Anderson Clayton Explained

Anderson Clayton
Office:	Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party
Term Start:	February 11, 2023
Predecessor:	Bobbie Richardson
Birth Date:	16 January 1998
Birth Place:	Roxboro, North Carolina, U.S.
Party:	Democratic
Education:	Appalachian State University (BA)

Anderson Clayton is an American political activist who serves as the current chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party. Elected at 25 years old, Clayton is the youngest chair of a state political party in the U.S.^{[1] [2]}

Early life

Clayton grew up in Roxboro, North Carolina and attended Appalachian State University.^{[3] [4]} She graduated in 2019 with degrees in journalism and political science.^[5]

Career

Clayton's political work began with registering voters while an undergraduate at Appalachian State University. As a sophomore, she was elected Student Body President and served from 2017-2018.^[6]

After graduating, she worked on the congressional campaign of Kathy Manning.^[7] In the 2020 election cycle, she worked in Iowa as a field organizer for the presidential campaigns of Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren, and then for the Senate campaign of Amy McGrath in Kentucky.

After the 2020 election cycle, Clayton returned to Roxboro, North Carolina and was elected the chair of the Person County Democratic Party in 2021.

In February 2023, Clayton was elected to a two-year term as chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, defeating incumbent Bobbie Richardson in a second round of voting.^[8] Under her leadership, the North Carolina Democratic Party has run candidates in all 50 North Carolina Senate districts and 118 out of 120 North Carolina House of Representatives districts in the 2024 cycle.^[9]

In addition to her work for the North Carolina Democratic Party, Clayton is also employed as a broadband analyst with non-profit Rural Innovation Strategies.

External links

• Video interview with Anderson Clayton on MSNBC
• Audio interview of Anderson Clayton on All Things Considered

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Youngest State Party Leader in the U.S. Has a Blue-Collar Blueprint . 2023-11-24.
2. Web site: Warburg . Emily G. Tynes, Jenny . 2023-09-05 . In North Carolina, the U.S.' Youngest Party Chair Has a Plan for Attracting Voters and Winning Elections in the Battleground State . 2023-11-10 . Ms. Magazine . en-US.
3. News: Rodriguez . Sabrina . March 28, 2023 . A Gen Z party chair hopes to change Democrats’ fortunes in N.C. . The Washington Post . en-US . 0190-8286 . March 29, 2023.
4. Web site: Perchick . Michael . February 24, 2023 . NC Democratic Party Chair focusing on voter outreach, candidate recruitment . ABC11 Raleigh-Durham . en-US . March 29, 2023.
5. Web site: Doyle . Steve . February 19, 2023 . Meet the 25-year-old woman who plans to turn the North Carolina Democratic Party around . FOX8 WGHP . en-US . March 29, 2023.
6. Web site: History of App State SGA . Appalachian State University Student Government Association . Appalachian State University . 15 January 2024.
7. Web site: Demissie . Hannah . February 24, 2023 . Can this 25-year-old help solve North Carolina Democrats' problems? . ABC News . en-US . March 29, 2023.
8. Web site: N.C. Democratic Party elects Anderson Clayton chair . Associated Press . en-US . February 11, 2023 . March 29, 2023.
9. Web site: Harrison . Steve . Let's take a closer look at cannon-fodder candidates in North Carolina Elections . WUNC . WUNC - North Carolina Public Radio . 11 February 2024.