Prominent NC Republican senator leaves General Assembly for UNC-Chapel Hill job
A top North Carolina Republican senator is leaving the legislature for a job at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Senate Majority Leader Paul Newton announced Tuesday afternoon in a news release that he would step down, saying his last day would be Wednesday.
NC Tribune/BusinessNC reported that Newton was leaving to take a job as general counsel for UNC-Chapel Hill. On Wednesday, after giving a farewell speech during his final Senate session, Newton told The News & Observer he couldn’t comment — yet. “It won’t be long,” he said, saying his new job announcement was coming soon.
UNC made the news official on Thursday morning, with a message from Chancellor Lee Roberts to the university community. Newton’s first day as vice chancellor and general counsel will be April 21.
During his Senate speech, while not announcing his position, he told his Senate colleagues that he’d be “a perfect fit.”
“Several weeks ago, a friend sent me a job description. Out of the blue, I’m sitting at my desk doing Senate work, and I was not looking for a job. I opened the job description, and as I read it, I concluded that, really, everything I had done in my career heretofore was exactly what they were looking for. I’m a perfect fit,” Newton said.
On Thursday, after the news was official, Senate leader Phil Berger, an Eden Republican, said it was “their gain, our loss.”
Asked if Newton may take Senate Republican priorities to UNC, Berger said he thinks Newton would “to the extent that there are issues that come up in that job that are similar to issues that he’s brought up or been supportive of over here.”
“He is somebody that has been consistent in his philosophy and consistent in his beliefs, so I’m sure he will be guided by those sorts of things,” Berger said.
In his letter, Roberts noted that Newton received his business and law degrees from UNC.
Speaker Hall on Paul Newton resignation
“I hate to see him go,” Republican House Speaker Destin Hall told The News & Observer on Tuesday.
Asked about Newton reportedly taking the university job, Hall said that Newton “would be great at UNC in any role. Paul is one of the most respected members of General Assembly, and I’ve worked with him pretty closely over the years.”
“I think he’s really respected in both parties, both chambers. And he had a great career before he ever got to this place as well,” Hall said.
“Paul’s competent to do basically any job over there, whatever it ends up being, probably other than coaching basketball,” Hall said.
Newton, the former North Carolina state president for Duke Energy, has served in the Senate since 2016. He represents Cabarrus County. He has been majority leader since 2023.
“It has been an honor of a lifetime to serve the people of Cabarrus County for nearly a decade,” Newton said in a statement, going on to say he’s “been able to play a small role in so many consequential pieces of legislation that have made an incredible impact on the lives of North Carolinians — from significantly reducing the tax burden for all families and supporting businesses of all sizes, to expanding educational opportunities.”
“I want to thank my colleagues in the Senate for the relationships that we’ve built over the years. I’m especially grateful to the Republican Caucus for electing me to majority leader. Your trust has meant the world to me,” Newton said.
Aside from his background at Duke Energy, Newton has been known for his work to reduce taxes, including cuts to the individual and corporate income tax rates.
The news came as a surprise to lawmakers in the House, who were about to start their legislative session when the Newton announcement came.
Republican Rep. John Torbett, of Stanley, heard about Newton’s resignation for the first time when The N&O asked him about it.
“He’s always been a friend, and I especially enjoyed his participation in the motor sports conference,” Torbett said, referencing lawmakers working to support NASCAR in the state.
Berger called Newton a “valued voice and leader,” and said that he “provided a calm presence and wise counsel to many legislators during his time in Raleigh. He was always willing to tackle the tough subjects and never wavered from his convictions.”
“I’m thankful that he stepped up last biennium to help lead our caucus, and I look forward to seeing what he will accomplish outside of the General Assembly,” Berger said in a statement.
Berger said Senate Republicans would meet next week to choose a new majority leader. For Newton’s seat, Cabarrus County Republicans will choose his successor, who will then be appointed and sworn in, likely in the next few weeks.
This story was originally published March 25, 2025 at 5:06 PM.
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