Statement on the Passing of Governor James. B. Hunt, Jr.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 18, 2025

Contact: Jonathan Ortiz

jortiz@hunt-institute.org | (914) 275-2509

Cary, N.C. — The Hunt Institute honors and celebrates the extraordinary life and legacy of its founder, Governor James B. Hunt, Jr., who passed away today at the age of 88.

Governor Hunt devoted more than five decades to public service, guided by an unwavering belief that education is the cornerstone of opportunity, democracy, and economic strength. As Governor Hunt once stated, “Education can’t be just another thing we do. It’s the most important thing we do.”

As North Carolina’s longest-serving governor, he reshaped the state’s education landscape—championing early childhood education through the creation of Smart Start, elevating teaching as a profession, and insisting that education policy be grounded in research, evidence, and long-term vision and outcomes rather than politics.

In 2001, Governor Hunt founded The Hunt Institute out of a simple but powerful conviction: state leaders deserve access to trusted research, leading experts, and bipartisan dialogue to make informed decisions on behalf of students. That work continues today, as The Hunt Institute partners with policymakers across the country to strengthen education systems and improve outcomes for learners at every stage.

“North Carolina and our nation have lost a giant,” said Dr. Javaid Siddiqi, President and CEO, The Hunt Institute. “But his legacy lives on in every policy shaped by research, every teacher supported, and every student whose future is strengthened by education.”

Governor Hunt’s legacy lives on through the leaders he mentored, the policies he shaped, and the countless students whose lives have been strengthened by his lifelong commitment to education. The Hunt Institute remains deeply committed to advancing the values and vision that guided his work.

Information regarding memorial services will be announced by the Hunt family.

About The Hunt Institute  

The Hunt Institute, an affiliate of the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, is a recognized leader in the movement to transform public education. Marshaling expertise from a nationwide partner network since its establishment in 2001, The Institute brings together people and resources that help build and nurture visionary leadership and mobilize strategic action for greater educational outcomes and student success. For more information, please visit: http://www.hunt-institute.org/