Donnie Loftis

Donnie Loftis
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 109th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 1, 2021
Preceded byDana Bumgardner
Personal details
Born (1956-09-07) September 7, 1956 (age 68)
Political partyRepublican
SpouseDeena
Children1
Residence(s)Gastonia, North Carolina, U.S.

Donnie Loftis (born September 7, 1956) is an American politician who has served in the North Carolina House of Representatives since November 2021.[1] A member of the Republican Party, he represents the 109th district, which contains part of Gaston County.

Loftis previously served as chair of the Gaston County board of commissioners and as chair of the board of directors of CaroMont Health. He resigned the latter position on May 4, 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in North Carolina, after spreading COVID-19 misinformation and posting on his personal Facebook page that Gov. Roy Cooper's stay-at-home order amounted to "tyranny".[2]

Loftis was also present at the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. He wrote on social media on January 6 that he "got gassed three times and was at the entrance when they breached the door".[3] When asked by a reporter in October 2021 about his involvement, he claimed that he "had absolutely zero involvement in the rioting and categorically condemn the storming of our Capitol building that day".[3]

Early life and career

Gaston County board of commissioners

CaroMont Health

North Carolina House of Representatives (2021–present)

Loftis previously ran for the 109th district seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives in 2012. In the four-candidate Republican primary won by Dana Bumgardner, he placed fourth with 19.1% of the vote.[4]

Appointment

After Rep. Bumgardner died in office on October 2, 2021, from liver cancer,[5] the county Republican Party convened to recommend a candidate to replace him. The governor, Roy Cooper, was then required to appoint this candidate to the North Carolina House of Representatives within seven days.[5][6] Loftis defeated county commissioner Ronnie Worley and Bumgardner's daughter Lauren Bumgardner Current to win the party endorsement on October 21.[6][7]

Loftis was sworn in on November 1, 2021. His seating led to a walk-out by House Democrats to protest his involvement in the U.S. Capitol riot.[8] Bobbie Richardson, chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, said in a statement that "today marks a new low for General Assembly Republicans, because instead of condemning those actions and rejecting the rhetoric that incites violence, they are welcoming a Capitol insurrection participant with open arms".[8]

Committee assignments

2021-2022 session

  • Appropriations
  • Appropriations - Transportation
  • Health
  • Homeland Security, Military, and Veterans Affairs
  • Local Government
  • Transportation

Electoral history

2022

North Carolina House of Representatives 109th district Republican primary election, 2022[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Donnie Loftis (incumbent) 2,649 33.69%
Republican John Gouch 1,814 23.07%
Republican Ronnie Worley 1,742 22.15%
Republican Lauren Bumgardner Current 1,658 21.09%
Total votes 7,863 100%

2012

North Carolina House of Representatives 109th district Republican primary election, 2012[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dana Bumgardner 2,990 35.05%
Republican Wil Neumann 2,023 23.71%
Republican Tom Keigher 1,885 22.10%
Republican Donnie Loftis 1,633 19.14%
Total votes 8,531 100%

2008

Gaston County Board of Commissioners Gastonia Township district general election, 2008[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Donnie Loftis 44,305 55.52%
Democratic Jennifer Pharr Davis 35,490 44.48%
Total votes 79,795 100%

2004

North Carolina House of Representatives 109th district Republican primary election, 2004[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William Current 1,265 59.92%
Republican Donnie Loftis 506 23.97%
Republican Pat Underwood 340 16.11%
Total votes 2,111 100%

References

  1. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  2. ^ Smoot, Hannah (May 5, 2020). "NC hospital chair resigns after posting about stay-at-home 'tyranny' and COVID-19 conspiracy". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Fain, Travis (October 22, 2021). "Incoming NC lawmaker was at Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol protests, riot". WRAL.com. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  4. ^ "NC House of Representatives, District 109, official primary election results". North Carolina State Board of Elections. May 8, 2012. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Ellis, Kevin (October 3, 2021). "Gaston County lawmaker Dana Bumgardner died Saturday from cancer". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Ellis, Kevin (October 21, 2021). "Gaston GOP makes House replacement pick". The Gaston Gazette. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  7. ^ "Former Gaston County commissioner to serve in NC House". Associated Press. October 21, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Murphy, Brian (November 1, 2021). "NC House Democrats walk out on newest Republican member, who participated in Jan. 6". The News & Observer. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  9. ^ [1] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  10. ^ [2] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  11. ^ [3] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  12. ^ [4] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
North Carolina House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 109th district
2021–present 		Incumbent