G. K. Butterfield, African-American soldier, lawyer, and politician
George Kenneth Butterfield Jr. (born April 27, 1947) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for North Carolina's 1st congressional district since 2004. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected in a special election after the resignation of Frank Ballance.

His district is in the state's northeastern corner, stretching from Durham to Elizabeth City; it includes all or parts of 24 counties. A longtime advocate of civil rights, Butterfield was appointed an associate justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court by Governor Mike Easley in 2001, retaining the position until 2003. He is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and served as its chair from 2015 to 2017.

In November 2021, Butterfield announced that he would not run for election in 2022.