Grier Martin

Martin is a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve and served in Afghanistan in 2002 and 2003.[2] He is a graduate of the Army's Airborne School, Air Assault School, and the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course.

Martin was first elected in the 2004 elections, defeating incumbent Republican Don Munford.[3] Martin defeated Republican J.H. Ross in the November 2006 and 2008 elections,[4] and Republican Steve Henion in 2010. He chose not to run for re-election in 2012 after redistricting placed him in the same district with fellow Democratic Rep. Deborah Ross.[5] But in 2013, Ross resigned from the legislature, and with her endorsement, local Democrats selected Martin to take her place for the remainder of the term.[6] He was unopposed for a full term in 2014, and was easily reelected in 2016 and 2018. Martin serves as the House Democratic Conference Co-Chair.

During his first tenure in the House, Martin at one point co-chaired the Transportation Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee and chaired the Homeland Security, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee.[7] He received the Disabled American Veterans of North Carolina "Legislator of the Year" award, the Pesticide Education Project (now Toxic Free NC) "Legislative Leadership" award, the National Guard Association of the United States' Charles Dick Medal of Merit, the Brain Injury of North Carolina's "Our Hero Award," and was named a "Freshman of the Year" by the Conservation Council of North Carolina.[8] In 2010, Martin was named "Defender of the Environment" by the League of Conservation Voters of NC.[9]

National and state Democrats recruited Martin to run for the United States Senate against incumbent Republican Elizabeth Dole in the 2008 election, but he declined in order to spend time with his family.[10][11] In 2011, Martin was appointed by Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to serve on the Reserve Forces Policy Board.[12] Martin was named a 2014 Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow.[13]