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G. K. Butterfield
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office  July 20, 2004
Preceded by	Frank Ballance
Succeeded by	Incumbent
Born	April 27, 1947 (1947-04-27) (age 60) Wilson, North Carolina
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	divorced
Religion	Baptist

George Kenneth Butterfield, Jr. (born April 27, 1947) commonly known as G. K. Butterfield, is an American Democratic Party politician. He currently represents North Carolina's 1st congressional district (map) in the United States House of Representatives. The district is located in the northeastern corner of the state.

Butterfield, an only child, was born in Wilson, North Carolina. His parents were Dr. G. K. Butterfield and Addie Davis Butterfield. Despite his phenotype, Butterfield has immediate African American ancestry and has self-identified as an African American his entire life.

Butterfield's father emigrated to the United States from Bermuda and practiced dentistry in Wilson for fifty years. His mother was a Wilson native and worked as a classroom teacher for 48 years. Butterfield's father was elected to the Wilson City Council in 1953 making him one of the first African American elected officials in North Carolina since Reconstruction. He was defeated in 1957 following a change in election procedure.

Butterfield obtained his higher education at North Carolina Central University, earning an undergraduate degree in Political Science and a Juris Doctor law degree. Butterfield served honorably in the United States Army from 1968 to 1970.

Before his election to Congress, Butterfield was an attorney and an elected judge. He served as a North Carolina Superior Court judge from 1989 to 2001. In 2001, he was appointed to the North Carolina Supreme Court by Governor Mike Easley. In 2002, Butterfield lost his seat on the Supreme Court but returned to the Superior Court bench by special appointment of Governor Mike Easley and served in that position until his retirement in May 2004.

Butterfield was elected to Congress in a special election on July 20, 2004 to fill the unexpired term of Representative Frank Ballance, who resigned for health reasons. He defeated Republican candidate Greg Dority and Libertarian Party nominee Tom Eisenmenger. Butterfield was sworn into office on July 21, 2004.

Also on July 20, 2004, Butterfield won the Democratic primary entitling him to run in the November 2004 general election. This virtually assured him of winning a full term in this heavily Democratic district. He again faced Dority and won his first full term with 72% of the popular vote. He was unopposed for reelection in 2006.

Butterfield serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and formerly served on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Agriculture Committee. He is the Region VIII representative on the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee In the 110th Congress, Butterfield serves as one of the nine chief deputy whips on the Democratic side.[1] He is an active member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

He is a member of Jackson Chapel First Missionary Baptist Church, where he formerly served as Trustee and Chairman of the Finance Ministry. Butterfield has 2 adult daughters, Valeisha and Lenai.

• U.S. Representative G. K. Butterfield official House site
• G. K. Butterfield at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Federal Election Commission — G K Butterfield campaign finance reports and data
• On the Issues — G. K. Butterfield issue positions and quotes
• OpenSecrets.org — G. K. Butterfield campaign contributions
• Project Vote Smart — Representative George K. 'G.K.' Butterfield Jr. (NC) profile
• SourceWatch Congresspedia — G. K. Butterfield profile
• Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: G. K. Butterfield voting record
• Press release on Butterfield's State Supreme Court appointment
• News & Observer profile page
• North Carolina Democratic Party