DeAndrea Salvador (39)

DeAndrea Salvador is a Democratic State Senator representing District 39 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. A fifth-generation Charlottean and nonprofit entrepreneur, she flipped the seat from Republican control in 2020 with 62.2% of the vote, becoming the youngest Black woman to serve in the North Carolina State Senate. She focuses on pragmatic policies improving economic mobility, infrastructure, education, healthcare affordability, energy efficiency, clean air, and climate sustainability.

Education and Political Experience

Salvador is a recipient of the UNC Charlotte Young Alumna of the Year Award, indicating her educational background from the university. Her early career involved founding a Charlotte-based organization leveraging smart technologies for energy efficiency and sustainability, predating her political service.

In politics, she was elected in 2020 and is serving her third term in the 2025-2026 session. As a freshman senator in the minority party, she successfully passed key legislation on constituent priorities like quality of life issues. She serves on boards including Clean Aire NC and previously the Mecklenburg County Air Quality Commission and American Association of Blacks in Energy. Notable recognitions include TED 2018 Fellow, Charlotte Business Journal 40 under 40, Charlotte Mecklenburg Black Chamber of Commerce “30 under 30”, and 2019 AACSB Influential Leader.