Jim Hunt

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For other people named Jim Hunt, see Jim Hunt (disambiguation).

Jim Hunt
Official portrait, c. 1993–2001
69th and 71st Governor of North Carolina
In office
January 9, 1993 – January 6, 2001
LieutenantDennis Wicker
Preceded byJames G. Martin
Succeeded byMike Easley
In office
January 8, 1977 – January 5, 1985
LieutenantJames C. Green
Preceded byJames Holshouser
Succeeded byJames G. Martin
27th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
In office
January 5, 1973 – January 8, 1977
GovernorJames Holshouser
Preceded byHoyt Patrick Taylor Jr.
Succeeded byJames C. Green
Personal details
BornJames Baxter Hunt Jr.
(1937-05-16)May 16, 1937
Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.
DiedDecember 18, 2025(2025-12-18) (aged 88)
Lucama, North Carolina, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
Spouse
​
(m. 1958)​
Children4, including Rachel and Baxter
Education

James Baxter Hunt Jr. (May 16, 1937 – December 18, 2025) was an American politician and attorney who was the 69th and 71st governor of North Carolina (1977–1985, and 1993–2001). He was the longest-serving governor in the state's history.[1]

Hunt was tied with former Ohio governor Jim Rhodes for the sixth-longest gubernatorial tenure in post-Constitutional U.S. history at 5,838 days.[2] His daughter is current North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt.

Under his guidance, the North Carolina Democratic Party outperformed expectations in state politics from Ronald Reagan's presidency through 2024.[3]

Early life

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Hunt was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, on May 16, 1937, to James Baxter Hunt, a soil conservationist, and Elsie Brame Hunt, a schoolteacher.[4] When he was a child, the family moved to a farm outside of Wilson, North Carolina.[4] He was raised in the Free Will Baptist Church but later converted to Presbyterianism.[4]

He was a graduate of North Carolina State College, now known as North Carolina State University, with a B.S. in agricultural education and a M.S. in agricultural economics. During his undergraduate career, Hunt was involved in Student Government. He was the second student to serve two terms as Student Body President of NC State.[5] His master's thesis was about economic analysis of different tobacco production techniques.[6] In 1964, he received a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law. He went on to serve as the president of the Young Democratic Clubs of North Carolina, now known as the Young Democrats of North Carolina.[7]

Political career

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Hunt as Lieutenant Governor,
c. 1973

From 1964 to 1966, Hunt was a Ford Foundation economic advisor in Nepal.[8] After working on several state and national campaigns for Democratic candidates and attending several Democratic conventions as a delegate, in addition to his work with the North Carolina Young Democratic Clubs, in 1972 he ran successfully for lieutenant governor.[9] He was sworn in on January 5, 1973.[10] With the election of James Holshouser as governor in 1972—the first Republican to win the office in decades—the Democratic majority in the General Assembly was compelled to raise the stature of the office of the lieutenant governor. It raised the job's salary from $5,000 to $30,000 per year, increased the office operating budget, and expanded its staff from two to five.[11]

Hunt as governor in 1983

Hunt was first sworn in as Governor of North Carolina on January 8, 1977.[12] He was the only Governor of North Carolina to have been elected to four terms. He was first elected governor in 1976 over Republican David Flaherty and was re-elected in 1980, defeating I. Beverly Lake. Hunt supported a constitutional change during his first term that allowed him to be the first North Carolina governor to run for a second consecutive term.[13]

In 1981, Hunt chaired the Hunt Commission, named after himself, which established superdelegates in the Democratic National Convention.[14]

In 1984, he lost a bitterly contested race for the U.S. Senate seat held by Jesse Helms, and left elective politics for eight years.[15] He returned in 1992 and defeated Republican lieutenant governor and Hardee's executive Jim Gardner to win the governorship.[16] Hunt was re-elected by a large margin over future U.S. Congressman Robin Hayes in 1996.[17] He left office in January 2001, and was replaced by Attorney General Mike Easley.[18]

Actions and political views

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Jim Hunt campaigning in 1992 Hunt speaking at NCSU in 1992

In the 1970s, Governor Hunt was a supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment and, with his wife Carolyn, he urged its approval by the state legislature (which failed to ratify it by two votes) and appointed Betty Ray McCain as his chief lobbyist for the amendment. Hunt was an early proponent of teaching standards and early childhood education, gaining national recognition for the Smart Start program for pre-kindergarteners. In his book, First in America: An Education Governor Challenges North Carolina, Hunt said that under testing and accountability measures he put into place test scores went up. He said 56% of students were proficient in 1994 compared with 70% in the year 2000. He said without testing students slip through the cracks and face a "limited future" (p. 55). In 2000 he was mentioned as a possible Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States[19] or Education Secretary for Al Gore had Gore been successful in the 2000 presidential race. 2004 Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry was likewise considering Hunt for Secretary of Education had he won,[6][20] and he was considered a candidate to be Barack Obama's Secretary of Education.[21]

Hunt served as chair of the Carnegie Task Force on Teaching as a Profession, which created the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards,[22] and served on the Spellings Commission on the Future of Higher Education.[23]

As governor, Hunt was involved in a variety of efforts to promote technology and technology-based economic development, including the establishment of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, Centennial Campus of North Carolina State University, and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics.[24][25]

Hunt was key actor in the trial of the Wilmington Ten. By the late 1970s, their case had gained international attention and was viewed as an embarrassment to the U.S. and North Carolina in particular. CBS had broadcast a 60 Minutes piece about the case that suggested that the evidence against the ten had been fabricated.[26] In January 1978, following the higher courts' refusal to dismiss these charges, Hunt decided to reduce their sentencing of 20–25 years to 13–17 years rather than pardon and free them.[27] Many black North Carolinian politicians at the time disapproved of Hunt's decision but the general mentality at the time was that "right now blacks have nowhere else to turn" so there was no organized opposition movement. Howard Nathaniel Lee, however, refused to resign from his appointed role as the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, as a form of protest against Hunt.[28]

During his tenure, Hunt would appoint both the first African American to the North Carolina Supreme Court, Henry Frye, and the first Black Cabinet member, former Secretary of Natural Resources and Community Development Howard Lee.[29]

Hunt supported the death penalty and rarely granted clemency to death-row inmates.[30] During his terms in office Hunt oversaw 13 executions (two during his first period in office, 11 during his second). Notable executions included the first execution in North Carolina after the US Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment in 1976 (James W. Hutchins) and the first nationwide execution of a woman in 22 years (Velma Barfield).[31]

Hunt was a proponent of North Carolina's tobacco industry, even after the negative health effects of tobacco use became clear. When Ronald Reagan Administration U.S. Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop accused the tobacco industry of directing advertising at children and threatening human lives, Hunt called for his impeachment.[32]

Retirement

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Hunt founded and was chair emeritus of the Institute for Emerging Issues at N.C. State University in Raleigh.[33] In 2001 Hunt founded the James B. Hunt Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership & Policy Foundation, Inc.,[34] commonly known as The Hunt Institute. The organization is dedicated to empowering governors, policymakers, and other educational leaders in the development and implementation of comprehensive strategies for the transformation of public education.[35]

Personal life and death

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Hunt married Carolyn Leonard in 1958.[7] They had a son (James Baxter Hunt III) and three daughters (including Rachel Hunt, a former North Carolina state senator and, as of 2025[update], Lieutenant Governor of the state.[36][37]

Hunt died at his home in Lucama, North Carolina, on December 18, 2025, at the age of 88.[38][39] Flags across the state of North Carolina would fly at half staff in his honor from December 19, 2025 until his internment.[40] Starting on December 20, 2025, the North Carolina State Capitol began displaying a book of condolence for Hunt which people are invited to sign.[41] His funeral was held on December 26, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church in Wilson, North Carolina, with friend, family and political figures from around North Carolina being among those in attendance.[42][43][44][41] Following the funeral, reception and visitation was held.[45][46][47][48] The public was allowed to attend Hunt's funeral services and visitation.[41][44][43] Hunt was then buried.[49] The condolence book for Hunt at the North Carolina State Capitol remained available through January 2, 2026.[43]

Electoral history

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1972 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election

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Democratic primary results[50]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Hunt 329,727 43.77
Democratic Roy G. Sowers Jr. 177,016 23.28
Democratic Margaret T. Harper 151,819 20.15
Democratic Allen C. Barbee 51,602 6.85
Democratic Reginald L. Frazier 43,228 5.74
General election results[51]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jim Hunt 812,602 56.69
Republican John A. Walker 612,002 42.69
American Benjamin G. McLendonm, Sr. 8,865 0.62
Turnout 1,433,469 100%

1976 North Carolina gubernatorial election

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Main article: 1976 North Carolina gubernatorial election
Democratic primary results[52]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Hunt 362,102 53.41
Democratic Edward O'Herron Jr. 157,815 23.28
Democratic George Wood 121,673 17.95
Democratic Thomas E. Strickland 31,338 4.62
Democratic Andy Barker 5,003 0.74
General election results[53]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jim Hunt 1,081,293 64.99
Republican David T. Flaherty 564,102 33.90
American Herbert F. Seawell Jr. 13,604 0.82
Libertarian Arlan K. Andrews 4,764 0.29
Turnout 1,663,763

1980 North Carolina gubernatorial election

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Main article: 1980 North Carolina gubernatorial election
Democratic primary results[54]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jim Hunt 524,844 69.64
Democratic Robert W. "Bob" Scott 217,289 28.83
Democratic Harry J. Welsh 11,551 1.53
General election results[55]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jim Hunt (Incumbent) 1,143,145 61.88%
Republican I. Beverly Lake 691,449 37.43%
Libertarian Robert Y. Emory 9,552 0.54%
Socialist Workers Douglas A. Cooper 2,887 0.16%
Independent Others 53 0%
Turnout 1,847,086 100%

1984 North Carolina senatorial election

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Main article: 1984 United States Senate election in North Carolina
Democratic primary results[56]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Hunt 655,429 77.48%
Democratic Thomas Allred 126,841 14.99%
Democratic Harrill Jones 63,676 7.53%
Turnout 845,946
General election results[56]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jesse Helms (incumbent) 1,156,768 51.66%
Democratic Jim Hunt 1,070,488 47.81%
Libertarian Bobby Emory 9,302 0.42%
Socialist Workers Kate Daher 2,493 0.11%
Turnout 2,239,051

1992 North Carolina gubernatorial election

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Main article: 1992 North Carolina gubernatorial election
Democratic primary results[57]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jim Hunt 459,300 65.46
Democratic Lacy Thornburg 188,806 26.91
Democratic Marcus W. Williams 25,660 3.66
General election results[58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jim Hunt 1,368,246 52.72
Republican Jim Gardner 1,121,955 43.23
Libertarian Scott McLaughlin 104,983 4.05
Turnout 2,595,184

1996 North Carolina gubernatorial election

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Main article: 1996 North Carolina gubernatorial election

Hunt ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[56]

General election results[56]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jim Hunt (incumbent) 1,436,638 55.98
Republican Robin Hayes 1,097,053 42.75
Libertarian Scott D. Yost 17,559 0.68
Natural Law Julia Van Witt 14,792 0.58
Turnout 2,566,042

Legacy

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James B. Hunt Jr. Library

The following are named for Governor Hunt:

An authorized biography of Hunt, authored by advisor Gary Pearce, was released in 2010.[68]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Wayne Grimsley, James B. Hunt: A North Carolina Progressive (2003)
  2. ^ Ostermeier, Eric (April 10, 2013). "The Top 50 Longest-Serving Governors of All Time". Smart Politics.
  3. ^ Southern Politics in the 1990s, Louisiana State University Press, 1999, edited by Alexander P. Lamis; pp. 92–94.
  4. ^ a b c "Hunt Jr., James Baxter (From Research Branch, NC OA&H) | NCpedia".
  5. ^ Historical State: History in Red and White. "James Baxter Hunt, Jr". Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2011.
  6. ^ a b Beckwith, Ryan Teague (2007). "Jim Hunt". NCPedia. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Governor James B. Hunt Jr. Historic Timeline" (PDF). NC State University Libraries. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  8. ^ Pearce, Gary (2010). Jim Hunt : A Biography. Winston-Salem, North Carolina: John F. Blair. p. 39. ISBN 978-0895873880.
  9. ^ Pearce, Gary (2010). Jim Hunt : A Biography. Winston-Salem, North Carolina: John F. Blair. pp. 42–52. ISBN 978-0895873880.
  10. ^ Cheney 1981, p. 424.
  11. ^ Coble 1989, p. 158.
  12. ^ Stewart, Elizabeth (January 13, 1977). "Inauguration a Chilling Experience". King's Mountain Mirror-Herald. Vol. 88, no. 4. p. 2B.
  13. ^ Pearce, Gary (2010). Jim Hunt : A Biography. Winston-Salem, North Carolina: John F. Blair. p. 3. ISBN 978-0895873880.
  14. ^ Magnuson, Ed; Allis, Sam (February 20, 1984). "Primed for a Test". Time. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  15. ^ Mazzocchi, Jay. "Helms-Hunt Senate Race". NCPedia. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  16. ^ Pearce, Gary (2010). Jim Hunt : A Biography. Winston-Salem, North Carolina: John F. Blair. p. 228. ISBN 978-0895873880.
  17. ^ Pearce, Gary (2010). Jim Hunt : A Biography. Winston-Salem, North Carolina: John F. Blair. p. 247. ISBN 978-0895873880.
  18. ^ Pearce, Gary (2010). Jim Hunt : A Biography. Winston-Salem, North Carolina: John F. Blair. p. 263. ISBN 978-0895873880.
  19. ^ "Gore considering naming VP immediately after GOP convention". CNN. July 14, 2000. Archived from the original on November 4, 2008. Retrieved June 8, 2008.
  20. ^ Cannon, Carl M. (October 25, 2004). "National security appointments would loom large in Kerry administration". Government Executive. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  21. ^ "Yahoo!". news.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  22. ^ "Position: James B Hunt Jr, Task Force On Teaching As A Profession". LittleSis. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  23. ^ a b "Jim Hunt, former NC governor, dies at 88". The Wilson Times. December 18, 2025. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  24. ^ Teater, Barry. "Gov. Jim Hunt, advocate for biotech, dies". North Carolina Biotechnology Center. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  25. ^ "North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics About". North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  26. ^ "The Wilmington Ten – North Carolina Digital History". Learnnc.org. February 6, 1971. Archived from the original on August 20, 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
  27. ^ "The Story of the Wilmington Ten" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 4, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  28. ^ Janken, Kenneth Robert. The Wilmington Ten: Violence, Injustice, and the Rise of Black Politics in the 1970s. Chapel Hill: U of North Carolina, 2015. 152+. Print.
  29. ^ Campbell, Colin (December 18, 2025). "Jim Hunt, governor who championed education, dies at 88". WUNC. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  30. ^ Christensen, Rob; Vaughan, Dawn Baumgartner. "Former NC Gov. Jim Hunt, a longtime, dominant figure in state politics, has died". The News & Observer. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  31. ^ Kotch, Seth (2019). Lethal state : a history of the death penalty in North Carolina. University of North Carolina Press. pp. 154–156. ISBN 978-1469649863.
  32. ^ Noble Mitch, Holcomb (February 26, 2013). "C. Everett Koop, Forceful U.S. Surgeon General, Dies at 96". The New York Times.
  33. ^ "National Advisory Board". Institute for Emerging Issues. Archived from the original on December 2, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  34. ^ "Our Story". The Hunt Institute. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  35. ^ "Working at the Intersection of Education Policy and Politics". The Hunt Institute. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  36. ^ "Rachel Hunt". Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  37. ^ "Lowering US and NC Flags to Half-Staff in Honor of Former NC Governor Jim Hunt". NC DOA. December 18, 2025. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  38. ^ Leslie, Laura; Bacharier, Galen (December 18, 2025). "Jim Hunt, NC governor who won four terms and shaped legacy on education, dies". NC Newsline. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  39. ^ Martin, Jonathan (December 18, 2025). "James B. Hunt Jr., N.C. Governor Who Kept State Blue, Dies at 88". The New York Times. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  40. ^ "Lowering US and NC Flags to Half-Staff in Honor of Former NC Governor Jim Hunt". North Carolina Department of Administration. December 18, 2025. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  41. ^ a b c Ingram, Kyle (December 19, 2025). "Public invited to attend former North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt's funeral service". Raleigh News and Observer. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  42. ^ deBruyn, Jason (December 26, 2025). "Funeral service for Jim Hunt held in Wilson". WHQR. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  43. ^ a b c "Former Gov. Jim Hunt remembered as family man, committed to North Carolina". WRAL. December 26, 2025. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  44. ^ a b "TODAY: Funeral for Jim Hunt, North Carolina's longest-serving governor". WLOS. December 26, 2025. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  45. ^ Eberly, Keaton (December 26, 2025). "Former NC Governor Jim Hunt to be laid to rest in Wilson on Friday". WNCN. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  46. ^ "Gov. James Baxter Hunt, Jr". Joyner's Funeral Home & Crematory. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  47. ^ Annas, Ruby (December 22, 2025). "Former NC Governor Jim Hunt's funeral set for Dec. 26". WLOS. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  48. ^ Anderson, Ashley (December 19, 2025). "Funeral plans set for former NC Governor Jim Hunt". WNCN. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  49. ^ Eberly, Keaton (December 26, 2025). "Former NC Governor Jim Hunt to be laid to rest in Wilson on Friday". WNCN. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  50. ^ "Our Campaigns – NC Lt. Governor – D Primary Race – 1972".
  51. ^ "Our Campaigns – NC Lt. Governor Race – 1972".
  52. ^ "Our Campaigns – NC Governor – D Primary Race – 1976".
  53. ^ Cook, Rhodes (October 26, 2017). America Votes 32: 2015–2016, Election Returns by State – Rhodes Cook. CQ Press. ISBN 9781506368993. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  54. ^ "Our Campaigns – NC Governor – D Primary Race – 1980".
  55. ^ "Our Campaigns – NC Governor Race – Nov 04, 1980".
  56. ^ a b c d "North Carolina DataNet #46" (PDF). University of North Carolina. April 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 25, 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
  57. ^ "Our Campaigns – NC Governor – D Primary Race – May 05, 1992".
  58. ^ "Atlas Forum Index". Atlas Forum. March 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
  59. ^ "The Hunt Institute Celebrates the Life and Legacy of Founder Governor James B. Hunt, Jr". The Hunt Institute. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  60. ^ "NC State dedicates $115.2M Hunt Library". WRAL. April 3, 2013. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  61. ^ "James Hunt High School". U.S. News and World Report. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  62. ^ "U.S. 264 Renamed for Hunt". WRAL. August 6, 2006. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  63. ^ Peeler, Tim (December 26, 2025). "Hunt's Passionate Legacy Will Never Be Extinguished". NC State News. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  64. ^ "Governor James B. Hunt, Jr". Veterans Life Center North Carolina. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  65. ^ "James B. Hunt Jr. Horse Complex". North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  66. ^ Spencer, Renee. "Why are most NCDOT ferries painted with NC university colors and mascots? | MyReporter". Wilmington StarNews. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  67. ^ "Former Gov. Jim Hunt speaks on educational leadership". Inside UNC Charlotte. October 8, 2013. Archived from the original on April 28, 2025. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  68. ^ Leslie, Laura; Bacharier, Galen (December 18, 2025). "Former North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt dies". NC Newsline. Archived from the original on December 19, 2025. Retrieved December 19, 2025.

Works cited

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Further reading

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