Jerry Meek, age 37, became involved in Democratic Party politics at age 13, as a volunteer for Democratic nominees in the 1984 election. As a teenager, he served as President of the State and National Teen Democrats. At age 17, he was elected as the youngest delegate ever elected to a Democratic National Convention.

After graduating from high school, Jerry won the Benjamin N. Duke scholarship to attend Duke University. Three and a half years later, he graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Duke, double majoring in Economics and Political Science. Jerry then won a fellowship to study at the University of Notre Dame, where he completed a Master’s degree in Government. In the fall of 1995, Jerry returned to North Carolina to attend Duke Law School, completing his law degree in 1997.

While in college, Jerry served as a precinct Chair in the Cumberland County Democratic Party and as an officer in the 7th Congressional District Democratic Party. At age 25, Jerry was elected Chairman of the Cumberland County Democratic Party, an office he held while commuting from Fayetteville to Durham to attend Duke Law School. In 1998, Jerry was the Democratic nominee for the State House from Cumberland County's 18th House District.

In February of 2003, Jerry was elected First Vice-Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party. In February of 2005, he was elected Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party. He was re-elected unanimously in January of 2007.

As State Chair, Jerry has worked aggressively to rebuild the State Party’s grassroots network, to expand services and support to local party organizations, to make better use of technology, and to encourage new people – especially young people – to become active in the Democratic Party.

Jerry is a partner with the law firm Poyner & Spruill, LLP. He was recently married to Rep. Tricia Cotham (D-Mecklenburg).

Contact Jerry Meek.

Fayetteville Observer profile