Senator Kathy Harrington announces retirement

Raleigh, N.C. – Majority Leader Sen. Kathy Harrington (R-Gaston) announced today she will not seek re-election. Sen. Harrington is in her sixth term representing Gaston County in the North Carolina State Senate. She was elected by the Senate Republican Caucus to serve as majority leader for the 2021-22 session.

Sen. Harrington said, "I'm immensely proud of what I've been able to accomplish over nearly 12 years in the Senate. It's been an honor to serve the people of Gaston County.

"Looking back at my tenure I can say for a fact that I've accomplished all my goals and worked tirelessly on behalf of my constituents. North Carolina is in a vastly different position than it was when I first took office. We have lower taxes, balanced budgets, and working families can send their children to schools that best fit their educational needs. With that in mind, I felt like it was the right time to retire."

Harrington has been a budget writer in the Senate since 2014. Prior to her work on the budget, she was instrumental in the creation of the Strategic Transportation Investments law, which passed in 2013. The STI law brought a more data-driven approach to transportation project funding and established the State Transportation Improvement Program, which identifies what projects will receive funding over a 10-year time period.

Her time as a budget writer was marked by balanced budgets, regular revenue surpluses, lower taxes for all North Carolinians, and increased funding for education.

Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) said, "I'm thankful for Senator Harrington's leadership in the Senate. She's been a strong leader in the caucus, helping guide all of our members and offering sound counsel to those who seek it. She's the epitome of a public servant, always working to make life better for her constituents and thoughtfully addressing issues facing the state. She'll be missed in the Senate, but I'm excited to see how she continues to serve the state of North Carolina in her retirement."

Sen. Harrington is the first woman to be elected majority leader in the Senate