Joe Sam Queen (born June 18, 1950) is a North American Democratic Party politician and architect from North Carolina. He has served in both the North Carolina Senate and the North Carolina House of Representatives.

Joe Sam Queen
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 119th district
In office
January 1, 2019 – January 1, 2021
Preceded byMike Clampitt
Succeeded byMike Clampitt
In office
January 1, 2013 – January 1, 2017
Preceded byPhil Haire
Succeeded byMike Clampitt
Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 47th district
In office
January 1, 2007 – January 1, 2011
Preceded byKeith Presnell
Succeeded byRalph Hise
In office
January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2005
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byKeith Presnell
Personal details
Born (1950-06-18) June 18, 1950 (age 74)
Waynesville, North Carolina, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDr. Kate Queen MD
Residence(s)Waynesville, North Carolina, U.S.
Alma materNorth Carolina State University (BS, MS)
ProfessionArchitect
Website[11]

Political career

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Queen represented the state's 47th Senate district, including constituents in Avery, Haywood, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell and Yancey counties. He was first elected in 2002, serving in the 2003-2004 session before being defeated in 2004 by former Yancey County commissioner Keith Presnell. Queen then defeated Presnell in 2006 and again in 2008. In 2010, he lost a bid for reelection to Ralph Hise.[1]

He was elected to the North Carolina House in 2012, defeating Mike Clampitt, and defeated Clampitt again in 2014. He began his second term in the North Carolina House of Representatives (his 5th total term in the General Assembly) on January 14, 2015. He represented the 119th district, including constituents in Jackson, Swain and Haywood counties. He was defeated for reelection by Mike Clampitt in the 2016 general election.[2] In the 2018 general election, Queen defeated Clampitt in a rematch to gain back his seat.[3] In the 2020 general election, Queen lost to Clampitt.[4]

Queen has served as the vice-chairman of the Aging Committee[5] and was a voting member of committees on Agriculture, Transportation, Appropriations, Appropriations General Government, Judiciary II and Regulatory Reform.[6] He was a vocal leader in the call to expand Medicaid in North Carolina and issues such as raising teacher pay.[7] He is adamantly against fracking in North Carolina and has made strong public remarks against it.[8]

Personal life

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An architect and a sixth generation resident of Haywood County, Queen is also heavily involved in other civic and cultural activities, including producing the summer street dances on Main Street in Waynesville and serving as director of the Smoky Mountain Folk Festival for more than 30 years.[9][10] He has also served as a boy scout master, a Sunday school teacher, a youth soccer coach and on various boards and committees. He attends many arts and educational events in his district, including plays and concerts. He is married to Dr. Kate Queen and has two children, both of whom are graduates of North Carolina State University. He has an architectural practice in Waynesville.

Electoral history

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2020

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North Carolina House of Representatives 119th district general election, 2020[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Clampitt 22,164 54.10%
Democratic Joe Sam Queen (incumbent) 18,806 45.90%
Total votes 40,970 100%
Republican gain from Democratic

2018

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North Carolina House of Representatives 119th district general election, 2018[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joe Sam Queen 15,662 52.33%
Republican Mike Clampitt (incumbent) 14,270 47.67%
Total votes 29,932 100%
Democratic gain from Republican

2016

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North Carolina House of Representatives 119th district general election, 2016[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Clampitt 17,757 50.39%
Democratic Joe Sam Queen (incumbent) 17,480 49.61%
Total votes 35,237 100%
Republican gain from Democratic

2014

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North Carolina House of Representatives 119th district general election, 2014[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joe Sam Queen (incumbent) 11,777 52.58%
Republican Mike Clampitt 10,623 47.42%
Total votes 22,400 100%
Democratic hold

2012

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North Carolina House of Representatives 119th district general election, 2012[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joe Sam Queen 16,679 51.73%
Republican Mike Clampitt 15,562 48.27%
Total votes 32,241 100%
Democratic hold

2010

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North Carolina Senate 47th district general election, 2010[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ralph Hise 31,846 55.82%
Democratic Joe Sam Queen (incumbent) 25,209 44.18%
Total votes 57,055 100%
Republican gain from Democratic

2008

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North Carolina Senate 47th district general election, 2008[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joe Sam Queen (incumbent) 41,736 53.59%
Republican Keith Presnell 36,144 46.41%
Total votes 77,880 100%
Democratic hold

2006

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North Carolina Senate 47th district general election, 2006[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joe Sam Queen 27,935 51.29%
Republican Keith Presnell (incumbent) 26,530 48.71%
Total votes 54,465 100%
Democratic gain from Republican

2004

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North Carolina Senate 47th district general election, 2004[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Keith Presnell 37,791 52.56%
Democratic Joe Sam Queen (incumbent) 34,115 47.44%
Total votes 71,906 100%
Republican gain from Democratic

2002

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2002 North Carolina Senate District 47th district general election, 2002[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joe Sam Queen 25,022 49.05%
Republican Gregg Thompson 24,375 47.78%
Libertarian Sherry Hill 1,619 3.17%
Total votes 51,016 100%
Democratic win (new seat)

References

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  1. ^ "NC SBE Contest Results". er.ncsbe.gov. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  2. ^ a b [1] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  3. ^ Hodge, Rex (2018-11-07). "Queen wins election in back-and-forth NC House District". WLOS. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  4. ^ "North Carolina House of Representatives District 119".
  5. ^ "Aging House Standing Committee - North Carolina General Assembly". www.ncleg.gov. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  6. ^ "North Carolina General Assembly - Representative Joe Sam Queen (Democrat, 2015-2016 Session)". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
  7. ^ "SMN 01 14 15". issuu. 14 January 2015. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  8. ^ "In Their Words: Rep. Joe Sam Queen".
  9. ^ Folkmoot USA
  10. ^ "About Us". Folkmoot USA. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  11. ^ [2] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  12. ^ [3] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  13. ^ [4] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  14. ^ [5] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  15. ^ [6] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  16. ^ [7] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  17. ^ [8] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  18. ^ [9] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  19. ^ [10] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
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North Carolina Senate
Preceded by
Constituency established
Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 47th district

2003–2005
Succeeded by
Keith Presnell
Preceded by
Keith Presnell
Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 47th district

2007–2011
Succeeded by
North Carolina House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 119th district

2013–2017
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 119th district

2019–2021
Succeeded by