Cal Cunningham

Biography

Cal Cunningham is a former state senator and potential candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in 2010.

Early Life and Education 

James Calvin Cunningham III was born Aug. 6, 1973, in Winston-Salem to Calvin and Julee Cunningham. His father was an attorney; his mother, an office manager.

His family moved to Lexington when he was a year old.

He graduated from Forsyth Country Day School in 1991.

He went to Vanderbilt University and American University before graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1996 with a bachelor of arts in philosophy and political science.

He then earned a master of science in public policy and public administration at the London School of Economics in 1997.

He then earned a law degree from UNC in December of 1999.

Professional Career

After graduation, he began practicing law in Lexington.

In 2004, he joined the Winston-Salem office of white-shoe law firm Kilpatrick Stockton, handling commercial litigation.

Military Service

In 1999, he joined the U.S. Navy Reserves, switching to the Army Reserves after Sept. 11.  

In 2005, he served on active duty at Fort Bragg.

From 2007 to 2008, he was on active duty in Iraq, where he worked as a military prosecutor as part of a team that prosecuted U.S. Department of Defense contractors on such charges as assault and illegal gun shipments. 

He was awarded the Bronze Star for his work in Iraq and in 2009 received the Gen. Douglas MacArthur award for leadership.

Political Career 

While still in law school, he campaigned for the state Senate, winning an open seat in November of 2000. 

He served on all three Senate committees on education and as vice chairman of the Senate judiciary committee.

After redistricting in 2002, Cunningham declined to run for re-election after he found himself in a mostly Republican district.

In 2009, he announced that he was considering a run for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. 

Cunningham remained a hold-out. He appeared at Democratic events and gave what were clearly draft stump speeches. He travelled to Washington to talk to key Democrats, all while staying out of the race. 

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee was trying to recruit U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge to run for the Senate seat. 

In November, with Etheridge continuing to hold off on a decision, Cunningham announced he would not run. He cited family reasons.

"I also owe it to my family — before committing us to a hard year — to be a husband and father first. My family’s willingness to support me in a Senate race is an expression of their love. This decision to put time with them first is an expression of mine."

Etheridge subsequently decided not to run for Senate. A month after Cunningham announced he would not run, Cunningham changed his mind and entered the race with pledges of support from the DSCC.

Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and Chapel Hill lawyer Ken Lewis, the other Democrats in the race, have criticized Cunningham as being the choice of Washington insiders. 

He has touted his military service and made an issue of Richard Burr's response to the financial crisis. 

Research and reporting by Ryan Teague Beckwith. 

Occupation

Appointee of the governor on the Board of Trustees of Davidson County Community College. Governor's appointee of the N.C. Banking Commission.

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