Marcus Brandon

Marcus Brandon is a politician from Greensboro, North Carolina who served in the North Carolina House of Representatives. A Democrat, he represented the 60th district from January 2011 through the end of 2014. In 2015, Brandon became the executive director of NorthCarolinaCan a nonprofit education policy and advocacy organization.[1]

Marcus Brandon
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 60th district
In office
January 1, 2011 – January 1, 2015
Preceded byEarl Jones
Succeeded byCecil Brockman
Personal details
Born (1975-01-18) January 18, 1975
Guilford County, North Carolina
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceGreensboro, North Carolina
Websitemarcusbrandon.com

Early life and career

A lifelong resident of Guilford County, North Carolina,[2] Brandon graduated from Southern Guilford High School, class of 1993.[3] He went on to attend North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T) where he majored in political science.[4]

Brandon is a political consultant by profession. He worked for NGP Software, a supplier of campaign software, and later served as national finance director for Dennis Kucinich's 2008 presidential campaign.[5]

Political career

North Carolina's 60th state house district includes parts of Greensboro, High Point 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%.[6] The district is majority African American and heavily Democratic; in the 2010 general election Brandon, who is African-American,[7] defeated his Republican opponent by a wide margin, taking 70% of the vote.[8] He took office in January 2011.

In 2012, he again faced Earl Jones, who ran to reclaim his former seat. In the Democratic primary held on May 8, 2012, Brandon defeated Jones by 66% to 34%.[9] He was unchallenged in the 2012 general election on November 6, 2012.[10][11]

Brandon was named one of "12 State Legislators to Watch in 2014" by Governing.com.

Brandon ran for the House seat vacated by former Congressman Mel Watt but lost the Democratic primary to Alma Adams.[12]

Personal

Brandon is openly gay.[13] He was the only openly LGBT member of the North Carolina General Assembly during his term.[14]

Electoral history

2014
North Carolina's 12th congressional district Democratic primary election, 2014[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alma Adams 15,235 44.00%
Democratic Malcolm Graham 8,180 23.63%
Democratic George Battle III 4,342 12.54%
Democratic Marcus Brandon 2,856 8.25%
Democratic James "Smuggie" Mitchell Jr. 1,775 5.13%
Democratic Curtis C. Osborne 1,733 5.01%
Democratic Rajive Patel 502 1.45%
Total votes 34,623 100%
North Carolina's 12th congressional district special Democratic primary election, 2014[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alma Adams 14,967 44.22%
Democratic Malcolm Graham 7,495 22.14%
Democratic George Battle III 4,431 13.09%
Democratic Marcus Brandon 2,984 8.82%
Democratic James "Smuggie" Mitchell Jr. 2,034 6.01%
Democratic Curtis C. Osborne 1,939 5.73%
Total votes 33,850 100%

2012
North Carolina House of Representatives 58th district Democratic primary election, 2012[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marcus Brandon (incumbent) 4,928 66.17%
Democratic Earl Jones 2,520 33.83%
Total votes 7,448 100%
North Carolina House of Representatives 58th district general election, 2012[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marcus Brandon (incumbent) 27,755 100%
Total votes 27,755 100%
Democratic hold

2010
North Carolina House of Representatives 58th district Democratic primary election, 2010[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marcus Brandon 1,625 59.81%
Democratic Earl Jones (incumbent) 1,092 40.19%
Total votes 2,717 100%
North Carolina House of Representatives 58th district general election, 2010[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marcus Brandon 10,664 69.65%
Republican Lonnie R. Wilson 4,646 30.35%
Total votes 15,310 100%
Democratic hold

References
  1. Greensboro News & Record
  2. "Legislative Advocacy | Alumni Association of the University of Michigan". Ciclt.net. 1975-01-18. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
  3. "Southern Guilford High School Class of 1993". southernguilfordhighschool.org. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  4. "Meet the Candidate: Marcus Brandon". News & Record. February 23, 2010. Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
  5. "Collaboration, education keys to success, says House candidate". Q-Notes. October 16, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
  6. "North Carolina State Board of Elections: 2010 primary election results". Retrieved November 9, 2010.
  7. "Meet Marcus Brandon". Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  8. "North Carolina State Board of Elections: 2010 general election results". Retrieved November 9, 2010.
  9. "North Carolina State Board of Elections: 2012 primary election results". Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  10. "North Carolina Board of Elections "Candidate lists," Accessed March 5, 2012". Archived from the original on March 11, 2013.
  11. "North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Official Primary Election Results," Accessed June 22, 2012". Results.enr.clarityelections.com. 2012-05-29. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
  12. Jacobson, Louis (January 2014). "12 State Legislators to Watch in 2014". Governing.com. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  13. "African American gay man wins election to N.C. House". GayPolitics.com. November 2, 2010. Archived from the original on November 3, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
  14. "Marcus Brandon elected to House District 60, becomes second openly gay member in N.C. General Assembly history". The American Independent. November 3, 2010. Archived from the original on November 8, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
  15. North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  16. North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  17. North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  18. North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  19. North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  20. North Carolina State Board of Elections.
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