Walter H. Dalton (born May 21, 1949) is an American attorney and politician who served as the 33rd Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina.

A member of the Democratic Party, he served six terms in the state senate before his election to the office of lieutenant governor in 2008.

In 2013, he was named president of Isothermal Community College located in Rutherford County, North Carolina.

[4] Dalton represented constituents in Cleveland and Rutherford counties in the North Carolina General Assembly.

Dalton's legislative career began in 1996 when he challenged freshman incumbent Republican state senator Dennis Davis.

[12] In 2003, Dalton sponsored the Innovative Education Initiatives Act, establishing North Carolina’s award-winning network of Early College High Schools.

He also supported increasing funding for the state’s public university and community college systems during his tenure.

[19] He won the Democratic primary on May 6, 2008, defeating Hampton Dellinger, Patrick Smathers, and Dan Besse.

[2] Ahead of the May 8 Democratic primary, Dalton was endorsed by The Charlotte Observer, which described him as "well-versed in both the legislative and executive branches and in the crucial issues facing the state" and as "battle-tested," making him the strongest general election candidate.

Rasmussen Reports released a poll August 4[28] showing Dalton trailing McCrory by 5 points.

[33] Several months later, he was selected as president of Isothermal Community College, where he had once served as board of trustees chairman.

[34][35] Dalton's father, Charles, was also a North Carolina state senator, who died when Walter was 8 years old.