Dale R. Folwell, CPA, talks with North Carolinians like adults with common sense solutions and vows to put his heart, mind, and back into being their governor. From blue-collar roots to operating one of the largest budgets in the nation, Dale is uniquely qualified to be the CEO of the largest business in North Carolina – the state of North Carolina – and ready to serve as your next Governor.

Dale is the only candidate who knows how the government really works.

Dale was sworn in for his first term as State Treasurer of North Carolina in January 2017, making him the first Republican Treasurer in 141 years. He was reelected in 2020, receiving more votes than any Presidential candidate on the ballot in NC. As the keeper of the public purse, Treasurer Folwell is responsible for the more than $115 billion state pension fund that provides retirement benefits for nearly one million law enforcement officers, and other public workers.

Under Folwell’s leadership, the pension plan was rated among the top five highest-funded in the country and won accolades for proactive management and funding discipline. Recently, it was designated by investment advisor Callan as the most efficient pension plan in North America. In 2020, the state’s coveted AAA bond rating was reaffirmed by every major rating agency, making North Carolina one of only 13 states in the country to hold that distinction. Treasurer Folwell also oversees the State Health Plan, which provides medical and pharmaceutical benefits to more than 750,000 current and retired public employees and is the largest purchaser of healthcare in North Carolina.

No other candidate for Governor has such an extensive background in public service and unique experience in negotiating with legislators to make government more effective. 

Dale was first elected to public office as a member of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education. He brought his problem-solving skills to the North Carolina General Assembly in 2004, where he served four terms in the House of Representatives including one term as Speaker Pro Tempore. In 2013, Dale was named Assistant Secretary of Commerce and in just 30 months led a successful effort to pay off $2.7 billion in federal unemployment debt and build a $1 billion surplus.

Treasurer Folwell has a unique background, with his career beginning as a blue-collar worker, including jobs as a sanitation worker and motorcycle mechanic. Like many blue-collar workers, he began his career taking showers at the end of the day, not the beginning. He always fights for the “invisible” workers like our law enforcement and educators – because he was one. Using his life experiences, he will govern as someone who attacks problems, and not people, and offers solutions to make North Carolina a success. 

After earning Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Accounting from UNC-Greensboro, Dale passed all four parts of the CPA exam in his first sitting in 1984. In the private sector, Dale worked as a Registered Investment Advisor while venturing into public service. Married for over 30 years, he and his wife Synthia have three children and live in Winston-Salem.