Marcus Brandon
Encyclopedia
Marcus Brandon is a politician from Greensboro, North Carolina
who serves in the North Carolina House of Representatives
. A Democrat
, he has represented the 60th district since January 2011.
, Brandon graduated from Southern Guilford High School
. He attends North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
(NC A&T) where he is majoring in political science. He expects to graduate in late 2010 or 2011.
Brandon is a political consultant by profession. He worked for NGP Software, a leading supplier of campaign software, and later served as national finance director for Dennis Kucinich's 2008 presidential campaign
.
and Pleasant Garden
. Brandon challenged four-term incumbent Rep. Earl Jones in the Democratic primary held on May 4, 2010 and defeated him by 60% to 40%. The district is majority African American
and heavily Democratic; in the general election, Brandon, who is African-American, defeated his Republican opponent by a wide margin, taking 70% of the vote. He took office in January 2011.
member of the North Carolina General Assembly
. State senator Julia Boseman
(D–Wilmington
) was elected in 2004 as the state's first openly gay legislator but declined to seek reelection in 2010.
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
who serves in the North Carolina House of Representatives
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he has represented the 60th district since January 2011.
Early life and career
A lifelong resident of Guilford County, North CarolinaGuilford County, North Carolina
Guilford County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. In 2010, the Census Bureau estimated the county's population to be 491,230. Its seat is Greensboro. Since 1938, an additional county court has been located in High Point, North Carolina, making Guilford one of only a handful...
, Brandon graduated from Southern Guilford High School
Southern Guilford High School
Southern Guilford High School was founded in 1930 in the Sumner area of Guilford County, North Carolina. It operates on a block, college-styled schedule ' as opposed to the traditional bell schedule that has 6 periods year long. Southern has an enrollment of around 1021, grades 9-12...
. He attends North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is a land-grant university located in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest publicly funded historically black college in the state of North Carolina.NC A&T is a constituent institution of the University of North...
(NC A&T) where he is majoring in political science. He expects to graduate in late 2010 or 2011.
Brandon is a political consultant by profession. He worked for NGP Software, a leading supplier of campaign software, and later served as national finance director for Dennis Kucinich's 2008 presidential campaign
Dennis Kucinich presidential campaign, 2008
Dennis Kucinich announced on December 12, 2006 that he would seek the nomination for the Democratic Party to run for President of the United States. Although a Democratic candidate, he was not included in the New Hampshire debates on January 4, 2008 or the South Carolina debates on January 21, 2008...
.
Political career
North Carolina's 60th state house district includes parts of Greensboro, High PointHigh Point, North Carolina
High Point is a city located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. As of 2010 the city had a total population of 104,371, according to the US Census Bureau. High Point is currently the eighth-largest municipality in North Carolina....
and Pleasant Garden
Pleasant Garden, North Carolina
Pleasant Garden is a town in Guilford County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,714 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pleasant Garden is located at ....
. Brandon challenged four-term incumbent Rep. Earl Jones in the Democratic primary held on May 4, 2010 and defeated him by 60% to 40%. The district is majority African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
and heavily Democratic; in the general election, Brandon, who is African-American, defeated his Republican opponent by a wide margin, taking 70% of the vote. He took office in January 2011.
Personal
Brandon is openly gay. He is the only openly LGBTLGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
member of the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
. State senator Julia Boseman
Julia Boseman
Julia Boseman is an American politician and a former Democratic member of the North Carolina Senate. She represented the state's ninth Senate district, covering all of New Hanover County, from January 2005 to January 2011.-Early life and career:...
(D–Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
) was elected in 2004 as the state's first openly gay legislator but declined to seek reelection in 2010.