Deb Butler is a Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 18 . She has served since 2017, appointed by Governor Roy Cooper to succeed Susi Hamilton, and has been re-elected multiple times, including in 2020 and running in 2024. A Wilmington native and attorney, she is openly lesbian, married to Anni Parra since 2015, and identifies as Spiritual/Methodist. Notable achievements include serving as Democratic Whip , membership in the Progressive House Caucus, and awards such as the Tammy Baldwin Breakout Award from the Victory Institute and NC League of Conservation Voters Legislator of the Year Green Tie Award. She serves on committees like Banking, Commerce, Finance, Judiciary 2, and Regulatory Reform, and is involved in community boards including the Historic Wilmington Commission and Wilmington Regional Association of Realtors.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: BA from University of Tennessee; JD from Wake Forest University School of Law.
• Professional: Managing Attorney at The Butler Firm, PLLC in Wilmington.
• Political Experience:
  • Appointed to NC House District 18 in 2017; re-elected 2018, 2020, 2022.
  • Democratic Whip, NC House .
  • Unsuccessful candidate for NC Senate District 9 .
  • One of four openly LGBT members in the NC state legislature.