(The Center Square) – John Lowery, chairman of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, is the choice of the Robeson County Republican Party to succeed his brother in the state House of Representatives.
Rep. Jarrod Lowery, R-Robeson, last month said he would resign to accept a post in the Trump administration. He’ll join the U.S. Department of Interior as senior adviser to the assistant secretary for Indian Affairs. Billy Kirkland is the nominee awaiting confirmation for that position; Janel Broderick is in an interim role with delegated authority.
Next up for John Lowery is first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein to make the appointment.
Lowery’s career has included public school teaching in Robeson County; federal programs for Native American farmers and rural communities in the U.S. Department of Agriculture; and the state Department of Commerce. He’s been chairman of the tribe since 2022.
“Though I am sad to see Jarrod leave the General Assembly, I know that John Lowery is exactly the proven leader that Robeson County needs representing District 47 in Raleigh,” said state Sen. Danny Britt, R-Robeson. “I’ve worked alongside John for years and have seen firsthand his commitment to conservative values and delivering real results for Robeson County families.”
Rep. Brenden Jones, R-Columbus, is majority leader in the chamber and said Lowery would be “a valuable member of our caucus able to contribute right away.”
“His years of experience serving in tribal, state and federal government and delivering for the residents of Robeson County make him an exceptionally prepared choice,” Dr. Phillip Stephens said in a release. He’s chairman of the county Republican Party. “I look forward to seeing him serve out the remainder of Rep. Lowery’s term at the General Assembly.”
Jarrod Lowery, 37, won a second term in November.
Robeson County has surged in Republican support this year and dating back through the century. For example, on the county commission, Faline Locklear Dial, Lance Herndon and Judy Sampson changed party affiliation from Democrat to Republican this summer to give the Grand Old Party a 6-2 majority.
The county was won by Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, the latter a cycle in which the incumbent did not win the state. Second-term Republican President Donald Trump garnered 64% of the votes in November, his third straight win in the county.
Britt, in 2016, became the first state senator from the GOP since the Civil War with a 55%-45% win over Jane Smith. In 2022, Jarrod Lowery defeated incumbent Democrat Charles Townsend 60-7%-39.3%.
Robeson County’s roughly 118,000 population is 42% Native American, 30% white and 24% Black. The county’s 74,797 voter registrations, as of Saturday according to the State Board of Elections, are split 40.4% Democrats, 38% unaffiliated and 21.3% Republicans.
Ten years ago, registered Democrats were 71%.
That’s not the only figure different from state norms of 38% unaffiliated, 30.5% Democrats and 30.4% Republicans. Turnout in 2024 was 60% in the county and 73% statewide.
