George Kenneth Butterfield (born 27 April 1947) was the Democratic congressman from the 1st district of North Carolina in the US House of Representatives from 20 July 2004 to 3 January 2023, succeeding Frank Ballance and preceding Donald G. Davis.
Biography[]
George Kenneth Butterfield was born on 27 April 1947 in Wilson, North Carolina to a father from Bermuda and an American mother, both of mixed African and European descent. Although he appeared to be white, he identified as African-American and took part in civil rights marches. After serving in the US Army from 1968 to 1970, Butterfield studied law and joined the North Carolina Supreme Court in February 2001 after Governor Mike Easley appointed him to the post. On 20 July 2004, he became the congressman from the 1st congressional district (including Greenville and Goldsboro), succeeding the resigned Frank Ballance. In 2015, he became Chairman of the Black Caucus of the US Congress, succeeding Marcia Fudge. He retired in 2022.