Brad Knott


John Bradford Knott is an American attorney and politician. He is the member for the United States House of Representatives in. Prior to taking office in 2025, he worked as a federal prosecutor in the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Early life, family, and education

John Bradford Knott was born on April 17, 1986, in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is one of six siblings. His father, Joseph Thomas Knott III, was an Assistant United States Attorney and served on the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. Knott's grandfather, Joseph Thomas Knott Jr., served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the Wake County Board of Commissioners for twelve years. Knott's brother, Tucker Knott, is chief of staff for U.S. Senator Ted Budd and the former chief of staff for U.S. Congressman George Holding.
He attended St. David's School, a private Episcopal day school in Raleigh. Knott earned his bachelor's degree from Baylor University and his Juris Doctor degree from the Wake Forest University School of Law.

Career

Knott was hired as a federal prosecutor in the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina in 2016. He worked as a federal prosecutor until November 2023.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2024
He ran for the United States House of Representatives seat for in the 2024 elections. One of Knott's brothers, Thomas Knott, donated over $700,000 to the American Foundations Committee, a super PAC that supported his congressional campaign. He advanced to a runoff election against Kelly Daughtry, who finished in first place with 27% of the vote, while Knott obtained about 19%. After Donald Trump and Americans for Prosperity endorsed Knott, Daughtry dropped out of the race, leaving Knott to become the Republican nominee. He won the November election. He received criticism during the election for voting while registered at his father's Raleigh address despite living at his own residence in Raleigh. Knott referred to the incident as an "oversight".

Tenure

Rep. Knott was sworn in to the 119th United States Congress on January 3, 2025.

Committee assignments

For the 119th Congress:
  • Committee on Homeland Security
  • *Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement
  • Committee on the Judiciary
  • *Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance
  • *Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement
  • Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • *Subcommittee on Aviation
  • *Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
  • *Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment

    Political positions

Firearms

Knott supports gun rights and supports the Second Amendment.

Foreign affairs

Knott supports Israel in the Gaza war. He opposes providing aid to Ukraine in the Russo-Ukrainian War.

Government spending

Knott stated that the federal government employs too many people and that some employees, who he claims do not serve taxpayers well, add unnecessary costs to both the public and private sector.

Immigration

Knott opposes sanctuary policies inacted by local governments to protect undocumented immigrants. He called for more criminal deportations, stating in 2024 that immigrants who commit crimes ranging from a "DUI all the way up to serious drug trafficking or violent felonies" need to be expelled from the country. Knott wants more local police officers to be cross-deputized with federal credentials in order to assist in increasing criminal deportations. He also opposes the concept of open borders and calls for a more secure Mexico–United States border.
In 2025, he introduced the Tren de Aragua Border Security Threat Assessment Act, which would require the United States Department of Homeland Security to conduct threat assessments on the Tren de Aragua transnational organized crime syndicate in Venezuela.

LGBTQ rights

Knott opposes transgender women competing in women's sports.

Reproductive healthcare

Knott, who identifies as pro-life, opposes the legalization of abortion and voiced support for the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. He claimed that religiously-operated crisis pregnancy centers were under attack from "pro-abortion extremists and left-wing politicians."

Personal life

Knott is married to Joanne Saleeby, a former golfer at North Carolina State University and the owner of Monkee's of Raleigh boutique in North Hills. They have two children.
He is Southern Baptist.

Electoral history