Governor Roy Cooper and Senate Leader Phil Berger mourned the death of former State Senator and Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand.

Governor Cooper issued the following statement: 

"My good friend, former State Senator Tony Rand was the muscle who moved good ideas into great laws. He fought tirelessly for public schools and the UNC system. Behind his brilliant wit and encyclopedic knowledge of North Carolina was a man who deeply loved his family, his state and his Tar Heels. Kristin and I send our love and deepest sympathy to his family and friends, especially his wife Karen and his sons Ripley and Craven."

Senator Berger released the following statement:

"Tony Rand was a long-serving leader in the North Carolina Senate and will be remembered as one of the most effective and influential political figures in North Carolina over the past 30 years. Those of us who served with him know that he revered the institution of the Senate even after he left its ranks. The Senate’s tradition of collegiality—fostered by Tony—continues today and will remain part of his enduring legacy. My condolences go out to his wife, Karen, and his children."