Jarrod Lowery, a Republican who has represented Robeson County in the N.C. House since 2022, said he is leaving the state legislature next month to take a job with the Trump administration.
Lowery told the Border Belt Independent on Saturday that Trump appointed him to a position, but he was not ready to share what he would be doing. He described it as a “diverse” role that would allow him to work with several agencies and groups in the federal government.
Lowery announced he was stepping down from his District 47 seat in a video posted on social media on Friday.
“I’m looking forward to this new challenge,” Lowery said. “I’m looking forward to continue to be a public servant to the people not just in Robeson County now, but to the state and to America.”
Lowery, a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, was elected as part of a larger political shift in Robeson County. Many voters there who had long picked Democrats switched their support to GOP candidates, including Trump.
Lowery replaced Charles Graham, a Democrat and fellow Lumbee who lost his bid for a seat in Congress.
In the General Assembly, Lowery has been a strong advocate for full federal recognition for the Lumbee, the largest Native American tribe east of the Mississippi River with 55,000 members. His brother, John Lowery, is tribal chairman.
The state recognized the Lumbee tribe in 1885, and Congress granted it partial federal recognition in 1956. But the Lumbee want full federal recognition that would provide access to millions of dollars a year for education, health care and other services in economically distressed southeastern North Carolina.
When he took office in January, Trump ordered the Department of the Interior to submit a report outlining potential pathways to full federal recognition for the Lumbee. The report says the tribe should continue asking Congress to pass legislation, which the Lumbee people have been doing for generations.
The U.S. House passed the Lumbee Fairness Act on Sept. 10 as part of a larger national defense bill. The chamber has passed similar legislation several times, but the Senate has not voted on a bill to grant full federal recognition.
Some tribes, including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in western North Carolina, have lobbied against full recognition for the Lumbee, saying the tribe lacks a shared history.
Rep. David Rouzer, a Republican who represents Robeson County in the U.S. House and sponsor of the Lumbee Fairness Act, said the legislation represents “justice long overdue.”
“This is about dignity, opportunity, and honoring the rich heritage of one of North Carolina’s proudest communities,” said Rouzer in a statement.
Lowery said he will continue to push for full federal recognition.
“At the end of the day I’m always going to be Lumbee,” he told the Border Belt Independent. “I’m always going to be advocating no matter where I’m at.”
Replacing Lowery
Lowery said the executive committee of the Robeson County Republican Party will recommend his replacement. Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, would then appoint the person to serve the remainder of Lowery’s term, which ends next year.
As the state House and Senate continue to work toward a budget, Lowery said it will be important for his replacement to have good relationships with powerful Republicans, including Speaker Destin Hall.
“We should have someone who can jump right into those negotiations and tell the speaker what we need,” Lowery said.
In his video announcement, Lowery said he was proud of the work he has done for Robeson County. He touted a new town hall in Fairmont, a new police station in Maxton, new parks in Red Springs and Rennert, and downtown revitalization in Lumberton and Rowland.
He said Robeson County is gearing up for the future, with new nursing programs at Robeson Community College and a school of optometry at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. The Lumbee tribe has a new cultural center, he said, and the Robeson County school system is building its first school since 1983.
Lowery also said the federal government is providing $60 million to help clean up the Lumber River basin in a project aimed at preventing flooding.
“The nearly 90,000 people who live in my district in Robeson County gave me the opportunity of a lifetime to be able to come here and advocate for everyone,” he said.
Although his new job is in Washington, Lowery said he’s not leaving Robeson County. He plans to be a “super commuter,” spending a week or two in D.C. as needed. His step-children are in high school, he said, and his daughter is 2.
Lowery said his last day in the House is Oct. 7 — the day he turns 37.