View source for Mel Watt

{{Short description|American politician (born 1945)}}
{{Criticism section|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name          = Mel Watt
|image         = Mel Watt official photo.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2014
|office        = Director of the [[Federal Housing Finance Agency]]
|president     = [[Barack Obama]]<br>[[Donald Trump]]
|term_start    = January 6, 2014
|term_end      = January 6, 2019
|predecessor   = [[Edward DeMarco]] (acting)
|successor     = [[Joseph Otting]] (acting)
|state1        = [[North Carolina]]
|district1     = {{ushr|NC|12|12th}}
|term_start1   = January 3, 1993
|term_end1     = January 6, 2014
|predecessor1  = Constituency reestablished 
|successor1    = [[Alma Adams]]
|state_senate2 = North Carolina
|district2     = [[North Carolina's 33rd Senate district|33rd]]
|term_start2   = January 1985
|term_end2     = January 1987
|predecessor2  = Constituency established
|successor2    = Jim Richardson
|birth_name    = Melvin Luther Watt
|birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1945|8|26}}
|birth_place   = [[Steele Creek, North Carolina]], U.S.
|death_date    = 
|death_place   = 
|party         = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|spouse        = Eulada Watt
|children      = 2
|education     = [[University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])<br>[[Yale University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
}}
'''Melvin Luther Watt''' (born August 26, 1945) is an American politician who served as director of the [[Federal Housing Finance Agency]] from 2014 to 2019. He was appointed by President Barack Obama. He is a former [[United States House of Representatives|United States Representative]] for {{ushr|North Carolina|12|}}, from 1993 to 2014. He is a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]].

A lawyer from [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], Watt served one term as a [[North Carolina Senate|state senator]] and was the campaign manager for [[Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte mayor]] [[Harvey Gantt]].

On May 1, 2013, President [[Barack Obama]] nominated Watt to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which, among other agencies, administers or has oversight for the [[Federal Housing Administration|FHA]], [[Fannie Mae]], and [[Freddie Mac]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-01/obama-said-to-choose-watt-to-lead-fannie-mae-regulator.html|title=Obama Said to Choose Watt to Lead Fannie Mae Regulator|author=Hopkins, Cheyenne |author2=Benson, Clea|publisher=Bloomberg|date=May 1, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-fhfa-mel-watt-demarco-fannie-freddie-20130501,0,7434016.story|title=Obama to nominate Democratic Rep. Mel Watt to head housing agency|author=Puzzanghera, Jim|work =Los Angeles Times|date=May 1, 2013}}</ref> The U.S. Senate confirmed Watt on December 10, 2013,<ref name="periodicalpress.senate.gov">{{cite web |url=http://www.periodicalpress.senate.gov/ |title=Home |website=periodicalpress.senate.gov}}</ref> and he resigned from the House on January 6, 2014.

On September 27, 2018, Watt was called to testify before Congress about allegations that he had sexually harassed a female employee at the Federal Housing Finance Agency. On November 29, 2018, Watt was found guilty of two counts of misconduct.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fhfaoig.gov|title=Report of Administrative Inquiry into Allegations of Misconduct by the FHFA Director}}</ref> He ended his term as director on January 6, 2019, and issued the following quote: "In my view, it's time for me to ride off into the sunset because the standards have become so confused that it's difficult to operate in them," he said, according to a transcript of his interview with investigators.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com|title=Mel Watt attempted to 'coerce' relationship with employee while FHFA director, IG report says}}</ref>

==Early life, education and career==
Watt was born in [[Steele Creek, North Carolina|Steele Creek]], located in [[Mecklenburg County, North Carolina|Mecklenburg County]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Members of Congress/Melvin Watt|work=The U. S. Congress Votes Database|publisher=The Washington Post |url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/w000207|access-date=January 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225143923/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/W000207|archive-date=February 25, 2010}}</ref> He is the son of Evelyn Lucille (''née'' Mauney) and Graham Edward Watt.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/reps/watt.htm |title=melvin l watt |publisher=Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com |access-date=2013-10-31}}</ref>

Watt is a graduate of York Road High School in [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]]. He was a [[Phi Beta Kappa]] graduate of the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]] in 1967<ref name="davidson dispatch2">{{Cite news|title=Fisher challenges Watt again in 12th Congressional District|publisher=Davidson County Dispatch |date=October 30, 2006|url=http://www.the-dispatch.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?p=4&tc=pg&AID=/20061030/NEWS/610300330/1005|access-date=October 16, 2008}}</ref> with a B.S. degree in [[Business Administration]]. In 1970, he received a J.D. from [[Yale Law School]]<ref name="davidson dispatch2"/> and was a published member of the ''[[Yale Law Journal]]''.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}

==Early career==
Watt practiced law from 1970 to 1992, specializing in minority business and economic development law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://atlantadailyworld.com/2013/05/23/mel-watt-is-the-man/|title=Mel Watt is 'The Man'|date=2013-05-23|website=Atlanta Daily World|language=en|access-date=2018-12-27}}</ref> He has been a partner in several small businesses.<ref name="davidson dispatch2"/>

Watt was the campaign manager of [[Harvey Gantt]]'s campaigns for mayor of Charlotte and for the [[United States Senate election in North Carolina, 1990|United States Senate election in North Carolina in 1990]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Smothers|first=Ronald|title=THE 1990 ELECTIONS; North Carolina Democrat Sets Strategy in Taking On Helms |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/07/us/the-1990-elections-north-carolina-democrat-sets-strategy-in-taking-on-helms.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm|access-date=7 January 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=7 June 1990}}</ref> Watt served as a member of the [[North Carolina Senate]] from January 1985 to January 1987.<ref name="ncdp">{{cite web|title=Congressman Mel Watt|url=http://www.ncdp.org/candidates/profile/congressman-mel-watt/|work=NCDP.org|publisher=North Carolina Democratic Party|access-date=16 December 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415150813/http://www.ncdp.org/candidates/profile/congressman-mel-watt/|archive-date=15 April 2012}}</ref>

==U.S. House of Representatives==
[[File:Mel Watt, Official Portrait, 113th Congress.jpg|thumb|left|Watt's final Congressional portrait|alt=]]
In 1992, Watt entered the Democratic primary for the newly created 12th District, a 64 percent black-majority district stretching from [[Gastonia, North Carolina|Gastonia]] to [[Durham, North Carolina|Durham]]. He won the four-way Democratic primary—the real contest in this heavily Democratic district—with 47 percent of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=270846|title=Our Campaigns - NC District 12 - D Primary Race - May 05, 1992|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=2018-10-23}}</ref> He then easily won [[United States House of Representatives elections, 1992|the general election]] by defeating Barbara Gore Washington ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]) and Curtis Wade Krumel ([[Libertarian Party (United States)|L]]) with 70 percent of the vote, becoming the first Democrat to represent a significant portion of Charlotte since 1953.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=28268|title=Our Campaigns - NC District 12 Race - Nov 03, 1992|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=2018-10-23}}</ref> In 1993, the original version of his district was thrown out in ''[[Shaw v. Reno]],'' and was reconfigured to exclude its far western and far eastern portions. The new 12th, however, was no less Democratic than its predecessor, and Watt was reelected 10 more times. He only faced one relatively close race against Republican Scott Keadle.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

===Committee assignments===
*'''[[United States House Committee on Financial Services|Committee on Financial Services]]'''
**[[United States House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit|Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit]]
**[[United States House Financial Services Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity|Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity]]
*'''[[United States House Committee on the Judiciary|Committee on the Judiciary]]'''
**[[United States House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law|Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law]]
**[[United States House Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet|Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet]] (Ranking Member)

He previously served on the [[U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee|Joint Economic Committee]].

===Caucus memberships===
*[[Congressional Black Caucus]]
**(Watt was unanimously elected and served as the Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus 2005–2006.)<ref name="ncdp" />
*[[Congressional Progressive Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Caucus Members|url=http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=71&sectiontree=2,71|publisher=Congressional Progressive Caucus|access-date=7 January 2012}}</ref>
*[[United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus|International Conservation Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Our Members|url=http://royce.house.gov/internationalconservation/members.html|publisher=US House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus|access-date=7 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324151021/http://royce.house.gov/internationalconservation/members.html|archive-date=24 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Legislative history===
In 2010, Watt sponsored the [[Coin Modernization, Oversight, and Continuity Act of 2010|Coin Modernization, Oversight, and Continuity Act]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:HR06162:@@@L|title=H.R.6162 - 111th Congress (2009-2010): Coin Modernization, Oversight, and Continuity Act of 2010|last=Melvin|first=Watt|date=2010-12-14|website=thomas.loc.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-10-23}}{{Dead link|date=August 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
In 2011, Watt became a [[List of US Congresspersons who support or oppose SOPA/PIPA|co-sponsor of Bill H.R.3261]], otherwise known as the [[Stop Online Piracy Act]].<ref name="govtrack">[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-3261 Bill H.R.3261]; GovTrack.us;</ref>
In 2013, Watts supported the [[Amash–Conyers Amendment]], and was against the [[Innovation Act]].

==Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency==

===Nomination and confirmation===
On May 1, 2013, President Obama announced his intent to nominate Watt to serve as the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Almost immediately, the nomination drew criticism from Republicans, some of whom complained that no politician should lead the agency.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/mel-watt-to-head-fhfa-90816.html |title=Mel Watt nomination faces long odds |first1=Jon |last1=Prior |first2=MJ |last2=Lee |publisher=Politico |date=2013-05-02 |access-date=2013-10-31}}</ref> Other Republican senators have argued that he lacks technical expertise on housing finance.<ref name="reuters1">{{cite news|last=Chadbourn |first=Margaret |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-housing-watt-idUSBRE99R0UE20131028 |title=White House mounts push to win confirmation for housing nominee |work=Reuters |date=October 28, 2013 |access-date=2013-10-31}}</ref> Obama formally nominated Watt to the post on May 7, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/05/07/presidential-nominations-sent-senate |title=Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate |date=2013-05-07 |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |work=[[whitehouse.gov]] |access-date=2013-10-31}}</ref>

In July 2013, the Senate Banking Committee advanced Watt's nomination on a party-line vote.<ref name="reuters1"/>

On October 28, 2013, Senate Majority Leader [[Harry Reid]] motioned to invoke [[cloture]] on Watt's nomination, setting up a key test of whether his nomination could overcome procedural hurdles and move to a final up-or-down vote.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://democrats.senate.gov/2013/10/28/cloture-filed-on-6-nominations-estevez-archuleta-wheeler-lew-watt-and-millett/ |title=Cloture filed on 6 nominations-Estevez, Archuleta, Wheeler, Lew, Watt, and Millett |publisher=Democrats.senate.gov |date=October 28, 2013 |access-date=2013-10-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202808/http://democrats.senate.gov/2013/10/28/cloture-filed-on-6-nominations-estevez-archuleta-wheeler-lew-watt-and-millett/ |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The motion failed on October 31, with 56 votes in favor, shy of the 60 needed to pass.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2013/10/31/senate-gop-blocks-mel-watt-nomination/|title=Senate GOP blocks Mel Watt nomination|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=2018-10-23}}</ref>

After a series of procedural votes on December 10, 2013, the Senate voted 57–40 to invoke cloture on Watt's nomination, ending the Republican filibuster under the Senate's recently modified rules for cloture on executive branch nominees.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=1&vote=00251|title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 113th Congress - 1st Session|website=www.senate.gov|access-date=2018-10-23}}</ref> Later that same day, the Senate confirmed Watt in a 57–41 vote.<ref name="periodicalpress.senate.gov"/>

Watt was investigated in July 2018 for sexually harassing an employee.<ref>politico.com 27 July 2018: [https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/27/federal-housing-chief-sexual-harassment-investigation-714779 '' 'If I kissed that one, would it lead to more?' Federal housing chief investigated for sexual harassment'']</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/08/21/640332792/mel-watts-accusers-tapes|title=Federal Housing Agency Employee Secretly Taped Director's Sexual Advances Toward Her|work=NPR.org|access-date=2018-10-23|language=en}}</ref> 
<!---- {{cite news |last1=Alan Rappeport |title=Housing Finance Director, Mel Watt, Investigated for Sexual Harassment |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/27/us/politics/mel-watt-investigation.html |access-date=28 July 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=27 July 2018 |quote=Mr. Watt, 72, made several unwanted sexual advances to a female employee who wanted to discuss her career and salary. During one encounter in 2016, Mr. Watt reportedly proposed exploring what he perceived to be a mutual attraction. The employee rebuffed Mr. Watt’s advance and filed an Equal Employment Opportunity complaint, according to Politico.}} ----->

==Controversies==

===Accusation by Ralph Nader of use of "racial epithet" ===
In 2004, [[Ralph Nader]] attended a meeting with the [[Congressional Black Caucus]], at which Nader clashed with members of the caucus over his presidential bid. After the meeting, Nader alleged that Watt twice uttered an "obscene racial epithet" towards him. It was alleged that Watt said: "You're just another arrogant white man &mdash; telling us what we can do &mdash; it's all about your ego &mdash; another fucking arrogant white man." Although Nader (who is of Lebanese descent) wrote a letter to the Caucus and to Watt asking for an apology, none was offered.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nader Angers Congressional Black Caucus with Demand for Apology|newspaper=The Hill|date=14 July 2004|author=Nichols, Hans|author2=Savodnik, Peter|url=http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0714-11.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024030228/http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0714-11.htm|archive-date=24 October 2007}}</ref>

===Opposition to Federal Reserve auditing===
In 2009, fellow congressman [[Ron Paul]] reported to Bloomberg that while Paul's bill [[HR 1207]], which mandates an audit of the [[Federal Reserve]], was in subcommittee, Watt had substantially altered the substance of the bill, a move which had "gutted" the bill's protections.<ref name="bloomberg fed">{{cite news|last=Ivry|first=Bob|title=Federal Reserve Policy Audit Legislation 'Gutted,' Paul Says|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=atc2o1ijLRno|access-date=16 December 2011|newspaper=Bloomberg|date=30 October 2009}}</ref> According to Bloomberg News, on October 20, 2009, "The bill, with 308 co-sponsors, has been stripped of provisions that would remove Fed exemptions from audits of transactions with foreign central banks, monetary policy deliberations, transactions made under the direction of the [[Federal Open Market Committee]] (FOMC) and communications between the Board, the reserve banks and staff, Paul said today." Paul said there is "nothing left" in the bill after Watt's actions.<ref name="bloomberg fed"/>

Paul responded when he and [[Alan Grayson]] of [[Florida]] passed a competing amendment hours before the bill cleared the [[House Financial Services Committee]] to restore the bill's original language and undo Watt's attempts to weaken its effects. Watt won support from Chairman [[Barney Frank]] of [[Massachusetts]] and the [[Congressional Black Caucus]], both of which backed his amendment. Eight of the ten Black Caucus members on the committee voted against the Paul-Grayson amendment. Watt and Frank voted to inhibit the bill's approval. With pressure from the Congressional Black Caucus to delay consideration of the bill by the full House of Representatives, it is unclear when HR 1207 will face a final vote.<ref name="FDL">{{cite web|last=Dayen|first=David|title=Paul-Grayson "Audit The Fed" Bill Passes Financial Services Committee|url=http://news.firedoglake.com/2009/11/19/paul-grayson-audit-the-fed-bill-passes-financial-services-committee/|publisher=Fire Dog Lake|access-date=16 December 2011|date=19 November 2009}}</ref>

The country's largest bank [[Bank of America]] is headquartered in Charlotte in Watt's congressional district and has threatened to leave. The [[Sunlight Foundation]] reported that 45% of Watt's campaign contributions for 2009 are from corporations in the real estate, insurance and finance industries, the seventh-highest percentage of any member of Congress.<ref name="sunlight watt">{{cite web|last=Blumenthal|first=Paul|title=Chamber of Commerce Deploys Former Government Officials to Lobby On Financial Regulation|url=http://blog.sunlightfoundation.com/2009/10/15/chamber-of-commerce-deploys-former-government-officials-to-lobby-on-financial-regulation/|publisher=Sunlight Foundation|access-date=17 December 2011|date=15 October 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011182238/http://blog.sunlightfoundation.com/2009/10/15/chamber-of-commerce-deploys-former-government-officials-to-lobby-on-financial-regulation/|archive-date=11 October 2010}}</ref><ref name="sunlight watt2">{{cite web|last=Blumenthal|first=Paul|title=Top Financial Services Committee Members Rely Heavily On Finance Campaign Contributions|url=http://blog.sunlightfoundation.com/2009/10/09/top-financial-services-committee-members-rely-heavily-on-finance-campaign-contributions/|publisher=Sunlight Foundation|access-date=17 December 2011|date=9 October 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018195049/http://blog.sunlightfoundation.com/2009/10/09/top-financial-services-committee-members-rely-heavily-on-finance-campaign-contributions/|archive-date=18 October 2010}}</ref> Watt's largest contributors included [[American Express]], [[Wachovia]], Bank of America and the [[American Bankers Association]].<ref name="OPENSECRETS">{{cite web |title=Top 20 Contributors [of] Representative Melvin L. Watt 2009 - 2010 |url=http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2010&type=I&cid=N00002328&newMem=N&recs=20| publisher=[[OpenSecrets]] |date=19 November 2009}}</ref>

===Support of SOPA===

Congressman Watt ardently supports the [[Stop Online Piracy Act]], stating that it is "beyond troubling to hear hyperbolic charges that this bill will open the floodgates to government censorship".<ref name="SOPA1">{{cite news|last=McCullagh|first=Declan|title=SOPA bill won't make U.S. a 'repressive regime,' Democrat says|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-57325905-281/sopa-bill-wont-make-u.s-a-repressive-regime-democrat-says/|access-date=17 December 2011|newspaper=CNET.com|date=16 November 2011}}</ref>

===Ethics investigation===
Congressman Watt was formally investigated by the [[Office of Congressional Ethics]] over a series of fundraising events he was involved in. On December 9, 2009, Watt held a fundraiser and soon after withdrew a proposal he had introduced to subject auto dealers to more stringent regulations. The fundraiser brought donors mainly from large finance companies such as [[Goldman Sachs]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Leonnig|first=Carol D.|title=8 House members investigated over fundraisers held near financial reform vote|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/15/AR2010061505643.html|access-date=17 December 2011|newspaper=Washington Post|date=16 June 2010}}</ref> Watt was later cleared of charges or wrongdoing.<ref>{{cite news|last=Morrill|first=Jim|title=Mel Watt cleared by ethics panel|newspaper=Charlotte Observer|date=2 September 2011}} Reprinted at {{URL|1=http://www.qcitymetro.com/news/articles/mel_watt_cleared_by_panel070130545.cfm|2=Queen City Metro website}}</ref>

In what the nonpartisan [[Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington]] (CREW) called "disgraceful",<ref>{{cite web|title=Watt's disgraceful attempt to destroy the OCE|url=http://www.citizensforethics.org/blog/c/mel-watt|publisher=Center for Responsible Ethics in Washington|access-date=17 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323112434/http://www.citizensforethics.org/blog/c/mel-watt|archive-date=23 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Watt introduced legislation to slash funding for the Office of Congressional Ethics.<ref>{{cite news|last=Siegelbaum|first=Debbie|title=Dem seeks to slash funding for ethics office set up by Pelosi|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/97132-dem-seeks-to-slash-funding-for-ethics-office-set-up-by-pelosi/|access-date=17 December 2011|newspaper=The Hill|date=21 July 2011}}</ref>

===Racial gerrymandering===
In 1993, the design of his district was challenged as an instance of racial [[gerrymandering]]. The Supreme Court held in ''[[Shaw v. Reno]]'' that the unusual shape of the district required strict scrutiny of its racial purpose. Although it is rare for a law to survive strict scrutiny, the districting plan was upheld on remand as "narrowly tailored to further the state's compelling interest in complying with the [[Voting Rights Act]]".<ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. Panel in North Carolina Calls Racial Gerrymandering Legal|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/02/us/us-panel-in-north-carolina-calls-racial-gerrymandering-legal.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=2 August 1994}}</ref>

==Political campaigns==
In 1992, Watt was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's newly created 12th Congressional District and became one of only two [[African American]] members elected to Congress from North Carolina in the 20th century, the other being [[Eva M. Clayton]].

===Recent election results===

====2010====
{{main|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina#District 12}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=US House of Representatives 12th District General Election 2010<ref>{{cite web|title=NC 12th District General Election Results 2010| url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/22580/41687/en/vts.html?cid=2012000 |publisher=NC State Board of Elections|access-date=7 January 2012}}</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
 |party=Democratic Party (United States)
 |candidate= '''Mel Watt'''
 |votes= 103,495
 |percentage= 63.88
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
 |party=Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate= Greg Dority
 |votes= 55,315
 |percentage= 34.14
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
 |party=Libertarian Party (United States)
 |candidate= Lon Cecil
 |votes= 3,197
 |percentage= 1.97
}}
{{Election box total no change|
  |votes      = 162,007
  |percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}

====2012====
{{main|2012 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina#District 12}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=US House of Representatives 12th District General Election 2012<ref>{{cite web|title=NC 12th District General Election Results 2012| url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/42923/111532/Web01/en/summary.html|publisher=NC State Board of Elections|access-date=9 November 2012}}</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
 |party=Democratic Party (United States)
 |candidate= '''Mel Watt'''
 |votes= 246,451
 |percentage= 79.66
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
 |party=Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate= Jack Brosch
 |votes= 62,924
 |percentage= 20.34
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
 |party=Libertarian Party (United States)
 |candidate= Lon Cecil
 |votes= 0
 |percentage= 0
}}
{{Election box total no change|
  |votes      = 309,375
  |percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}

==See also==
*[[List of African-American United States representatives]]
*[[North Carolina Democratic Party]]

==References==
{{reflist|33em}}

==External links==
*{{C-SPAN|25889}}
**[http://www.c-span.org/video/?185481-1/qa-mel-watt C-SPAN ''Q&A'' interview with Watt], February 20, 2005
*{{cite web|title=Congressman Watt Elected to be Chair of the CBC|url=http://fairchance.civilrights.org/press_room/details.cfm?id=26783|work=Americans for a Fair Chance website|publisher=civilrights.org network|access-date=17 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041217040228/http://fairchance.civilrights.org/press_room/details.cfm?id=26783|archive-date=December 17, 2004|date=December 13, 2004}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-new|constituency}}
{{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=1993–2014}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Alma Adams]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Elijah Cummings]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[Congressional Black Caucus]]|years=2005–2007}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick]]}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Edward DeMarco]]<br>Acting}}
{{s-ttl|title=Director of the [[Federal Housing Finance Agency]]|years=2014–2019}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Joseph Otting]]<br>Acting}}
|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Stephen L. Neal]]|as=Former U.S. Representative}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]<br>''{{small|as Former U.S. Representative}}''|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Patrick McHenry]]|as=Former U.S. Representative}}
{{s-end}}

{{CBC Chairs}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watt, Mel}}
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the North Carolina General Assembly]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American lawyers]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:21st-century North Carolina politicians]]
[[Category:African-American United States representatives]]
[[Category:African-American state legislators in North Carolina]]
[[Category:American lawyers]]
[[Category:American Presbyterians]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina]]
[[Category:Democratic Party North Carolina state senators]]
[[Category:Federal Housing Finance Agency personnel]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Mecklenburg County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:UNC Kenan–Flagler Business School alumni]]
[[Category:Yale Law School alumni]]