Senator Dan Blue ** represents **District 14 in the North Carolina State Senate. Born Daniel Terry Blue Jr. on April 18, 1949, in Lumberton, North Carolina, he was raised in Robeson County, where he excelled as valedictorian of his high school class. A lawyer and founding partner of Blue LLP in Raleigh, he has served over four decades in public office, advocating for public education, economic growth, environmental protection, healthcare access, and senior services. Notable achievements include serving as the first African American Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives , where he cut wasteful spending, advanced workplace safety, school improvements, and criminal justice reforms; Senate Democratic Leader ; two-term President of the National Conference of State Legislatures; past Chairman of the Duke University Board of Trustees ; and Chairman of key committees like Judiciary and Appropriations. He holds nine honorary degrees, ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2002, and is involved in Masonic leadership as Senior Grand Attorney for the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of North Carolina.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Graduated with a B.S. in Mathematics from North Carolina Central University ; earned a J.D. from Duke University School of Law ; admitted to the North Carolina State Bar and has practiced law in Wake County since.
• Political Experience: Elected to the North Carolina House in 1980 ; moved to the Senate in 2009 ; brief return to House in 2006 after U.S. Senate bid; leadership in Legislative Black Caucus , Southern Legislative Conference, Democratic National Committee, and Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.