Senator Sydney Batch - North Carolina Senate District 17

Sydney Batch is a Democratic state senator representing District 17 in North Carolina, serving as Senate Democratic Leader—the first woman and first Black woman to hold this role.

Sydney Jeanene Batch, born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is a mom, attorney, social worker, and small business owner dedicated to North Carolina families. A Triangle native and resident of Holly Springs in Wake County, she lives with her husband, J. Patrick Williams—a fellow attorney—and their two sons. She co-founded the law firm Batch, Poore & Williams, P.C., specializing in family and child-welfare law. Batch overcame breast cancer, diagnosed in 2018, undergoing mastectomies and radiation while entering public service. Her legislative priorities include strong public schools, affordable health care, clean air and water, reproductive freedom, economic opportunity, and democracy reform. Notable achievements: elected to NC House District 37 in 2018 , appointed to NC Senate District 17 in 2021, re-elected in 2022, and elected Senate Democratic Leader in December 2024. She serves on committees including Appropriations , Commerce and Insurance, Finance, Health Care, Judiciary, and others.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: "Triple Tar Heel" from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill—B.A. in English , J.D. from UNC School of Law , M.S.W. . Certified Child Welfare Specialist by the National Association of Counsel for Children.
• Political Experience:
  • NC House of Representatives, District 37 ; committees: Elections and Ethics Law, Finance, Judiciary, State and Local Government.
  • NC State Senate, District 17 ; Senate Democratic Leader .
  • Sponsored legislation on health care access, clean water/air, paid family leave, mental health, public education, small businesses, and working families.