W. Ted Alexander is a state senator representing District 44 in the North Carolina Senate, where he has served since January 2019. Born on August 14, 1960, in Morganton, North Carolina, he resides in Shelby with his wife Patti and their two children. Notable achievements include authoring legislation to strengthen victims' rights, leading bipartisan efforts against human trafficking, and previously serving as mayor of Shelby and chair of the Cleveland County Republican Party. He has also directed Main Street revitalization programs in Shelby and Bedford, Virginia, and worked to improve economic conditions in Cleveland County.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Graduated from Freedom High School; earned a BA in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte ; MA in Historic Preservation from Cornell University.
• Early Experience: Involved in Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship, Baseball Kappa , and North Carolina Student Legislature at UNC-Charlotte; UNC-Chapel Hill Institute of Government summer intern; New York State Senate Fellow in Sen. John Daly's office.
• Professional and Political Roles: Executive Director for Uptown Shelby Association and Bedford Main Street revitalization; Virginia State Main Street Director ; national and international speaker on economic development; current service in 2025-2026 session as Republican senator for District 44.