her summers working as a camping director for the Maryland [[4-H]] Foundation, an organization she has continued to support.<ref name=resume/>

Marshall returned to school to study law at the [[Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law]] at [[Campbell University]] and earned her [[Juris Doctor]] degree in 1981,<ref name=lineboro/> where she was accepted into the ''Who's Who Among American Universities and Colleges'' honors program. She has been admitted to practice before all North Carolina courts, the U.S. District courts in the Eastern and Middle Districts of North Carolina, the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. She is a member of the NC State Bar, the NC Bar Association, the NC Association of Women Attorneys, and the [[Delta Theta Phi]] legal fraternity. She also holds multiple honorary degrees from [[Campbell University]], [[Meredith College]], [[Lees–McRae College]] and [[Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy|Testemitanu State University]].<ref name=resume/><ref name=stronger>Fitzsimon, Chris (June 19, 2006).[http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2006/06/19/marshall-sees-stronger-enforcement-of-lobbying/ Marshall sees stronger enforcement of lobbying]. NC Policy Watch. NC Justice Center.</ref> She was a partner in [[Lillington, North Carolina]] law firms Bain & Marshall (1985–1992) and Marshall & Marshall (1993–1997).<ref name=resume>[https://www.sosnc.gov/about/secretary_marshalls_resume Secretary Marshall's Resume]. Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall.</ref><ref name=campbell>[https://law.campbell.edu/about/our-school/our-board-of-visitors/the-honorable-elaine-f-marshall/ The Honorable Elaine F. Marshall]. Our Board of Visitors. Campbell University.</ref>

From the early 1970s, she was active in the [[Young Democrats of America|Young Democrats]] organization and eventually became National Secretary of the Young Democrats of America. In Harnett County, where she practiced law, Marshall served in 1983–1987 as President of Democratic Women and in 1991–1992 served as chair of the [[Harnett County, North Carolina|Harnett County]] [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic Party]].<ref name=resume/>

===State senator===

Marshall was first elected to public office in 1992 as a member of the [[North Carolina Senate]] representing the 15th Senate District, serving from 1993 to 1995.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://carolana.com/NC/Legislators/Documents/Journal_of_the_Senate_of_the_General_Assembly_of_North_Carolina_1995.pdf|title=Journal of the Senate of the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina session 1995|publisher=North Carolina Senate|page=11|date=1996|accessdate=April 18, 2024}}</ref><ref name=campbell/>

===Secretary of State===

[[File:North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall in 2021.jpg|thumb|Marshall in 2021]]

In 1996, she ran for the post of [[North Carolina Secretary of State]] against [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] challenger and former [[stock car racer]] [[Richard Petty]]. She won [[North Carolina Council of State elections, 1996|the election]] by a margin of 53% to 45%,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.app.sboe.state.nc.us/NCSBE/Elec/Results/PastElect/results9/secstate.htm |title=Secretary of State |publisher=App.sboe.state.nc.us |date=1996-11-05 |access-date=2010-09-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081126222502/http://www.app.sboe.state.nc.us/NCSBE/Elec/Results/PastElect/results9/secstate.htm |archive-date=November 26, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> becoming the first woman elected to a statewide executive office in North Carolina history.<ref>Covington, Owen (September 20, 2017). [https://www.elon.edu/u/news/2017/09/20/n-c-secretary-of-state-elaine-marshall-outlines-her-keys-to-economic-success-for-the-state/ N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall outlines her keys to economic success for the state.] Today at Elon. Elon University.</ref><ref name=stronger/> Marshall has won re-election six times and in 2008 received the second highest vote total of any candidate in the state.<ref>[http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/7937/14537/en/summary.html Results]clarityelections.com {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204050902/http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/7937/14537/en/summary.html |date=February 4, 2010 }}</ref><ref>Battaglia, Danielle (February 8, 2020). [https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article240042098.html NC Republicans once considered impeaching Elaine Marshall. Now 3 want to unseat her.] The News & Observer.</ref> Elaine Marshall is only the third elected Secretary of State of North Carolina since 1936, as office-holders have commonly been re-elected many times. Marshall has been credited with bringing the office into the technological age by introducing e-commerce and providing online registration for lobbyists and businesses. Marshall's work has been recognized by the [[U.S. Chamber of Commerce]], the [[National Notary Association]] and [[Campbell University]]. In 2007, Marshall served as president of the National Electronic Commerce Coordinating Council, "an organization of public and private sector leaders aimed at identifying best technology practices that make government agencies more efficient and modernize their services".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://triangle.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2006/12/18/daily30.html |title=N.C. Secretary of State to head national council – Triangle Business Journal |newspaper=Triangle Business Journal |publisher=Triangle.bizjournals.com |date=2006-12-21 |access-date=2010-09-04}}</ref>

===U.S. Senate campaigns===

====2002====

====2010====

In 2009, Marshall decided to enter the 2010 Senate race against incumbent Republican [[Richard Burr]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/marshall_running_for_u_s_senate|title=Marshall running for U.S. Senate|publisher=Projects.newsobserver.com|access-date=2010-09-04|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305071434/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/marshall_running_for_u_s_senate|archive-date=March 5, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> She faced [[Cal Cunningham]], Ken Lewis, and other lesser-known candidates in the May 2010 primary, and won the endorsement of ''[[The Charlotte Observer]]''.<ref>[http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/04/18/1382769/marshall-the-best-choice-in-strong.html#ixzz0lYnelqkK Observer: Marshall the best choice in strong Democratic field] {{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> After failing to garner above 40% of the vote in the May 4 primary election, Marshall had to face Cunningham in a [[Two-round system|runoff]] in June.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/36781.html|title=Coats, Fisher win nominations – James Hohmann|date=May 4, 2010 |publisher=Politico.Com|access-date=2010-09-04}}</ref>

On June 22, 2010, Marshall defeated Cunningham (with approximately 60 percent of the vote) to secure the Democratic nomination.<ref>[http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/23/546960/marshall-triumphs-over-party-powers.html News & Observer: Marshall triumphs over party powers] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626042422/http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/23/546960/marshall-triumphs-over-party-powers.html |date=June 26, 2010 }}</ref> For the general election, she was again endorsed by ''The Charlotte Observer'', the state's largest newspaper.<ref>[http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/24/1782703/marshall-is-strongest-for-senate.html Observer: Marshall is strongest choice for U.S. Senate] {{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> On election day Marshall lost to incumbent Richard Burr, who had received 55% of the vote.<ref name=defeat/>

! colspan="4" |North Carolina Secretary of State Election, 2016<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=11/08/2016 OFFICIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS - STATEWIDE |url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/08/2016&county_id=0&office=COS&contest=0 |website=North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement |access-date=29 July 2018}}</ref>

|}

{| class="wikitable"

! colspan="4" |North Carolina Secretary of State Election, 2020 <ref name="2020 el" />

|-

|'''Party'''

|'''Candidate'''

|'''Votes'''

|'''%'''

|-

|Democratic

|'''Elaine Marshall (inc.)'''

|2,755,571

|51.16

|-

|Republican

|E.C. Sykes

|2,630,559

|48.84

Marshall married attorney Bill Holdford in 2001. Holdford had two daughters from a previous relationship. He died in 2009 from cancer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/77909837.html|title=Husband Of NC's Secretary Of State Dies Of Cancer|access-date=November 11, 2016|archive-date=November 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111122911/http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/77909837.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>November 29, 2009. [https://www.journalnow.com/news/state/william-holdford-n-c-official-s-husband-dies/article_6eecbf0a-2a72-5b45-ba2d-ab94551e9611.html William Holdford, N.C. official's husband, dies]. Winston-Salem Journal.</ref> Marshall married J. Thomas "Tommy" Bunn in 2017.<ref>[http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article163942452.html News & Observer: Secretary of State Marshall remarries]</ref>

* {{C-SPAN|13164}}

{{s-par|us-nc-sen}}

{{s-bef|before=[[N. Leo Daughtry|Leo Daughtry]]}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[North Carolina Senate]] <br/> from the [[North Carolina's 15th Senate district|15th]] district|years=1993–1995}}

{{s-aft|after=Daniel Page}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=[[Janice H. Faulkner|Janice Faulkner]]}}

{{s-ttl|title=[[Secretary of State of North Carolina]]|years=1997–Present}}

{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[United States Senator|U.S. Senator]] from [[North Carolina]]<br />([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 3]])|years=[[2010 United States Senate election in North Carolina|2010]]}}

[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:20th-century American politicians]]

[[Category:20th-century American women politicians]]

[[Category:Democratic Party North Carolina state senators]]