Dale Folwell

Dale Robbins Folwell (born December 17, 1958) is an American politician who served as the North Carolina State Treasurer from 2017 to 2025. A Republican from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Folwell spent four terms in North Carolina House of Representatives, including a term as speaker pro tempore from 2011 to 2013. He was head of the state's Division of Employment Security in the administration of Governor Pat McCrory from 2013 to 2015. He was elected State Treasurer in the 2016 election, taking office on January 1, 2017. Folwell was reelected to a second term in 2020, defeating Democratic challenger Ronnie Chatterji. In 2024 he mounted an unsuccessful campaign to be elected governor.

Education and career before politics Folwell graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science in accounting. He worked as an accountant. He is a certified public accountant, He took office in 2005 From 2007-2008, Folwell was Joint Republican Caucus Leader. He was elected speaker pro tempore for the 2011-2012 session,

During his time in the state House, Folwell was the sponsor of 29 bills that became law. The legislation, favored by business groups, In June 2011, Folwell initially voted in favor of controversial legislation (House Bill 810) to allow short-term consumer loans with high effective annual interest rates (up to 50%); two weeks later, Folwell asked that the official record to be modified to reflect that he voted "no," explaining that he changed his mind upon further consideration. Also in 2011, Folwell backed a Republican budget plan that would cut $400 million from Governor Perdue's budget proposal for K-12 education (which already recommended a $350 million cut), dismantle a significant portion of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, raise certain fees (on driver education courses, GED courts, and ferry tolls), and discontinue the extra penny on state sales tax.

A 2010 ranking of the non-partisan North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research ranked Folwell 38th in effectiveness in the House, down from 32nd the prior session. He was highly rated by the business advocacy group North Carolina Free Enterprise Foundation and the right-wing group Civitas Action, which rated him the most conservative member of the House.

Unsuccessful campaigns for state treasurer and lieutenant governor

In 2008, Folwell sought the Republican nomination for state treasurer, but dropped out of the race (the nomination was ultimately run by Bill Daughtridge, who lost to Janet Cowell). Folwell gained a reputation as reformer, although some of his actions were controversial. In November 2015, Folwell resigned, publicly considering a run for state treasurer. In the November 2016 election, Folwell faced Democratic nominee Dan Blue III, a consultant, lawyer, investment banker, and son of Dan Blue Jr. Folwell won, receiving 52.7% of the vote to Blue's 47.3%. Folwell took office on January 1, 2017. He became the first Republican to hold the office since David A. Jenkins served during the Reconstruction era from 1868 to 1876.

As state treasurer, Folwell promoted a controversial "Clear Pricing Plan" contract initiative, attempting to move State Health Plan participants to a pricing model that would tie all payments to Medicare, rather than negotiating reimbursement rate with health care providers. The plan would save money for the plan, but would also cause providers to be reimbursed for their services at lower, but still profitable, rates.

Folwell ended State Health Plan coverage for gender dysphoria treatment for transgender and non-binary state employees. Folwell framed the move as a cost-cutting measure; the move was criticized by the LGBTQ advocacy group Equality NC, which called it discriminatory.

In mid-March 2020, Folwell (along with the other Republicans on the Council of State) opposed Governor Roy Cooper's closure of bars, and restriction of restaurants to take-out and delivery only, which Cooper had ordered to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during the COVID-19 pandemic in North Carolina. In March 2020, Folwell was hospitalized for five days after suffering from COVID-19. In April 2020, Folwell asked Cooper to modify his stay-at-home executive order to allow the Charlotte Motor Speedway to host a NASCAR race, the Coca-Cola 600, without an audience of fans.

Folwell successfully sought reelection in 2020. He had no opponent in the Republican primary election,

Under Folwell's leadership, the state's treasury issued hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt to senior citizens who were overpaid retirement benefits by the state and were previously informed their pay was correct. In response, he stated "That’s a great point, but the dates that you mentioned are called 'pre-Dale' because I wasn’t the treasurer then."

Folwell was succeeded as treasurer by Brad Briner on January 2, 2025.

Personal life In May 1999, Folwell's 7-year-old son Dalton died after being hit by a car as he tried to board a school bus. Following the accident, he and his wife allowed their son to be an organ donor. Since then, Folwell has been an advocate for organ donation, and in 2012 completed a motorcycle ride of all 48 contiguous United States for the cause.