RALEIGH — Lumbee Tribe Chairman John Lowery has been selected by the Robeson County Republican Party to fill the N.C. House District 47 seat vacated earlier this month by his brother Jarrod.
“I am thrilled to see John Lowery be selected as our next State Representative,” said Dr. Phillip Stephens, chairman of Robeson County Republican Party. “His years of experience serving in tribal, state, and federal government and delivering for the residents of Robeson County make him an exceptionally prepared choice. I look forward to seeing him serve out the remainder of Representative Lowery’s term at the General Assembly.”
State statute requires that the selection of a General Assembly member’s replacement be conducted by the executive committee of the member’s political party. Following the selection, the governor has seven days to formalize the appointment, or else the appointment is then presumed as approved.
“I am deeply honored to have been selected by the Robeson County Republican Party to fill the vacancy in NC House District 47,” Representative-designate John Lowery said in a press release.
Lowery, a lifelong resident of Robeson County, previously served as a member of the Lumbee Tribal Council and had held leadership roles with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the N.C. Department of Commerce.
Serving as the seventh Lumbee chairman since 2022, Lowery advanced new housing projects, improved educational and agricultural programs, and brought in “record funding” for cultural and economic development projects.
“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,” said Lowery. “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.”
Sen. Danny Earl Britt Jr. and House Majority Leader Brenden Jones, who also represent Robeson County, welcomed Lowery’s appointment.
“I have had the honor of not only serving alongside Majority Leader Jones, but also with Representative Jarrod Lowery,” said Britt. “Though I am sad to see Jarrod leave the General Assembly, I know that John Lowery is exactly the proven leader that Robeson County needs representing District 47 in Raleigh.”
“I’ve worked alongside John for years and have seen firsthand his commitment to conservative values and delivering real results for Robeson County families,” Britt said, adding that Lowery will “play a key role” in the work done supporting the county.
Jones said he looks forward to working with Lowery and that he will be “a valuable member of our caucus and be able to contribute right away.”
Lowery started out as a civics teacher in Robeson County Public Schools. He holds degrees in political science and American Indian studies from UNC Pembroke and obtained a master’s degree in public administration from UNC Chapel Hill.
Jarrod Lowery’s resignation was effective Oct. 1, and he has since assumed a new role as senior adviser to the assistant secretary for the Bureau of Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior. In that role, he likely will have input in the process begun by President Donald Trump in January to help the Lumbee Tribe obtain full federal recognition that includes financial benefits.
In January, Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Interior to aid the tribe in its quest either through legislation or other legal means. A tribe can gain federal recognition in three ways: through an act of Congress, through the Department of the Interior’s Office of Federal Acknowledgement process or through a federal court.
The tribe has been seeking full recognition since 1888. Congress recognized the Lumbee as a tribe in 1956 but did not confer the usual full federal benefits.
The Lumbee Tribe has an estimated membership of more than 55,000 living in Robeson, Hoke, Scotland and Cumberland counties, making it the ninth largest tribe in the country.
