Claude Kitchin was born on March 24, 1869, in Halifax County, North Carolina. During the White Supremacy Campaign of 1898, Kitchin helped mobilize the Red Shirts and took active steps through intimidation, threats of violence, and other means to disenfranchise Black voters. He subsequently won election to the United States Congress as a representative of his district, which seat he held from 1900 until his death on May 31, 1923. During World War I, Kitchin was profoundly against US involvement, a stance he steadfastly championed until the country's entrance into the war in April 1917.