Mark Speed
Mark Speed | |
|---|---|
| Member-elect of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 7th district | |
| Assuming office January 1, 2027 | |
| Succeeding | Matthew Winslow |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Camille Speed |
| Relations | James D. Speed (father) |
| Occupation | Farmer, disc jockey |
Mark Speed is an American farmer and politician who is a member-elect of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 7th district. A Democrat, he has served as a Franklin County commissioner since 2017.
Early life and career
A Franklin County native, Speed is a fourth-generation cattle and timber farmer and has also worked as a disc jockey for about 25 years. His grandfather served on the Franklin County Board of Commissioners in the 1920s, and his father, James D. Speed, served in the North Carolina General Assembly for more than 30 years. Speed and his wife, Camille, live in Louisburg and are members of a Baptist church.
Political career
Speed was appointed to the Franklin County Board of Commissioners in 2017. He ran for the North Carolina Senate from the 11th district in 2022, losing to Republican incumbent Lisa Stone Barnes with 45.15 percent of the vote.
In 2026, Speed ran for the 7th House district seat held by retiring Republican Matthew Winslow, facing Republican Cory Thornton. He opposes data centers, citing their potential environmental effects among other concerns. He won with 51.56 percent of the vote.
Electoral history
2026
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mark Speed | 19,901 | 51.56% | |
| Republican | Cory Thornton | 18,698 | 48.44% | |
| Total votes | 38,599 | 100% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
2022
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Lisa Stone Barnes (incumbent) | 41,701 | 54.85% | |
| Democratic | Mark Speed | 34,333 | 45.15% | |
| Total votes | 76,034 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
References
 | This article contains one or more duplicated citations. The reason given is: DuplicateReferences script detected:
(November 2026) |
- 1 2 3 4 Davis, Tyler (October 30, 2026). "Franklin Commissioner and former Marine running for District 7". The Daily Dispatch. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Kay, Lindell J. (November 29, 2021). "Speed running for Franklin's NC Senate seat". The Wake Weekly. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
- ↑ "11/08/2022 Official General Election Results". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
- ↑ "11/03/2026 Unofficial General Election Results". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
- ↑ "11/03/2026 Unofficial General Election Results". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.