George G. Cleveland

George Cleveland
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 14th district
In office
January 1, 2005 – January 1, 2025
Preceded byKeith Williams
Succeeded byWyatt Gable
Personal details
BornGeorge Grant Cleveland
(1939-05-09) May 9, 1939
Scranton, Pennsylvania
PartyRepublican
SpouseNancy Leatherman Cleveland
Children4
Alma materUniversity of Maryland, College Park (BS)

George Grant Cleveland (born May 9, 1939), is a former Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. He represented the 14th District (including constituents in eastern Onslow County) from 2005 to 2025. He is a 25-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps.[1]

He currently resides in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where he has lived for over 25 years.[2] In 2012, Cleveland generated controversy when he stated that the state of North Carolina has "no one in the state of North Carolina living in extreme poverty" during a debate in the House regarding preschool funding.[3] In a conflicting statement, the non-profit group Action for Children in North Carolina cited statistics claiming one in ten North Carolina children live in extreme poverty.[4]

North Carolina House of Representatives

Cleveland first ran for the North Carolina House of Representatives in 2004, where he defeated incumbent Keith Williams in the Republican primary.[5] He has been re-elected a total of 8 times, most recently in 2020. He was defeated for re-election in the 2024 primary by college student Wyatt Gable, who was just over one-quarter of his age.[6]

In February 2017, Cleveland joined with Representatives Michael Speciale (R-Craven), and Larry Pittman (R-Cabarrus) in proposing a constitutional amendment that would allow North Carolina voters to repeal Article I, Section 4 of the North Carolina Constitution. This article declares "This State shall ever remain a member of the American Union; the people thereof are part of the American nation," and prohibits the state from seceding from the United States of America, and its inclusion in North Carolina's 1868 constitution was a condition for being readmitted into the Union after the Civil War.[7]

During the 2017 session, Cleveland introduced a bill to budget the funds to purchase for the North Carolina State Highway Patrol three rescue helicopters.[8]

H.B. 1050 was introduced by Representative Cleveland in 2018. The bill worked to authorize the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to apply for Federal Funds for the Expansion of Sandhills 4 State Vets Cemetery and Western Carolina State Cemetery.[9]

Committee assignments

[10]

2023–2024 session

  • Appropriations (Vice Chair)
  • Appropriations - General Government (Chair)
  • Marine Resources and Aqua Culture (Chair)
  • Homeland Security, Military, and Veterans Affairs (Vice Chair)
  • Transportation (Vice Chair)
  • Insurance

2021–2022 session

  • Appropriations (Vice Chair)
  • Appropriations - General Government (Chair)
  • Homeland Security, Military, and Veterans Affairs (Vice Chair)
  • Marine Resources and Aqua Culture (Vice Chair)
  • State Government (Vice Chair)
  • Transportation (Vice Chair)
  • Insurance

2019–2020 session

  • Appropriations (Vice Chair)
  • Appropriations - General Government Committee (Chair)
  • Homeland Security, Military, and Veterans Affairs (Chair)
  • House State and Local Government (Vice Chair)
  • Transportation (Vice Chair)
  • Insurance
  • Wildlife Resources

2017–2018 session

  • Appropriations (Vice Chair)
  • Appropriations - General Government (Chair)
  • Homeland Security, Military, and Veterans Affairs (Chair)
  • Transportation (Vice Chair)
  • State and Local Government I
  • Wildlife Resources
  • Agriculture
  • Judiciary IV

2015–2016 session

  • Appropriations (Vice Chair)
  • Appropriations - General Government (Chair)
  • Appropriations - Information Technology
  • Homeland Security, Military, and Veterans Affairs (Chair)
  • Transportation (Vice Chair)
  • Local Government
  • Wildlife Resources
  • Agriculture
  • Education - K-12
  • Judiciary III

2013–2014 session

  • Appropriations (Vice Chair)
  • Homeland Security, Military, and Veterans Affairs (Chair)
  • Transportation (Vice Chair)
  • Government
  • Agriculture
  • Education
  • Judiciary

2011–2012 session

  • Appropriations
  • Homeland Security, Military, and Veterans Affairs (Chair)
  • Transportation
  • Government
  • Agriculture
  • Education
  • Judiciary

2009–2010 session

  • Appropriations
  • Homeland Security, Military, and Veterans Affairs
  • Transportation
  • Wildlife Resources
  • Education

Electoral history

2024

North Carolina House of Representatives 14th district Republican primary election, 2024[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Wyatt Gable 2,467 50.98%
Republican George Cleveland (incumbent) 2,372 49.02%
Total votes 4,839 100%

2022

North Carolina House of Representatives 14th district general election, 2022[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Cleveland (incumbent) 9,418 66.21%
Democratic Isiah "Ike" Johnson 4,807 33.79%
Total votes 14,225 100%
Republican hold

2020

In March 2020, Cleveland, R-Onslow, won the Republican nomination to retain the N.C. House District 14 seat with 68% of the vote. He defeated Democrat Mary Wofford in the general election.[13]

North Carolina House of Representatives 14th district Republican primary election, 2020[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Cleveland (incumbent) 4,112 67.60%
Republican Cindy Edwards 1,971 32.40%
Total votes 6,083 100%
North Carolina House of Representatives 14th district general election, 2020[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Cleveland (incumbent) 19,666 60.02%
Democratic Marcy Wofford 13,100 39.98%
Total votes 32,266 100%
Republican hold

2018

In November 2018, Cleveland beat Isaiah Johnson by almost 18 percentage points.

North Carolina House of Representatives 14th district Republican primary election, 2018[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Cleveland (incumbent) 2,122 52.54%
Republican Joseph R. McLaughlin 1,917 47.46%
Total votes 4,039 100%
North Carolina House of Representatives 14th district general election, 2018[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Cleveland (incumbent) 10,544 58.82%
Democratic Isaiah (Ike) Johnson 7,381 41.18%
Total votes 17,295 100%
Republican hold

2016

North Carolina House of Representatives 14th district general election, 2016[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Cleveland (incumbent) 18,908 100%
Total votes 18,908 100%
Republican hold

2014

North Carolina House of Representatives 14th district Republican primary election, 2014[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Cleveland (incumbent) 3,051 55.22%
Republican Bobby Mills 2,474 44.78%
Total votes 5,525 100%
North Carolina House of Representatives 14th district general election, 2014[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Cleveland (incumbent) 10,740 100%
Total votes 10,740 100%
Republican hold

2012

North Carolina House of Representatives 14th district general election, 2012[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Cleveland (incumbent) 15,861 100%
Total votes 15,861 100%
Republican hold

2010

North Carolina House of Representatives 14th district general election, 2010[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Cleveland (incumbent) 8,961 100%
Total votes 8,961 100%
Republican hold

2008

North Carolina House of Representatives 14th district Republican primary election, 2008[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Cleveland (incumbent) 1,930 55.86%
Republican Martin Aragona, Jr. 1,525 44.14%
Total votes 3,455 100%
North Carolina House of Representatives 14th district general election, 2008[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Cleveland (incumbent) 16,926 100%
Total votes 16,926 100%
Republican hold

2006

North Carolina House of Representatives 14th district Republican primary election, 2006[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Cleveland (incumbent) 533 54.78%
Republican Keith Williams 440 45.22%
Total votes 973 100%
North Carolina House of Representatives 14th district general election, 2006[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Cleveland (incumbent) 5,238 58.05%
Democratic Kever M. Clark 3,785 41.95%
Total votes 9,023 100%
Republican hold

2004

North Carolina House of Representatives 14th district Republican primary election, 2004[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Cleveland 1,182 53.92%
Republican Keith Williams (incumbent) 1,010 46.08%
Total votes 2,192 100%
North Carolina House of Representatives 14th district general election, 2004[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Cleveland 11,479 60.78%
Democratic Kever M. Clark 7,406 39.22%
Total votes 18,885 100%
Republican hold

References

  1. ↑ "George Grant Cleveland - Candidate Profiles - the Daily News, Jacksonville". Retrieved 2013-07-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. ↑ "Representative George G. Cleveland (Rep)". North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  3. ↑ "George Cleveland, Republican Rep, Claims No Extreme Poverty In North Carolina As Preschool Cuts Weighed, Huffington Post". NC Child. 2012-03-02. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  4. ↑ "Republican Lawmaker Claims There's No Extreme Poverty in North Carolina". HuffPost. 3 March 2012.
  5. ↑ "Our Campaigns - NC State House 14 Race - Nov 02, 2004". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  6. ↑ Coggins, Madeline. "College junior wins GOP primary against 10-term incumbent NC state lawmaker: 'Lot of hard work'". Fox News. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  7. ↑ "The Charlotte Observer". Archived from the original on 2017-02-22. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  8. ↑ "North Carolina HB34 | TrackBill". trackbill.com. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  9. ↑ "HOUSE BILL DRH30470-LMa-159". Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  10. ↑ "George Cleveland". Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  11. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  12. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  13. ↑ "Coastal Incumbents Survive Challenges | Coastal Review Online". www.coastalreview.org. 2020-03-05. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  14. ↑ https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=03/03/2020&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1915 North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  15. ↑ https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/03/2020&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1183 North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  16. ↑ https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=05/08/2018&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1049 North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  17. ↑ https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/06/2018&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1017 North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  18. ↑ https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/08/2016&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1089 North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  19. ↑ https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=05/06/2014&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1356 North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  20. ↑ https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/04/2014&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1122 North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  21. ↑ https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/06/2012&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1194 North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  22. ↑ https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/02/2010&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1190 North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  23. ↑ https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=05/06/2008&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1033 North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  24. ↑ https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/04/2008&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1197 North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  25. ↑ https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=05/02/2006&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=26 North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  26. ↑ https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/07/2006&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=167 North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  27. ↑ https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=07/20/2004&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=25 North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  28. ↑ https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/02/2004&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=171 North Carolina State Board of Elections.
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