Leaving office January 1, 2027.Lost re-election in 2026. This page switches to the former-officeholder layout when the term ends.

RepublicanIn office until January 1, 2027

Michael Lee

North Carolina State Senator, District 7 since 2014. Lost re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027. Ran in 8 elections between 2008 and 2024, winning 6.

North Carolina State Senator, District 7Born 1968

Official website Wikipedia

In office: 12 yrs; Since 2014
Bills became law: 7; 39 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed: 1.0%; Chamber median 8.4%
With party: 100%; On votes splitting the parties
Last margin: −5.3; Lost 2026
Elections: 9; 2008–2026

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

Appropriations and Base Budget · chair
Education and Higher Education · chair
Governmental Operations Commission · ex officio
State Lottery Legislative Oversight · co-chair
Capital Improvements Legislative Oversight
Commerce and Insurance
Health Care
Judiciary
Justice and Public Safety Legislative Oversight
Legislative Education Oversight
Legislative Research Commission
Legislative Services Commission
Nominations Select
Rules and Operations of the Senate

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 39 sponsored · 7 became law

BillIntroCmteSenateHouseLaw

SB 227 Eliminating "DEI" in Public Education.
BOARDS; DISCRIMINATION; EDUCATION; EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION; EDUCATION · Became law Jun 2026

SB 1080 Lower Taxes for All NC.
CONSTITUTION · Became law May 2026

SB 449 Continuing Budget Operations Part IV.
ACCOUNTING; AGRICULTURAL WASTE; AGRICULTURE; AGRICULTURE DEPT.; ANIMALS; AOC; APPROPRIATIONS; AUDITING & AUDITS; BOARDS; BUDGET & MANAGEMENT OFFICE; BUDGETING; CAPITAL SPENDING; CHARTER SCHOOLS; COASTAL RESOURCES; COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES; COMMERCE; COMMERCE DEPT.; COMMISSIONS; COMMUNITY COLLEGES; COMMUNITY COLLEGES BOARD; COUNCIL OF STATE; COUNTIES; COURTS; CRIMINAL PROCEDURE; CULTURAL RESOURCES; DEQ; DISASTERS & EMERGENCIES; DMV; ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; EDUCATION; EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION; EDUCATION BOARDS; EDUCATION · Became law Oct 2025

SB 55 Expedited Removal of Unauthorized Persons.
AGRICULTURE; AGRICULTURE DEPT.; ANIMALS; AOC; BOARDS; COMMERCE; COMPUTERS; COURTS; CRIMES; DEBTOR & CREDITOR; DEEDS; DOMESTIC ANIMALS; EDUCATION; EDUCATION BOARDS; ELEMENTARY EDUCATION; EMERGENCY SERVICES; INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY; INTERNET; JUDICIAL DEPT.; LANDOWNERS; LAW ENFORCEMENT; LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS; LIENS; LOCAL GOVERNMENT; PERSONNEL; PRESENTED; PROPERTY; PUBLIC; PUBLIC INSTRUCTION DEPT.; RATIFIED; REAL ESTATE; RETAILING; SECONDARY EDUCATION; STUDENTS; TELECOMMUNICATIONS; TELEPHONES; TELESERVICES; TITLE CHANGE; TRESPASSING; LIABILITY; AGRICULTURE BOARD; CHAPTERED; ANIMAL WELFARE; LOCAL ORDINANCES; MOBILE PHONES & DEVICES · Became law Aug 2025

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Lee sits in the North Carolina State Senate

Lee is closer to the center than 83% of the chamber's Republicans.

Closest: Tom McInnis, Phil Berger, Danny Britt

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:55 PM ET

With Lee’s party

Votes with the chamber's Republicans100%
Cosponsorships of the other party's bills3%

Black tick: the average of Republicans in the North Carolina State Senate.

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Lee’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.

Date	Bill	Lee	Rep. majority	Dem. majority	Result
Jul 29, 2026	HB 562: Budget Technical Corrections Modifications.	Yes	Yes	Yes	Passed 34–3
Jul 28, 2026	SB 1092: 2026 Senate and House Appointments.	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 32–9
Jul 2, 2026	SB 257: 2026 Appropriations Act.	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 35–10
Jul 2, 2026	HB 56: 2026 Budget Technical Corrections.	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 30–13
Jul 1, 2026	SB 474: Adjust Counties/Reappraisal Moratorium.	Yes	Yes	Yes	Passed 40–7

Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls

Career

Offices held, and every time Lee was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

20082010201220142016201820202022202420262028North Carolina State Senate, District 9 North Carolina State Senate, District 9 North Carolina State Senate, District 7

Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

Elections

Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.

Year	Race	Result	Margin	Seat	+/−
2026	North Carolina State Senate, District 7	Lost	D+5.3	R+5.6	−10.9
2024	North Carolina State Senate, District 7	Won	R+8.5	R+5.6	+2.9
2022	North Carolina State Senate, District 7	Won	R+1.9	—	—
2020	North Carolina State Senate, District 9	Won	R+1.0	—	—
2018	North Carolina State Senate, District 9	Lost	D+0.3	—	—
2016	North Carolina State Senate, District 9	Won	R+14.7	—	—
2014	North Carolina State Senate, District 9	Won	R+10.7	—	—
2014	North Carolina State Senate, District 9 (primary)	Won	+71.7	—	—
2008	North Carolina State Senate, District 9	Lost	D+3.3	—	—