# Dan Blue

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{{short description|American politician from North Carolina}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name             = Dan Blue
|image            = Senator Dan Blue 2023-25 Legislative Portrait.jpg
|office           = Minority Leader of the [North Carolina Senate](/source/North_Carolina_Senate)
|term_start       = March 2, 2014
|term_end         = January 1, 2025
|predecessor      = [Martin Nesbitt](/source/Martin_Nesbitt_(politician))
|successor        = [Sydney Batch](/source/Sydney_Batch)
|state_senate1    = North Carolina
|district1        = [14th](/source/North_Carolina's_14th_Senate_district)
|term_start1      = May 19, 2009
|term_end1        = 
|predecessor1     = [Vernon Malone](/source/Vernon_Malone)
|successor1       = 
|office2          = President of the [National Conference of State Legislatures](/source/National_Conference_of_State_Legislatures)
|term2            = 2017
|predecessor2     = [Michael Gronstal](/source/Michael_Gronstal)
|successor2       = [Deb Peters](/source/Deb_Peters)
|term_start3      = 1998
|term_end3        = 1999
|predecessor3     = [Richard Finan](/source/Richard_Finan)
|successor3       = [Paul Mannweiler](/source/Paul_Mannweiler)
|office4          = [Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives](/source/Speaker_of_the_North_Carolina_House_of_Representatives)
|term_start4      = January 1, 1991
|term_end4        = January 1, 1995
|predecessor4     = [Josephus Mavretic](/source/Josephus_L._Mavretic)
|successor4       = [Harold Brubaker](/source/Harold_J._Brubaker)
|office5          = Member of the [North Carolina House of Representatives](/source/North_Carolina_House_of_Representatives)
|term_start5      = November 2, 2006
|term_end5        = May 19, 2009
|predecessor5     = [Bernard Allen](/source/Bernard_Allen_(American_politician))
|successor5       = [Rosa Gill](/source/Rosa_Gill)
|constituency5    = [33rd](/source/North_Carolina's_33rd_House_district) district
|term_start6      = January 1, 1981
|term_end6        = January 1, 2003
|predecessor6     = William Creech<br>Robert Farmer<br>William Holroyd<br>Joseph Johnson
|successor6       = [Bernard Allen](/source/Bernard_Allen_(American_politician)) (redistricted)
|constituency6    = [15th](/source/North_Carolina's_15th_House_district) district (1981–1983)<br>[21st](/source/North_Carolina's_21st_House_district) district (1983–2003)
|birth_name       = Daniel Terry Blue Jr.
|birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1949|4|18}}
|birth_place      = [Lumberton, North Carolina](/source/Lumberton%2C_North_Carolina), U.S.
|death_date       = 
|death_place      = 
|party            = [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States))
|spouse           = Edna
|education        = [North Carolina Central University](/source/North_Carolina_Central_University) ([AB](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts))<br>[Duke University](/source/Duke_University) ([JD](/source/Juris_Doctor))
}}
'''Daniel Terry Blue Jr.''' (born April 18, 1949) is an American politician and attorney serving as a member of the [North Carolina Senate](/source/North_Carolina_Senate), representing the state's 14th Senate district, and was the Senate [minority leader](/source/minority_leader).

== Early life and education ==
Blue graduated from [North Carolina Central University](/source/North_Carolina_Central_University) and the [Duke University School of Law](/source/Duke_University_School_of_Law), establishing a law practice in [Raleigh, North Carolina](/source/Raleigh%2C_North_Carolina). He is a member of [Alpha Phi Alpha](/source/Alpha_Phi_Alpha) fraternity.<ref>[http://politicalgraveyard.com/group/alpha-phi-alpha.html Alpha Phi Alpha, Politician members] ''Political Graveyard''</ref>

== Career ==

===North Carolina House===
Blue served in the [North Carolina House of Representatives](/source/North_Carolina_House_of_Representatives) from 1981 through 2002 and from 2006 through his 2009 Senate appointment, representing a portion of the state capital, [Raleigh](/source/Raleigh%2C_North_Carolina).

Blue was the [Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives](/source/Speaker_of_the_North_Carolina_House_of_Representatives) from 1991 until 1994, when the Democrats lost control of the House to Republicans. Blue was the first—and to date, only--[African American](/source/African_American) to hold the post of Speaker in North Carolina.{{CN|date=January 2025}}

From 1998 to 1999,<ref name="NCSL1">{{cite web |title=NCSL Current and Past Presidents, 1975-2024 |url=https://www.ncsl.org/about-us/executive-committee/ncsl-current-and-past-presidents-1975-2023 |website=NCSL |access-date=August 17, 2025}}</ref> Blue served as the first African-American President of the [National Conference of State Legislatures](/source/National_Conference_of_State_Legislatures).

He sought unsuccessfully to regain his position as Speaker when the Democrats got back the majority in 1999, by forming a coalition of Democrats and Republicans that fell two votes shy of a majority. Blue remained in the House until he ran in the Democratic primary for [U.S. Senate](/source/U.S._Senate) in 2002, in which he came in second place behind nominee [Erskine Bowles](/source/Erskine_Bowles) and ahead of Secretary of State [Elaine Marshall](/source/Elaine_Marshall).<ref>[http://www.app.sboe.state.nc.us/NCSBE/Elec/Results/resultsby_contest_single1.asp?ED=09102002PRIMARY2002DEMAUS%2520SENATE&B1=Submit 2002 Primary Election Results, US Senate] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718191124/http://www.app.sboe.state.nc.us/NCSBE/Elec/Results/resultsby_contest_single1.asp?ED=09102002PRIMARY2002DEMAUS%20SENATE&B1=Submit |date=July 18, 2011 }}, ''North Carolina Board of Elections''</ref>

He was selected by his local Democratic Party to return to what was essentially his former seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives, after his successor, [Bernard Allen](/source/Bernard_Allen_(American_politician)), died while running unopposed in the November 2006 election.<ref>[https://archive.today/20070514111849/http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/502920.html Blue selected for Allen's seat in state House], Matthew Eisley, ''The News & Observer'', October 26, 2006</ref> Democrats also voted to allow Allen's votes in the election to go toward Blue.<ref>[http://www.newsobserver.com/692/story/501499.html Forum lifts Blue as leader for seat]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Ryan Teague Beckwith, ''The News & Observer'', October 22, 2006</ref>

Governor [Mike Easley](/source/Mike_Easley), obligated to accept the nomination of the party, appointed Blue to the legislature on November 2, 2006.<ref>[http://www.wral.com/news/10228411/detail.html ''WRAL News'']{{dead link|date=May 2012}}</ref> He served the remaining months of Allen's term and then took his seat for a full term in January 2007.{{CN|date=January 2025}}

===North Carolina Senate===

In 2009, Blue was selected by local Democrats to take the place of Sen. [Vernon Malone](/source/Vernon_Malone), who died in office.<ref>[http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1517127.html News & Observer: Blue to serve out Malone's Senate term] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508141917/http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1517127.html|date=May 8, 2009}}</ref> He joined the Senate on May 19, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|date=May 19, 2009|title=News & Observer: Blue moves over to the Senate|url=http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/blue_moves_over_to_the_senate|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304094459/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/blue_moves_over_to_the_senate|archive-date=March 4, 2012|access-date=May 18, 2012|publisher=Projects.newsobserver.com|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In 2014, Blue was elected Senate [minority leader](/source/minority_leader) by his Democratic colleagues when Sen. [Martin L. Nesbitt](/source/Martin_L._Nesbitt) had to step down abruptly due to health issues.<ref>{{cite web|last=WRAL|date=March 4, 2014|title=Blue to replace ailing Nesbitt as leader of Senate Dems :: WRAL.com|url=http://www.wral.com/blue-to-replace-ailing-nesbitt-as-leader-of-senate-dems/13449854/|access-date=November 11, 2016}}</ref> Blue was elected to a full term as minority leader after the 2014 elections.<ref>[http://www.wncn.com/story/27653888/dan-blue-to-remain-nc-senate-minority-leader WNCN/Associated Press] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219035926/http://www.wncn.com/story/27653888/dan-blue-to-remain-nc-senate-minority-leader|date=December 19, 2014}}</ref>

In 2017, Blue again served as president of the National Conference of State Legislatures.<ref name="NCSL1" />

=== Other work ===
Blue serves on Duke University's board of trustees and was elected chairman in 2009. He was the first African American to chair Duke's board.<ref>{{cite web|date=May 8, 2009|title=News & Observer: Big week for Blue|url=http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/big_week_for_blue|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304094414/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/big_week_for_blue|archive-date=March 4, 2012|access-date=May 18, 2012|publisher=Projects.newsobserver.com|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

After leaving the [North Carolina House of Representatives](/source/North_Carolina_House_of_Representatives), Blue returned to his private law practice and was hired as a lobbyist for cities on energy issues.{{CN|date=January 2025}}

== Personal life ==
Blue and his wife, Edna, have three children. His daughter Kanika, is a law professor at [Campbell Law School](/source/Norman_Adrian_Wiggins_School_of_Law). Kanika is married to [Jeff Capel III](/source/Jeff_Capel_III), a college basketball coach.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sources: Capel to return to Duke as assistant - CBSSports.com|url=http://gary-parrish.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6271764/29151178|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322065156/http://gary-parrish.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6271764/29151178|archive-date=March 22, 2012|access-date=May 18, 2012|publisher=Gary-parrish.blogs.cbssports.com|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Blue's son, Dan III, ran for [North Carolina State Treasurer](/source/North_Carolina_State_Treasurer) in the 2016 elections.<ref name="newsobserver.com">{{cite web|title=Republican Dale Folwell next NC Treasurer|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article113421523.html|access-date=November 11, 2016}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/viewMember.pl?sChamber=Senate&nUserID=268 North Carolina General Assembly - Senator Dan Blue] '''official NC Senate website'''
*[http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=5945 Project Vote Smart - Representative Daniel Terry 'Dan' Blue Jr. (NC)] profile
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081023173619/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/profiles/dan_blue News & Observer profile]
*''Follow the Money'' - Dan Blue
**[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=99300 2008] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=40436 2000] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=60215 1998] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=60214 1996] campaign contributions
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080703154715/http://www.tbsf-law.com/attorneys-thigpen-blue-stephens-fellers.html Daniel T. Blue Jr.] ''Thigpen, Blue, Stephens & Fellers'', attorney profile
*[http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020401&s=zengerle040102 The New Republic article]
*{{C-SPAN|12123}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[Josephus Mavretic](/source/Josephus_L._Mavretic)}}
{{s-ttl|title=[Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives](/source/Speaker_of_the_North_Carolina_House_of_Representatives)|years=1991–1995}}
{{s-aft|after=[Harold Brubaker](/source/Harold_J._Brubaker)}}
|-
{{s-par|us-nc-sen}}
{{s-bef|before=[Martin Nesbitt](/source/Martin_Nesbitt_(politician))}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minority Leader of the [North Carolina Senate](/source/North_Carolina_Senate)|years=2014–2025}}
{{s-aft|after=[Sydney Batch](/source/Sydney_Batch)}}
{{s-end}}

{{North Carolina State Senators}}
{{National Conference of State Legislatures presidents|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blue, Daniel T. Jr.}}
Category:1949 births
Category:20th-century members of the North Carolina General Assembly
Category:20th-century African-American politicians
Category:21st-century African-American politicians
Category:21st-century members of the North Carolina General Assembly
Category:African-American candidates for the United States Senate
Category:African-American state legislators in North Carolina
Category:Democratic Party members of the North Carolina House of Representatives
Category:Democratic Party North Carolina state senators
Category:Duke University School of Law alumni
Category:Living people
Category:North Carolina Central University alumni
Category:North Carolina lawyers
Category:Politicians from Raleigh, North Carolina
Category:People from Lumberton, North Carolina
Category:Speakers of the North Carolina House of Representatives
Category:Presidents of the National Conference of State Legislatures

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dan Blue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Blue) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Blue?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.