NC · Officeholder
RState Senator · District 4
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: North Carolina Senate District 4
Buck Newton is a Republican member of the North Carolina State Senate who has represented District 4 since January 2023 and is on the ballot for re-election on November 3, 2026.[1][2] An attorney, he previously served in the Senate from 2011 to 2017.[1]
Buck Newton, whose full name is Eldon Sharpe Newton III, was born in Wilson, North Carolina, and graduated from Hunt High School.[1] He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Appalachian State University and a J.D. from Campbell University School of Law, and his career experience includes working as an attorney in private practice and owning a small business.[1]
Newton served in the North Carolina State Senate representing District 11 from 2011 to 2017, and assumed office in District 4 on January 1, 2023.[1] For 2025-2026, Ballotpedia lists him as chair of the Appropriations on Justice and Public Safety, Appropriations/Base Budget and Judiciary committees and as a member of the Education/Higher Education, Finance and Transportation committees.[1]
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
Buck Newton is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for North Carolina Senate District 4 as R. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Republicans voted. How topics are assigned
Most contested
Apr 16, 2025 · Passed 28–19 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Jun 24, 2026: Makes a range of tax law changes, including updating the state's link to the federal tax code, creating a Hurricane Helene timber-loss deduction, applying the 8% rental car tax to peer-to-peer rentals, and creating a 40% credit for rehabilitating corporate campuses.
Jun 23, 2026 · Passed 27–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Limit Rules With Substantial Financial Costs.
Makes state rules costing $20 million or more over five years take effect only if a General Assembly bill approves them. Requires two-thirds board votes for rules costing $1 million or more, and unanimity at $10 million or more.
Jun 10, 2025 · Passed 26–17 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Realign Congressional Districts 2025.
Changes the boundaries of North Carolina's congressional Districts 1 and 3, redrawing part of the state's U.S. House district map.
Oct 20, 2025 · Passed 25–20 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Prevent Sexual Exploitation/Women and Minors.
Defines male and female by biological sex in state rules; requires consent and age verification for online explicit images; bars state funds for prisoner gender transition care; sets a 10-year malpractice window for adult transition care; sets school sleeping quarters, religious excusal, library book rules.
Jun 24, 2025 · Failed 19–27 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Jun 11, 2025: Lets U.S. citizens 18 or older who are not otherwise prohibited carry a concealed handgun without a permit, raises line-of-duty death payments to $150,000, and increases penalties for firearm assaults on law enforcement and other first responders.
Mar 20, 2025 · Passed 26–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Provides that parents or caregivers who raise or refer to a child consistent with the child's biological sex cannot face abuse or neglect findings on that basis alone, and bars adoption agencies from rejecting parents who do not support a child's gender transition.
Jun 23, 2025 · Passed 28–19 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Eliminating "DEI" in Public Higher Ed.
On the version voted Jul 29, 2025: Bars public colleges and universities from endorsing or compelling belief in listed "divisive concepts" about race and sex, keeping diversity, equity and inclusion offices, or treating people differently based on federally protected traits, with exceptions for protected speech, research and legally required policies.
Apr 9, 2025 · Passed 28–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Eliminating "DEI" in Public Education.
On the version voted Jul 29, 2025: Bars public schools from promoting or compelling belief in listed "divisive concepts" about race and sex, teaching them except neutrally under state standards, keeping diversity, equity and inclusion offices, or treating people differently by federally protected traits, and bars state-backed teacher training on those concepts.
Mar 11, 2025 · Passed 28–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Rocky Mount/Louisburg Utility Revenue/Advisory.
Limits Rocky Mount's transfers of electric and natural gas revenue to other city funds, creates a nine-member public utilities advisory committee there, limits Louisburg's transfers of electric revenue, and repeals a 2021 law on Louisburg's use of electric rates for economic development.
Jul 1, 2026 · Passed 29–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Expand CEPS/Nuclear and Hydro.
Counts all nuclear and fusion power plants, including those placed in service before 2007, as "new clean energy facilities" under the state's clean energy portfolio standard, and drops the 10-megawatt size limit for hydroelectric plants to count as renewable energy facilities.
May 7, 2025 · Passed 29–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Removes the interim carbon reduction target for electric utilities, allows alternative recovery of financing costs for baseload plants under construction, changes fuel-cost and performance-based ratemaking rules, and authorizes securitization of coal plant retirement costs.
Jul 29, 2025 · Passed 30–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Defund Planned Parenthood & Cost Transparency.
Directs the state Medicaid agency to disenroll Planned Parenthood Federation of America and associated entities as providers and engage others. Requires hospitals and surgical facilities to give written good-faith estimates for scheduled services on request, capping final bills at 5% above the estimate.
Sep 22, 2025 · Passed 28–20 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Changes the State Board of Dental Examiners from dentists elected by dentists to appointees of the Governor, legislative leaders and the Labor Commissioner, sets a 10-member board of six dentists, two hygienists and two public members, and limits service to two three-year terms.
Apr 30, 2025 · Passed 27–19 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Repeal Certificate of Need Laws.
Repeals North Carolina's Certificate of Need law for health care facilities and services, effective January 1, 2026.
Apr 15, 2025 · Passed 31–17 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Drug-Free Zones/Unauthorized Public Camping.
On the version voted Jun 30, 2026: Creates felonies for selling drugs in posted drug-free zones around homeless service facilities, and bars local governments from allowing regular camping or sleeping on public property except at sites they designate for up to a year with Labor Department certification.
Jun 24, 2026 · Passed 26–16 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Land Use Clarification and Changes.
Requires commercial zoning to permit public school buildings by right or special use, phases out cities' extraterritorial planning jurisdiction by county population starting October 1, 2026, and clarifies that existing use rights survive approval of added uses.
May 6, 2025 · Passed 33–12 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Makes filing a knowingly false deed a felony, requires photo ID from most people recording property documents, lets registers of deeds refuse suspicious documents, lets property owners sue over fraudulent filings, and requires tax collector certification before deeds are recorded.
Jun 19, 2025 · Failed 1–39 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Robocall Solicitation Modifications.
Applies state telephone solicitation rules to robocalls and text messages, requires prior express written consent for solicitations, bans impersonating government officials in them, and counts civil penalties per violation within a single solicitation.
Jun 17, 2026 · Passed 31–16 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
GSC Uniform Comm. Code/Emerging Technologies.
Updates the state's commercial code, as recommended by the General Statutes Commission, adding rules for transferring and controlling electronic records and electronic money and for using them as loan collateral, effective October 1, 2025.
Mar 27, 2025 · Passed 45–1 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Protecting Students in a Digital Age.
On the version voted Jun 11, 2025: Requires school boards to adopt internet policies blocking student social media and TikTok on school devices, adds required lessons on social media's health effects, and requires schools to bar student phone use during instructional time, with exceptions.
Jun 3, 2025 · Passed 44–1 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
NC Farmland and Military Protection Act.
Bars foreign parties tied to adversarial governments from acquiring or holding interests in agricultural land or land within 50 miles of a military installation. Holdings before April 1, 2027 may continue but must be registered; later acquisitions must be sold within one year.
Jun 23, 2026 · Passed 42–3 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Parking Lot Reform/Stormwater Control.
Bars most local governments outside the coastal area from requiring a minimum number of off-street parking spaces, and lets local governments offer optional incentives for extra stormwater controls. Also changes stormwater rules for existing impervious surface.
Jun 23, 2026 · Passed 44–1 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Voted against most of their party on 3 of 240 party-divided votes on file.
Dental Board Reform.
What it does: Changes the State Board of Dental Examiners from dentists elected by dentists to appointees of the Governor, legislative leaders and the Labor Commissioner, sets a 10-member board of six dentists, two hygienists and t…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 1–16, Republicans 26–3
Apr 30, 2025Official record ↗
Shrimp Trawling Transition Program/Fees.
What it does: On the version voted Jun 24, 2025: Creates annual payments through October 1, 2028, for commercial fishers who sold shrimp trawled in inshore waters from 2023 to mid-2025, and temporarily raises commercial and recreat…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 5–14, Republicans 24–4
Jun 23, 2025Official record ↗
Flounder/Red Snapper Seasons and Shrimp Trawl.
What it does: On the version voted Jun 19, 2025: Directs state fisheries regulators to allow a recreational southern flounder season of at least six weeks, set a 750,000-pound commercial flounder quota and a year-round red snapper…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 1–16, Republicans 24–4
Jun 18, 2025Official record ↗
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
Realign Congressional Districts 2025.
With most of their party · Passed 25–20 · Yes 25–No 20 · Democrats 0–20, Republicans 25–0
Oct 20, 2025Official record ↗
Defund Planned Parenthood & Cost Transparency.
With most of their party · Passed 28–20 · Yes 28–No 20 · Democrats 0–20, Republicans 28–0
Sep 22, 2025Official record ↗
Prevent Sexual Exploitation/Women and Minors.
With most of their party · Failed 19–27 · Yes 19–No 27 · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 0–27
Jun 24, 2025Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed 28–21 · Yes 28–No 21 · Democrats 0–20, Republicans 28–1
Apr 22, 2026Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed 26–18 · Yes 26–No 18 · Democrats 0–18, Republicans 26–0
Mar 20, 2025Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed 28–19 · Yes 28–No 19 · Democrats 0–19, Republicans 28–0
Sep 22, 2025Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed 28–19 · Yes 28–No 19 · Democrats 0–19, Republicans 28–0
Jun 23, 2025Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed 28–19 · Yes 28–No 19 · Democrats 0–19, Republicans 28–0
Apr 16, 2025Official record ↗
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
Motion: Conference Rpt Third Reading
On the version voted Aug 5, 2026: Makes technical, clarifying and other changes to the 2026 state budget law, including adjustments to Hurricane Helene recovery grants and programs, budget procedure rules, and several local and board appointment provisions.
Motion: Conference Rpt Motion 8 To Adopt
Adjusts the 2026 budget act: redirects several directed grants, moves authorization of the America's Semiquincentennial license plate into GS 20-63, delays an insurance regulatory charge change to 2027, and appropriates $225,000 for State Fire Marshal and $300,000 for Labor Department positions.
Motion: Conference Rpt Motion 8 To Adopt
Changes court laws, including when juvenile records may be disclosed, giving any attorney of record access to the trial file in indigent appeals, assigning superior court judges to districts with a county over 1 million people, and Judicial Standards Commission definitions.
Motion: Conference Rpt Second Reading
On the version voted Aug 5, 2026: Makes technical, clarifying and other changes to the 2026 state budget law, including adjustments to Hurricane Helene recovery grants and programs, budget procedure rules, and several local and board appointment provisions.
Motion: Second Reading
On the version voted Aug 4, 2026: Appoints people to boards and commissions, including community college trustees and a Special Superior Court judge, on the recommendation of the Senate leader and House Speaker, and corrects earlier appointments.
Motion: Amendment 1
Changes election law, including shortening early voting for primaries and runoffs, requiring county boards to remove deceased voters within a week of receiving federal lists, and making other-state voter data non-public.
Motion: Amendment 2 Motion 1 To Table
Changes election law, including shortening early voting for primaries and runoffs, requiring county boards to remove deceased voters within a week of receiving federal lists, and making other-state voter data non-public.
Motion: Amendment 3 Motion 1 To Table
Changes election law, including shortening early voting for primaries and runoffs, requiring county boards to remove deceased voters within a week of receiving federal lists, and making other-state voter data non-public.
Motion: Amendment 5
Changes election law, including shortening early voting for primaries and runoffs, requiring county boards to remove deceased voters within a week of receiving federal lists, and making other-state voter data non-public.
Motion: Amendment 6 Motion 1 To Table
Changes election law, including shortening early voting for primaries and runoffs, requiring county boards to remove deceased voters within a week of receiving federal lists, and making other-state voter data non-public.
Showing 10 of 336 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.