GREENSBORO ó U.S. Rep. Howard Coble is set to become the longest-serving House Republican in North Carolina history after more than 23 years in Congress.
Coble will surpass former Sen. James T. Broyhill today. Broyhill and Coble were the only Republicans from the state to be elected to 12 terms in the House. Broyhill left the seat on July 14, 1986, to serve briefly in the Senate before leaving Congress.
Coble’s 6th Congressional District includes part of Rowan County.
Coble, who was sworn in Jan. 3, 1985, said he never planned to set any longevity records.
“Since we won our first election by 2,500 votes, and then our first re-election was secured by a miniscule 79-vote margin, some questioned how long we would be around,” Coble said in a press release.
“My goals for this office have never changed, however, and that is to vote the way I think the majority of the citizens of the 6th District wish me to vote and to provide outstanding constituent services,” he continued. “I guess that we have been successful enough in meeting those goals that I will have the honor of setting this record.”
The House Office of the Historian said the longest-serving member of North Carolina’s congressional delegation was Democratic Rep. Robert Lee Doughton, who served from March 4, 1911 to Jan. 3, 1953.
Coble said he has no plans to challenge Doughton, although he is seeking re-election in November.