After serving several years as both a town and county commissioner, McElraft ran, in 2006, for the North Carolina House of Representatives district 13 seat held by Jean R. Preston who decided to run for state Senate. McElraft defeated Dave Fowler in the Republican primary 68%–32%. In the general election, McElraft faced Democratic veteran politician Malcolm Fulcher who had previously served in the state House in the late 1970s to early 1980s. McElraft won the seat 58%–42%.
