Benton Sawrey
Benton Sawrey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the North Carolina Senate from the 10th district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Benton G. Sawrey January 20, 1987 |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Beth |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | |
Benton G. Sawrey (born January 20, 1987[1]) is an American politician who has served as a member of the North Carolina Senate since January 1, 2023. A Republican from Clayton, he represents the 10th district.[2] Sawrey is a graduate of North Carolina State University and the University of South Carolina.[3]
Early life and education
Sawrey is a native of Smithfield, North Carolina. He attended Johnston County Public Schools and graduated from Smithfield-Selma High School.[4] After graduation from high school, he attended North Carolina State University and earned a B.A. in political science. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
Career
Attorney
Sawrey is a partner with the law firm Narron Wenzel, P.A. that has offices in Smithfield, North Carolina and Raleigh, North Carolina.[5] His practice areas include business transactions, real estate litigation, and estate and trust litigation.[6]
Community involvement
Prior to his election to the North Carolina Senate, Sawrey served on the board of trustees at Johnston Community College. He was appointed to the college's board in 2015 by Governor Pat McCrory and re-appointed in 2019 by the Johnston County Board of Education.[7][8] He also served as a member of the board of directors for the Partnership for Children of Johnston County between 2016 and 2021 and a member of the Board of Directors of the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation between 2015 and 2022.[9]
Sawrey was recognized by the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce in 2022 with its Emerging Leader Award that honors professionals under 40 who demonstrate exceptional leadership, business impact, and community service.[10]
North Carolina Senate
Sawrey was elected to represent North Carolina Senate District 10 in 2022 and assumed office on January 1, 2023. North Carolina Senate District 10 encompasses all of Johnston County and was an open seat as a result of legislative re-districting following the 2020 census.[11] He defeated Jill Homan and Matt Ansley in the Republican primary and then defeated Democrat Dr. Gettys Cohen Jr. in the general election.[12]
Sawrey currently serves as co-chair of the North Carolina Senate Health Care Committee and co-chair of the North Carolina Appropriations on Health and Human Services Committee.[13] Sawrey was appointed to serve as co-chair on the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and co-chair of the Legislative Ethics Committee.[14] He also serves on the Judiciary Committee, the Elections Committee, and the Committee on the Rules and Operations of the Senate.
Sawrey serves as co-chair of the North Carolina General Assembly's Life Sciences Caucus.[15]
Sawrey has sponsored and passed into law several major pieces of legislation. He was the primary sponsor of the SCRIPT Act, which was signed into law by Governor Josh Stein on July 9, 2025, and reforms prescription drug pricing and pharmacy benefit manager practices in North Carolina.[16] Sawrey was also a primary sponsor of Senate Bill 1080, Lower Taxes for All, which places a constitutional amendment to cap the North Carolina state personal income tax rate at 3.5% on the ballot for the upcoming 2026 general election.[17]
Sawrey has spoken about the need to reform North Carolina's certificate-of-need laws and has introduced legislation that would repeal certificate-of-need requirements for health care facilities in the state.[18][19]
Sawrey was appointed by Governor Josh Stein to serve on the Health Care Affordability Commission.[20][21] Sawrey serves on the Justus-Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force and the North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Commission.[22][23]
Election results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Benton Sawrey | 12,318 | 65.60% | |
| Republican | Jill Homan | 3,279 | 19.86% | |
| Republican | Matt Ansley | 2,730 | 14.54% | |
| Total votes | 18,777 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Benton Sawrey | 48,083 | 63.90% | |
| Democratic | Gettys Cohen, Jr. | 27,165 | 36.10% | |
| Total votes | 75,248 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Benton Sawrey | 70,773 | 58.75% | |
| Democratic | Felicia C. Baxter | 45,346 | 37.64% | |
| Libertarian (United States) | Christopher Sessions | 4,351 | 3.61% | |
| Total votes | 120,470 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Benton Sawrey | 14,903 | 84.85% | |
| Republican | Caitlin Marsh | 2,661 | 15.15% | |
| Total votes | 17,564 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Benton Sawrey | - | - | |
| Democratic | Pat LeGrand | - | - | |
| Libertarian (United States) | Kevin Terrett | - | - | |
| Total votes | - | - | ||
Personal life
Sawrey lives in Clayton, North Carolina, with his wife and two children. He and his family are members of Horne United Methodist Church.
References
- ↑ Dean, Korie (September 26, 2024). "Republican Benton Sawrey, candidate for NC Senate District 10, answers our questions". News and Observer. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Benton Sawrey". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ↑ "Benton Sawrey". North Carolina Republican Senate Caucus. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ↑ "Benton G. Sawrey | Narron Wenzel, P.A. | Attorneys at Law". Narron Wenzel, P.A. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
- ↑ Media, Technology (January 27, 2020). "Benton G. Sawrey Named Partner of Narron Wenzel, P.A." Narron Wenzel, P.A. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- ↑ "Benton G. Sawrey | Narron Wenzel, P.A. | Attorneys at Law". Narron Wenzel, P.A. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- ↑ Media, Technology (July 8, 2019). "Benton Sawrey Reappointed to the Board of Trustees at Johnston Community College". Narron Wenzel, P.A. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- ↑ Lassiter, Wingate (June 23, 2022). "Johnston County Board of Education Report from June 11 Meeting". smithfieldweeklysun.com. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
{{cite web}}: Check|archive-url=value (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Sen. Benton Sawrey". North Carolina Leadership Forum. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- ↑ Staff (July 3, 2022). "Triangle East Chamber names Emerging Leader". The Johnstonian News. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- ↑ "Benton Sawrey Announces Bid For Johnston County Senate District". JoCo Report. November 16, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- ↑ "Benton Sawrey Wins NC Senate District 10". JoCo Report. November 8, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- ↑ "Committees - North Carolina General Assembly". www.ncleg.gov. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- ↑ "Committees - North Carolina General Assembly". www.ncleg.gov. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- ↑ "Senator Sawrey Named Co-Chair Of Legislative Life Sciences Caucus". JoCo Report. May 29, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- ↑ "SCRIPT Act signed into law in NC: What does it mean for prescriptions?". Yahoo News. July 11, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- ↑ "Senate Bill 1080 / SL 2026-4 (2025-2026 Session) - North Carolina General Assembly". www.ncleg.gov. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- ↑ Opeka, Theresa (March 16, 2026). "Sawrey: Senate to revisit health costs, Medicaid, CON reforms". Carolina Journal. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- ↑ "Hospitals Should Battle In The Marketplace, Not The Courtroom". JoCo Report. April 12, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- ↑ "Sen. Benton Sawrey Selected For New Health Care Affordability Commission". JoCo Report. July 2, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- ↑ "Executive Order No. 39: Establishing The North Carolina Health Care Affordability Commission | NC Governor". governor.nc.gov. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- ↑ "Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission Members and Staff | North Carolina Judicial Branch". www.nccourts.gov. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- ↑ "Members". Start With Your Heart. Retrieved July 19, 2026.