Lynne Russo | |
|---|---|
| Member-elect of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 117th district | |
| Assuming office January 1, 2027 | |
| Succeeding | Jennifer Balkcom |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1970 or 1971 (age 55–56) Minnesota, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Minnesota |
| Occupation | Communications consultant |
| Website | Campaign Website |
Lynne Russo (born 1970 or 1971) is an American communications consultant and politician who is a member-elect of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 117th district. A Democrat, she defeated Republican Chelsea Walsh in the 2026 election, flipping a Republican-held seat in Henderson County.
A native of Minnesota, Russo graduated from the University of Minnesota and has owned a communications consulting business for 23 years, working with nonprofit and education organizations. During her career she has worked with the Milken Foundation and other education and medical nonprofits. She lives in Hendersonville and was there when Hurricane Helene struck. After the storm she started a group to raise relief funds for victims.
Russo launched her campaign for the 117th district in August 2025, citing dissatisfaction with the General Assembly's support for Helene relief. She initially challenged Republican incumbent Jennifer Balkcom. Balkcom later left the race to run for Congress, and Republicans chose Walsh as their replacement nominee. Russo won by 1,530 votes, with 22,710 votes (51.74 percent) to Walsh's 21,180 (48.26 percent).
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lynne Russo | 22,710 | 51.74% | |
| Republican | Chelsea Walsh | 21,180 | 48.26% | |
| Total votes | 43,890 | 100% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||