Tom McInnis is a Republican State Senator representing District 21 in the North Carolina State Senate, serving his sixth term since 2015. Born on April 16, 1954, in Richmond County, North Carolina, he grew up on a family farm as the son of a farmer and public school teacher. A lifelong resident of the area, he lives in Pinehurst and is a Christian. McInnis is a certified auctioneer, inducted into the North Carolina Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame and recipient of the National Auctioneers Association President's Award of Distinction. Notable achievements include sponsoring the constitutional amendment protecting the right to hunt, fish, and trap; leading efforts against the opioid epidemic; championing vocational education, teacher pay raises, and school choice; and earning awards such as Legislator of the Year from First Health of the Carolinas and NC Defender of Public Safety from the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association. He currently serves as Senior Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Chair of the Regulatory Reform Committee, and Co-Chair of the Revenue Laws Study Committee, among other roles.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Attended Reisch College of Auctioneering; certified by the Auctioneers Institute at Indiana University .
• Political Experience:
  • Senator, North Carolina State Senate, District 21 ; previously District 25 .
  • Majority Whip, North Carolina State Senate .
  • Key committee roles: Chair, Transportation Committee; Co-Chair, Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Transportation; Member, Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Natural, and Economic Resources; former member of Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources, Finance, and Rules committees.
  • Earlier service: Member, Richmond County Board of Education; Former Member, North Carolina Auctioneers Licensing Board.