John Lowery, head of Lumbee, chosen to replace brother in NC General Assembly
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- Robeson County Republicans chose Lumbee Chairman John Lowery to fill NCGA seat.
- Governor has seven days to appoint the party’s recommended replacement for HD47.
- Once sworn, Lowery will be the only Native American serving in the state legislature.
Republicans in Robeson County selected Lumbee Tribe Chairman John Lowery to replace his brother, former Rep. Jarrod Lowery, in the General Assembly and serve the remainder of his two-year term.
The Robeson County Republican Party Executive Committee voted unanimously on Tuesday to recommend that Gov. Josh Stein choose John Lowery to fill the vacancy in House District 47, in light of his brother’s resignation to join the Trump administration in a role at the U.S. Department of Interior.
State law requires the governor to appoint the person recommended by the departing lawmaker’s political party. Stein, a Democrat, has seven days to make the appointment.
John Lowery, who has served as the seventh tribal chairman of the Lumbee Tribe since January 2022, said in a news release that he was “deeply honored” to have been selected to fill the vacancy created by his brother’s departure.
“I want to thank my brother, Jarrod Lowery, for his dedicated service to our community and for setting a strong example of leadership rooted in faith, hard work, and integrity,” John Lowery said. “I look forward to continuing that work for the people of Robeson County — strengthening our economy, supporting our schools, and ensuring that our values are represented in Raleigh.”
Only members of its executive committee who reside within District 47 cast votes to recommend Jarrod Lowery’s replacement, the Robeson County GOP said.
Once he is appointed, Lowery will be sworn into office at the General Assembly.
Two other high-profile Republicans currently represent Robeson County in Raleigh: Sen. Danny Britt and House Majority Leader Brenden Jones.
In a statement, Britt said he has “worked alongside John for years” and has “seen firsthand his commitment to conservative values and delivering real results for Robeson County families.”
“John will play a key role in continuing the important work started by Majority Leader Jones, myself and former Representative Lowery in securing critical funding for UNCP, Robeson County schools, public safety, infrastructure, and local projects,” Britt said. “I look forward to working closely with him to ensure Robeson County continues to receive the attention and investment it deserves.”
Jarrod Lowery was first elected to the General Assembly in 2022.
He replaced long-serving Rep. Charles Graham, a Lumbee member and Democrat who represented Robeson County for 12 years before unsuccessfully running for Congress from North Carolina’s 7th District. Lowery had previously run against Graham for the House seat in 2018, and lost.
Once he is sworn in to serve the remainder of his brother’s term through the end of next year, John Lowery will be the only Native American currently serving in the state legislature.
Both brothers previously served on the Lumbee Tribal Council. They have led the tribe’s advocacy to gain full recognition from the federal government.
In April, The News & Observer and Border Belt Independent reported that the Lumbee Tribe sees full recognition as closer than ever following President Donald Trump’s move to direct the U.S. Department of the Interior to compile a report within 90 days outlining paths to recognition for the tribe, three days after he was sworn into office for a second term in January.
The Lumbee, who are the largest Native American tribe east of the Mississippi River, have been fighting for full recognition since federal legislation enacted in 1956 granted them only partial recognition, The N&O previously reported.
Achieving full federal recognition would deliver benefits that many other tribes receive, including access to education and health care funding, The N&O reported in April.
In addition to serving on the Tribal Council, John Lowery has also worked at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the N.C. Department of Commerce.
His brother Jarrod resigned effective Tuesday to join the Interior Department in Washington as senior adviser to the assistant secretary for Indian Affairs.
This story was originally published October 8, 2025 at 11:46 AM with the headline "John Lowery, head of Lumbee, chosen to replace brother in NC General Assembly."
