View source for Alma Adams

{{Short description|American politician (born 1946)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Alma Adams
| image               = Alma Adams official portrait (3x4 cropped).jpg
| state1              = [[North Carolina]]
| district1           = {{ushr|NC|12|12th}}
| term_start1         = November 12, 2014
| term_end1           = 
| predecessor1        = [[Mel Watt]]
| successor1          = 
| office2             = Member of the [[North Carolina House of Representatives]]
| term_start2         = April 1994
| term_end2           = November 4, 2014
| predecessor2        = Herman Gist
| successor2          = [[Ralph C. Johnson|Ralph Johnson]]
| constituency2       = [[North Carolina's 26th House district|26th]] district (1994–2003)<br>[[North Carolina's 58th House district|58th]] district (2003–2014)
| birth_name          = Alma Shealey
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1946|5|27}}
| birth_place         = [[High Point, North Carolina]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse              = 
| children            = 2
| education           = [[North Carolina A&T State University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]], [[Master of Science|MS]])<br>[[Ohio State University]] ([[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]])
| signature           = Signature of Alma Adams.svg
| website             = {{url|adams.house.gov|House website}}<br>{{url|almaadamsforcongress.com|Campaign website}}
| module              = {{Listen |pos=center |embed=yes |filename=Alma Adams speaks in support of the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act.ogg |title=Adams's voice |type=speech |description=Adams supporting the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act.<br>Recorded June 28, 2021}}
}}
'''Alma Shealey Adams''' (born May 27, 1946) is an American politician who represents [[North Carolina's 12th congressional district]] in the [[United States House of Representatives]]. A [[United States Democratic Party|Democrat]], Adams represented the state's 58th [[North Carolina House of Representatives|House]] district in Guilford County in the [[North Carolina General Assembly]] from her appointment in April 1994 until her election to Congress, succeeded by [[Ralph C. Johnson]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://enr.ncsbe.gov/ElectionResults/contest_details.aspx?election_dt=11/4/2014&county_id=0&contest_id=1188 |title=NC SBE Contest Results |access-date=December 12, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511173922/http://enr.ncsbe.gov/ElectionResults/contest_details.aspx?election_dt=11%2F4%2F2014&county_id=0&contest_id=1188 |archive-date=May 11, 2015}}</ref>

Adams is a former college administrator and art professor from [[Greensboro, North Carolina|Greensboro]]. She is known for her  distinctive hats.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/11/12/363458830/u-s-rep-alma-adams-to-be-sworn-into-office|title=U.S. Rep. Alma Adams To Be Sworn Into Office |website=NPR.org |access-date=December 12, 2016}}</ref> She won the [[2014 North Carolina's 12th congressional district special election|2014 special election]] in North Carolina's 12th congressional district to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of [[Mel Watt]], becoming the 100th woman serving in the [[113th Congress]]. She won election to a full two-year term at the same time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/11/02/women-candidates-glass-ceiling-election-day/18085305/|title=Women poised to break glass ceiling on Election Day |website=[[USA Today]] |access-date=December 12, 2016}}</ref><ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/milestone-alma-adams-victory-means-100-women-congress-n241596 "Milestone: Alma Adams Victory Means 100 Women in Congress"], NBCNews.com</ref>

==Early life and education==
Adams was born on May 27, 1946, in [[High Point, North Carolina]], to Benjamin Shealey and Mattie Stokes.<ref name="NCManual">{{cite book |url=https://sosnc.gov/static_forms/publications/nc_manual/2011_2012/NC_Legislature.pdf |title=The North Carolina Manual 2009-2010 |publisher=North Carolina Secretary of State |year=2009 |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |page=367 |access-date=December 11, 2023}}</ref> She was raised by her mother, who worked as a domestic worker.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Rothacker |first=Jen |date=January 9, 2015 |title=Our congresswoman has made history. 10 things you should know about her |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-around-town/article236304758.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118211952/https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-around-town/article236304758.html |archive-date=November 18, 2020 |access-date=January 6, 2021 |website=Charlotte Five}}</ref> Adams moved with her family to [[Baltimore, Maryland]], as a child before settling in [[Newark, New Jersey]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Adams, Alma Shealey, 1947- - Civil Rights Digital Library |url=https://crdl.usg.edu/people/adams_alma_shealey_1947 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=crdl.usg.edu}}</ref> She attended the predominantly white [[West Side High School (New Jersey)|West Side High School]] in Newark and graduated in 1964.<ref name="NCManual" /> 

Adams then went to [[North Carolina A&T State University]] in [[Greensboro, North Carolina]], where she earned a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in 1969 and a [[Master of Science]] degree in 1972, both in art education.<ref name=":2" /> While at NC A&T, she served as president of the Arts Circle and became a member of [[Alpha Kappa Alpha]] sorority.<ref name=":1" />

== Art career ==
[[File:Alma Adams - Jan 30 2020.jpg|thumb|Adams wearing one of her distinctive hats in 2020]]
After completing her graduate studies, Adams was appointed chair of the art department at the [[Palmer Memorial Institute|Palmer Institute]], where she taught students in grades seven through twelve.<ref name=":2" /> She later earned a [[Ph.D.]] in art education and multicultural education from [[Ohio State University]] in 1981.<ref name="NCManual" /> 

Adams later joined the faculty of [[Bennett College]] in Greensboro, where she taught until 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bioguide Search |url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/A000370 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=bioguide.congress.gov}}</ref> She was also the director of the Steel Hall Art Gallery.<ref name="NCManual" /> In 1990, Adams and artist [[Eva Hamlin Miller]] co-founded the African American Atelier, an organization established to advance awareness and appreciation for visual arts and cultures of [[African Americans]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Background |url=http://africanamericanatelier.org/about/background/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529051803/http://africanamericanatelier.org/about/background/ |archive-date=2014-05-29 |access-date=May 28, 2014 |publisher=African American Atelier}}</ref>

==State legislature==
Adams began her political career as a member of the Greensboro City School Board from 1984 to 1986, before serving on the Greensboro City Council from 1987 until her appointment to the [[North Carolina House of Representatives]] in 1994.<ref name="NCManual" /><ref name="Gist seat">{{cite news |last=Barstow |first=Thomas A. |date=March 31, 1994 |title=Alma Adams Gets Gist's Seat |newspaper=Greensboro News & Record}}</ref>

She was appointed to the state House to fill the seat of Representative Herman Gist, who had died in office. At the time of her appointment, Adams had already announced her candidacy to challenge Gist in the upcoming Democratic primary in 1994. The house district included most of southeastern [[Greensboro]] in [[Guilford County, North Carolina|Guilford County]].<ref name="Gist seat" /> In the primary election, she defeated O.C. Stafford, a businessman, retired engineer, and perennial candidate, who had previously run for office as both a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] and a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]].<ref>{{cite news |date=January 27, 1994 |title=O. C. Stafford: Running as a Democrat |newspaper=Greensboro News and Record |page=B8}}</ref> Adams won a full term in the 1994 general election, defeating Republican Roger G. Coffer.<ref name="1994nchouse" /> She went on to win reelection in 1996<ref name="1996nchouse" /> and 1998<ref name="1998nchouse" /> against Stafford, who ran as a Republican in both races.<ref>{{cite news |last=Alexander |first=Lex |date=October 14, 1998 |title=Rematch Set for District 26 |newspaper=Greensboro News and Record |page=B1}}</ref> In 2000, Adams was unopposed in the Democratic primary and defeated Republican Jim Rumley in the general election.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 30, 2000 |title=A Key Year in the House |newspaper=Greensboro News and Record |page=A8}}</ref><ref name="2000nchouse" />

Following redistricting in 2002, Adams' district was renumbered from the 26th to the 58th. That year, she was challenged by [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]] candidate David Williams, who withdrew from the race before the election but remained on the ballot.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 9, 2002 |title=Greensboro Lawyer is Dropping Out of House Race |newspaper=Greensboro News and Record |page=B2}}</ref> Adams won reelection with nearly 86% of the vote.<ref name="2002nchouse" /> From 2004 onward, she faced repeated challenges from Republican legal assistant and party activist Olga Morgan Wright, defeating her in every election through 2008, and then again in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=Olga Wright Biography |url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/41456/olga-wright |access-date=January 19, 2013 |publisher=Project Vote Smart}}</ref>
[[File:Alma_Adams.jpg|thumb|Adam's [[North Carolina House of Representatives]] portrait, 2013|upright=.7]]
Adams defeated Wright and Libertarian challenger Walter Sperko with 66% of the vote in 2004.<ref name="2004nchouse" /> In the next election Adams had no competition in the primary; she defeated Wright in the general election 66%–34%.<ref name="2006nchouse" /> In 2008, the year [[Barack Obama]] was elected president, Democratic voters had a high rate of participation, and Adams defeated Wright 71.35%–28.65%<ref name="2008nchouse" /> In 2010, Adams was challenged in the Democratic primary by [[Ralph C. Johnson]]. She defeated Johnson with 76.56% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|title=  Official Primary Election Results - NC House District 58 - DEM|url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=05/04/2010&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1051|publisher=[[North Carolina State Board of Elections|NCSBE]]|date=May 4, 2010}}</ref> Adams next faced Republican Darin H. Thomas in the general election, beating him 63.15%–36.85%.<ref name="2010nchouse" /> In 2012, Adams had no primary opposition and defeated Olga Wright in the general election, 79.86%–20.14%.<ref name="2012nchouse" />

During her tenure in the North Carolina House, Adams was elected chair of the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus and served a second term in that role in 2008.<ref>[http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/adams_to_chair_black_caucus_again "Adams to chair Black Caucus again"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415014923/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/adams_to_chair_black_caucus_again|date=April 15, 2009}}, ''News & Observer''</ref> She also chaired the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, which provides scholarships to students attending the state's [[Historically black colleges and universities|Historically Black Colleges and Universities]]. Adams held leadership roles in several committees, including serving as vice chair of the Government Committee, chair of the Appropriations Committee, and vice chair of the Commerce, Small Business, and Entrepreneurship Committee.<ref>{{cite web |title=Committee Assignments 2013-2014 |url=http://www.legislature.state.nc.us/gascripts/members/reports/committeeAssignments.pl?nUserid=18&Chamber=H |access-date=January 19, 2013 |publisher=North Carolina General Assembly}}</ref><ref name="NCManual" />

==U.S. House of Representatives==
===Elections===
====2014 special and general elections====
{{see also|2014 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina#District 12|2014 North Carolina's 12th congressional district special election}}
In April 2013, [[Mel Watt]], the only congressman to have served the 12th District since its creation in 1993, was appointed director of the [[Federal Housing Finance Agency]]. Adams was one of the first to announce that if Watt were confirmed, she would run in the ensuing special election. Watt was confirmed in December 2013. Adams formally filed paperwork to run in both the Democratic primary for a full two-year term in the [[114th United States Congress|114th Congress]] and the [[North Carolina's 12th congressional district special election, 2014|special election]] held in November 2014 to fill the balance of Watt's 11th term.<ref name=kickoff>{{cite web |last=Cahn |first=Emily |url=http://atr.rollcall.com/watt-confirmation-kicks-off-north-carolina-special-election/ |title=Roll Call: Watt Confirmation Kicks Off North Carolina Special Election |publisher=Atr.rollcall.com |access-date=December 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214024824/http://atr.rollcall.com/watt-confirmation-kicks-off-north-carolina-special-election/ |archive-date=December 14, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Adams was sworn in on November 12, 2014, to complete the remaining seven weeks of Watt's term.<ref name="Alma Adams - Ballotpedia">{{Cite news|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Alma_Adams|title=Alma Adams - Ballotpedia|access-date=2018-05-21|language=en-US}}</ref> After the swearing-in, Adams became the 100th female member of the congressional class, beating the previous record of 99.<ref name="Alma Adams - Ballotpedia"/>[[File:Alma_Adams_Congress.jpg|thumb|Adams during a congressional hearing sitting next to Speaker of the House [[Nancy Pelosi]]]]
Analysts thought that Adams was at a geographic disadvantage in the five-way primary for both the special and regular elections (held on the same day in November 2014). She is from Greensboro, but the bulk of the district's population is in Charlotte. But with three Charlotteans in the race splitting that region's vote, Adams won both primaries with about 44% of the vote,<ref name="2014ushouseprimary" /> a few thousand votes over the 40% threshold needed to avoid a [[two-round system|runoff]]. She faced Republican Vince Coakley, a former television and radio broadcaster from Matthews, in the general and special elections, which were held on the same day. The 12th was a heavily Democratic district with a majority-black voting population and a [[Cook Partisan Voting Index]] of D+26, and Adams won both elections handily.

Adams is the second woman of color to represent North Carolina in the House. The first was [[Eva Clayton]], who represented much of eastern North Carolina from 1992 to 2002.

==== 2016 ====
A court-ordered redistricting in 2016 made the Adam's 12th district somewhat more compact. It now comprised nearly all of [[Mecklenburg County, North Carolina|Mecklenburg County]], home to [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]]. Her home in [[Greensboro, North Carolina|Greensboro]] was drawn into the 13th district. She subsequently moved to Charlotte to remain in the 12th district.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rep. Alma Adams says she'll move to Charlotte |url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article65183332.html |access-date=December 12, 2016}}</ref> Whether she had moved by June was not clear.<ref name="WBTV Notebook">{{cite news |last=Ochsner |first=Nick |date=August 1, 2018 |title=Reporter's Notebook: Alma Adams |url=https://www.wbtv.com/clip/12475594/reporters-notebook-alma-adams/ |access-date=October 12, 2020 |work=[[WBTV]] |location=Greensboro}}</ref>

With seven Charlotteans splitting the vote, Adams won the 2016 Democratic primary with 42%, just over the threshold to avoid a runoff.<ref>{{Cite web |title=North Carolina's 12th Congressional District |url=https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina%27s_12th_Congressional_District |website=Ballotpedia}}</ref><ref name="2016ushouseprimary" /> This all but assured her of a second full term; due to Charlotte and Mecklenburg County's heavy swing to the Democrats in recent years, the reconfigured 12th is no less Democratic than its predecessor.

===Tenure===
[[File:Alma_Adams_Black_Maternal_Health.jpg|thumb|Adams speaks in support of the black [[maternal health]] Momnibus bill, 2020]]
Adams endorsed [[Hillary Clinton]] in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential election]] and pledged her support as a [[superdelegate]].<ref>{{cite web |date=July 14, 2015 |title=The 2016 Endorsement Primary |url=http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2016-endorsement-primary/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150829132953/http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2016-endorsement-primary/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 29, 2015 |access-date=June 6, 2016 |work=[[FiveThirtyEight]]}}</ref> She did not attend the [[First inauguration of Donald Trump|Inauguration of Donald Trump]] in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 17, 2017 |title=NC Rep. Alma Adams among members of Congress not attending inauguration |url=https://www.wsoctv.com/news/donald-trumps-inauguration-heres-a-list-of-members-of-congress-who-are-not-attending_/485188883/ |access-date=July 14, 2020 |website=WSOCtv.com}}</ref>

Adams and Representatives [[A. Donald McEachin]] and [[Brian Fitzpatrick (American politician)|Brian Fitzpatrick]] introduced the African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act in 2022, would have the [[National Park Service]] work with local governments to identify, survey, research, and preserve historic African American cemeteries and burial grounds. The legislation has bipartisan support in the House.<ref>{{cite news |author=Staff Writer |url=https://augustafreepress.com/mceachin-adams-fitzpatrick-introduce-african-american-burial-grounds-preservation-act/ |title=McEachin, Adams, Fitzpatrick introduce African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act |work=Augusta Free Press |date=2022-02-22 |accessdate=2022-02-23 }}</ref>

Adams voted to provide Israel with support following the [[October 7 attacks]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Demirjian |first=Karoun |date=2023-10-25 |title=House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/us/politics/house-israel-vote.html |access-date=2023-10-30 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Washington |first1=U. S. Capitol Room H154 |last2=p:225-7000 |first2=DC 20515-6601 |date=2023-10-25 |title=Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023528 |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |language=en}}</ref>

As of June, 2025, Adams has received an "A" rating from the [[National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws]] (NORML) based on public statements and voting records.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Which Candidate Is the Best on Marijuana Policy? |url=https://vote.norml.org/politicians/5935 |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=vote.norml.org |language=en}}</ref>

===Committee assignments===
*[[United States House Committee on Agriculture|Committee on Agriculture]] (Vice Chair)
**[[United States House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations|Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations]]
*[[United States House Committee on Education and Labor|Committee on Education and Labor]]
**[[United States House Education Subcommittee on Workforce Protections|Subcommittee on Workforce Protections]] (Chair)
*[[United States House Committee on Financial Services|Committee on Financial Services]]
**[[United States House Financial Services Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion|Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion]]

===Caucus memberships===
* [[Black Maternal Health Caucus]] (Co-chair)<ref>{{cite web|title=Caucus Members
|author=|url=https://blackmaternalhealthcaucus-underwood.house.gov/about-caucus/caucus-members|format=|publisher=Black Maternal Health Caucus|date=|accessdate=15 July 2025}}</ref>
* [[Congressional Progressive Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Caucus Membrs|url=https://progressives.house.gov/caucus-members| publisher=US House of Representatives |access-date=January 3, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Blue Collar Caucus]]
* [[Congressional Black Caucus]]
* [[Congressional Arts Caucus]]
* [[Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Membership|author=|url=https://bush.house.gov/era/about/membership|format=|publisher=Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment|date=|accessdate=17 September 2024}}</ref>
* [[Congressional Equality Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=About the CEC|url=https://equality.house.gov/about-cec/membership| publisher=CEC|access-date=27 August 2025}}</ref>
* [[Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Members of the Caucus on U.S. - Türkiye Relations & Turkish Americans|author=|url=https://www.tc-america.org/in-congress/caucus.htm|format=|publisher=Turkish Coalition of America|date=|accessdate=25 March 2025}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Adams is divorced and has two children.<ref name=NCManual /><ref name="Beckwith">{{cite news |last=Beckwith |first=Ryan Teague |title=Alma Adams |url=http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/profiles/alma_adams |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219220429/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/profiles/alma_adams |archive-date=February 19, 2012 |access-date=June 18, 2012 |newspaper=Raleigh News & Observer}}</ref> She is well known for wearing many distinctive hats,<ref>{{cite book |last=Hairston |first=Otis L. Jr |title=Black America Series: Greensboro, North Carolina |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |year=2003 |isbn=0-7385-1525-6 |location=Charleston, South Carolina}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> and owns more than nine hundred.<ref name=":1" />

==Electoral history==
===North Carolina General Assembly===
{{Election box begin no change | title=North Carolina's 26th State House district results, 1994<ref name="1994nchouse">{{cite web|title=  NC State House 26|website=ourcampaigns.com|date=November 8, 1994|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=1063456}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Alma Adams (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 5,259
| percentage = 68.93}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Roger G. Coffer
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 2,371
| percentage = 31.07}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 7,630
  | percentage = 100}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=North Carolina's 26th State House district results, 1996<ref name="1996nchouse">{{cite web|title=  NC State House 26|website=ourcampaigns.com|date=November 5, 1996|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=1002592}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Alma Adams (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 13,777
| percentage = 73.86}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = O.C. "Ozzie" Stafford
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 4,876
| percentage = 26.14}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 18,653
  | percentage = 100}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=North Carolina's 26th State House district results, 1998<ref name="1998nchouse">{{cite web|title=  NC State House 26|website=ourcampaigns.com|date=November 3, 1998|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=758006}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Alma Adams (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 10,150
| percentage = 74.28}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = O.C. "Ozzie" Stafford
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 3,514
| percentage = 25.72}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 13,664
  | percentage = 100}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=North Carolina's 26th State House district results, 2000<ref name="2000nchouse">{{cite web|title=  NC State House 26|website=ourcampaigns.com|date=November 7, 2000|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=781693}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Alma Adams (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 14,677
| percentage = 73.75}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Rumley
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 5,224
| percentage = 26.25}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 19,901
  | percentage = 100}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=North Carolina's 58th State House district results, 2002<ref name="2002nchouse">{{cite web|title=  NC State House 58|website=ourcampaigns.com|date=November 5, 2002|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=25660}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Alma Adams (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 14,054
| percentage = 85.83}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = David Williams
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 2,320
| percentage = 14.17}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 16,374
  | percentage = 100}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=North Carolina's 58th State House district results, 2004<ref name="2004nchouse">{{cite web|title=  NC State House 58|website=ourcampaigns.com|date=November 2, 2004|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=85127}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Alma Adams (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 21,087
| percentage = 65.74}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Olga Morgan Wright
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 10,374
| percentage = 32.34}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Walter Sperko
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 618
| percentage = 1.93}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 32,079
  | percentage = 100}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=North Carolina's 58th State House district results, 2006<ref name="2006nchouse">{{cite web|title=  NC State House 58|website=ourcampaigns.com|date=November 7, 2006|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=85127}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Alma Adams (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 10,391
| percentage = 65.63}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Olga Morgan Wright
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 5,441
| percentage = 34.37}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 15,832
  | percentage = 100}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=North Carolina's 58th State House district results, 2008<ref name="2008nchouse">{{cite web|title=  NC State House 58|website=ourcampaigns.com|date=November 4, 2008|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=402120}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Alma Adams (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 29,113
| percentage = 71.35}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Olga Morgan Wright
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 11,690
| percentage = 28.65}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 40,803
  | percentage = 100}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=North Carolina's 58th State House district results, 2010<ref name="2010nchouse">{{cite web|title=  NC State House 58|website=ourcampaigns.com|date=November 2, 2010|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=646471}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Alma Adams (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 15,210
| percentage = 63.09}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Darrin H. Thomas
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 8,899
| percentage = 36.91}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 24,109
  | percentage = 100}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=North Carolina's 58th State House district results, 2012<ref name="2012nchouse">{{cite web|title=  NC State House 58|website=ourcampaigns.com|date=November 6, 2012|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=758081}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Alma Adams (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 32,895
| percentage = 79.86}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Olga Morgan Wright
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 8,294
| percentage = 20.14}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 41,189
  | percentage = 100}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}

===United States Congress===
{{Election box open primary begin no change| title=North Carolina's 12th congressional district results, 2014<ref name="2014ushouseprimary">{{cite web|title= Official Primary Election Results - US House of Representatives District 12|url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=05/06/2014&county_id=0&office=FED&contest=1481|publisher=[[North Carolina State Board of Elections|NCSBE]]|date=May 22, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Official General Election Results - US House of Representatives District 12|url=http://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/04/2014&county_id=0&office=FED&contest=1164|publisher=[[North Carolina State Board of Elections|NCSBE]]|date=November 25, 2014}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Alma Adams
  | votes = 15,235
  | percentage = 44.00}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = [[Malcolm Graham (politician)|Malcolm Graham]]
  | votes = 8,180
  | percentage = 23.63}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = [[George Battle]]
  | votes = 4,342
  | percentage = 12.54}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = [[Marcus Brandon]]
  | votes = 2,856
  | percentage = 8.25}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = James "Smuggie" Mitchell
  | votes = 1,775
  | percentage = 5.13}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Curtis C. Osborne
  | votes = 1,733
  | percentage = 5.01}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Rajive Patel
  | votes = 502
  | percentage = 1.45}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 34,623
  | percentage = 100}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Alma Adams
  |votes      = 130,096
  |percentage = 75.35}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Vince Coakley
  |votes      = 42,568
  |percentage = 24.65}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 172,664
  | percentage = 100}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
  | winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change| title=North Carolina's 12th congressional district results, 2016<ref name="2016ushouseprimary">{{cite web|title= Official Primary Election Results - US House of Representatives District 12|url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=06/07/2016&county_id=0&office=FED&contest=1034|publisher=[[North Carolina State Board of Elections|NCSBE]]|date=July 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Official General Election Results - US House of Representatives District 12|url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/08/2016&county_id=0&office=FED&contest=1391|publisher=[[North Carolina State Board of Elections|NCSBE]]|date=December 13, 2016}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Alma Adams (incumbent)
  | votes = 12,400
  | percentage = 42.51}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = [[Malcolm Graham (politician)|Malcolm Graham]]
  | votes = 8,428
  | percentage = 28.89}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = [[Tricia Cotham]]
  | votes = 6,165
  | percentage = 21.13}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = [[Carla Cunningham]]
  | votes = 1,255
  | percentage = 4.30}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Gardenia Henley
  | votes = 444
  | percentage = 1.52}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = [[Rodney W. Moore|Rodney Moore]]
  | votes = 245
  | percentage = 0.84}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Rick Miller
  | votes = 235
  | percentage = 0.81}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 29,172
  | percentage = 100}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Alma Adams (incumbent)
  |votes      = 234,115
  |percentage = 67.02}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Leon Threatt
  |votes      = 115,185
  |percentage = 32.98}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 349,300
  | percentage = 100}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
  | winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=North Carolina's 12th congressional district results, 2018<ref>{{cite web|title= Official General Election Results - US House of Representatives District 12|url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/06/2018&county_id=0&office=FED&contest=1186|publisher=[[North Carolina State Board of Elections|NCSBE]]|date=November 27, 2018}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Alma Adams (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 203,974
| percentage = 73.07}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Paul Wright
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 75,164
| percentage = 26.93}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 279,138
  | percentage = 100}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=North Carolina's 12th congressional district results, 2020<ref>{{cite web|title= Official General Election Results - US House of Representatives District 12|url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/03/2020&county_id=0&office=FED&contest=1414|publisher=[[North Carolina State Board of Elections|NCSBE]]|date=February 3, 2021}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Alma Adams (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 341,457
| percentage = 100.00}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 341,457
  | percentage = 100}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=North Carolina's 12th congressional district results, 2022<ref>{{cite web|title= Official General Election Results - US House of Representatives District 12|url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/08/2022&county_id=0&office=FED&contest=1375|publisher=[[North Carolina State Board of Elections|NCSBE]]|date=November 28, 2022}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Alma Adams (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 140,494
| percentage = 62.75}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Tyler Lee
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 83,414
| percentage = 37.25}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 223,908
  | percentage = 100}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=North Carolina's 12th congressional district results, 2024<ref>{{cite web|title= Official General Election Results - US House of Representatives District 12|url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/05/2024&county_id=0&office=FED&contest=1390|publisher=[[North Carolina State Board of Elections|NCSBE]]|date=December 2, 2024}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Alma Adams (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 259,627
| percentage = 74.02}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Addul Ali
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 91,128
| percentage = 25.98}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 350,755
  | percentage = 100}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}

==See also==
*[[List of African-American United States representatives]]
*[[Women in the United States House of Representatives]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://adams.house.gov/ Congresswoman Alma Adams] official U.S. House website
*[http://almaadamsforcongress.com/ Alma Adams for Congress]
{{CongLinks | congbio=A000370 | votesmart=5935 | fec=H4NC12100 | congress=alma-adams/A000370 }}
* {{C-SPAN|76386}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Mel Watt]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States representatives from North Carolina|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[North Carolina's 12th congressional district]]|years=2014–present}}
{{s-inc}}
|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Katherine Clark]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Seniority in the United States House of Representatives|United States representatives by seniority]]|years=125th}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Donald Norcross]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{NC-FedRep}}
{{USHouseCurrent}}
{{USCongRep-start |congresses=113th–present [[United States Congress]]es |state=[[United States congressional delegations from North Carolina|North Carolina]]}}
{{USCongRep/NC/113}}
{{USCongRep/NC/114}}
{{USCongRep/NC/115}}
{{USCongRep/NC/116}}
{{USCongRep/NC/117}}
{{USCongRep/NC/118}}
{{USCongRep/NC/119}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, Alma}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American women academics]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American women politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the North Carolina General Assembly]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the North Carolina General Assembly]]
[[Category:21st-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:21st-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:African-American United States representatives]]
[[Category:African-American state legislators in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Bennett College faculty]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the North Carolina House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina]]
[[Category:Female United States representatives]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:North Carolina A&T State University alumni]]
[[Category:Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology alumni]]
[[Category:Politicians from Newark, New Jersey]]
[[Category:West Side High School (New Jersey) alumni]]
[[Category:Women state legislators in North Carolina]]