Rep.-elect Deborah Ross (D-N.C.-02)

Date of birth: June 20, 1963
Residence: Raleigh, N.C.
Occupation: attorney
Education: B.A., Brown University; J.D., University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Family: husband, Steve Wrinn

Deborah Ross beat out Republican challenger Alan Swain to represent North Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District in the House of Representatives.

Before that, Ross wiped out three other candidates in the primary election by securing 70 percent of the vote.

Ross had tried to unseat Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) in 2016, but only captured 45 percent of the vote compared to Burr’s 51 percent.

Prior to her senate bid, Ross served for 10 years in the North Carolina General Assembly as a state representative. She was first elected in 2003. During her time in office, she served as both majority and minority whip and was a member of the Judiciary and the Election and Ethics Law committees.

Prior to her time in the General Assembly, she was the state director for the American Civil Liberties Union. After she left, she became general counsel for the Triangle Transit regional bus service.

Ross is replacing Rep. George Holding (R-N.C.), who decided not to seek reelection after representing the district since 2012.

– Jordan Williams