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North Carolina State Senate elections, 2020

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2022
2018
2020 North Carolina
Senate Elections
Flag of North Carolina.png
GeneralNovember 3, 2020
PrimaryMarch 3, 2020
Primary runoffJune 23, 2020
Past Election Results
201820162014
201220102008
2020 Elections
Choose a chamber below:


Republicans lost a seat but kept their majority in the 2020 elections forNorth Carolina State Senate. All 50 seats in the chamber were up for election in 2020. Heading into the election, Republicans controlled 29 seats to Democrats' 21. Democrats gained a netone seat from Republicans, leaving the Republican Party with a 28-22 majority. In the2018 elections, Democrats gained a net six seats, reducing the Republican majority from 34-15 to 29-21.

Ballotpedia identifiedten of the races asbattlegrounds. Republicans held five of these districts and Democrats held five. The ten battleground districts were District 1, District 3, District 7, District 9, District 17, District 18, District 19, District 24, District 27, and District 39.

This race had the potential to influence thetrifecta status of the state. North Carolina had been under divided government since 2017 after Democrats took control of the governorship in 2016, breaking the state’s Republican trifecta that began after the 2012 elections. In order to achieve a trifecta, Democrats needed to flip at least five seats to take control of the State Senate and also take control of theNorth Carolina House of Representatives. Republicans needed to take control of the governorship to achieve a trifecta.

Heading into the 2020 elections, Republicans held a majority in more chambers than Democrats. There was a Republican majority in59 chambers and a Democratic majority in39 chambers. In the Alaska House, there was a power-sharing agreement between the parties as part of a coalition.

North Carolina's 2020 state legislative elections affected partisan control ofredistricting following the 2020 census. In North Carolina, the state legislature is responsible for drafting both congressional and state legislative district plans. District plans are not subject to gubernatorial veto.

Contents

Election procedure changes in 2020

See also:Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of thecoronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.

North Carolina modified its absentee/mail-in voting and early voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:

  • Absentee/mail-in voting: The witness signature requirement on completed absentee ballots decreased from two to one. The receipt deadline was extended to 5 p.m. on November 12, 2020, for ballots postmarked on or before Election Day.
  • Early voting: Early voting sites were required to be open for at least 10 hours on the weekends of October 17-18, 2020, and October 24-25, 2020. Counties had to open at least one early voting site per 20,000 registered voters.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak,click here.

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Party control

See also:Partisan composition of state senates andState government trifectas
North Carolina State Senate
PartyAs of November 3, 2020After November 4, 2020
    Democratic Party2122
    Republican Party2928
Total5050

Districts

See also:North Carolina state legislative districts

Use the interactive map below to find your district.

Candidates

General candidates

North Carolina State Senate general election 2020

  • Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name.
  • Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
OfficeDemocratic Party DemocraticRepublican Party RepublicanOther
District 1

Tess Judge

Green check mark transparent.pngBob Steinburg (i)

District 2

Libbie Griffin

Green check mark transparent.pngNorman Sanderson (i)

Tim Harris (Libertarian Party)

District 3

Green check mark transparent.pngErnestine Bazemore

Thomas Hester Jr.

District 4

Green check mark transparent.pngMilton F. Fitch Jr. (i)

Sammy Webb

District 5

Green check mark transparent.pngDonald Davis (i)

Karen Kozel

District 6

Isaiah Johnson

Green check mark transparent.pngMichael Lazzara Candidate Connection

District 7

Donna Lake Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngJim Perry (i)

District 8

David Sink Jr. Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngWilliam Rabon (i)

Anthony Mascolo (Libertarian Party)

District 9

Harper Peterson (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngMichael Lee

District 10

Vernon Moore

Green check mark transparent.pngBrent Jackson (i)

District 11

Allen Wellons

Green check mark transparent.pngLisa Barnes

District 12

John Kirkman

Green check mark transparent.pngJim Burgin (i)

District 13

Barbara Yates-Lockamy Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngDanny Earl Britt (i)

District 14

Green check mark transparent.pngDan Blue (i)

Alan David Michael

Justin Walczak (Libertarian Party)

District 15

Green check mark transparent.pngJay Chaudhuri (i)

Mario Lomuscio Candidate Connection

Kat McDonald (Libertarian Party)

District 16

Green check mark transparent.pngWiley Nickel (i)

Will Marsh Candidate Connection

District 17

Green check mark transparent.pngSam Searcy (i)

Mark Cavaliero Candidate Connection

Travis Groo (Libertarian Party)

District 18

Green check mark transparent.pngSarah Crawford

Larry Norman Candidate Connection

Jason Loeback (Libertarian Party)

District 19

Green check mark transparent.pngKirk deViere (i)

Wesley Meredith

District 20

Green check mark transparent.pngNatalie Murdock (i)

John Tarantino

District 21

Green check mark transparent.pngBen Clark (i)

Sev Palacios Candidate Connection

District 22

Green check mark transparent.pngMike Woodard (i)

Rick Padgett Candidate Connection

Ray Ubinger (Libertarian Party)

District 23

Green check mark transparent.pngValerie Foushee (i)

Tom Glendinning Candidate Connection

District 24

J.D. Wooten

Green check mark transparent.pngAmy Galey

District 25

Helen Probst Mills

Green check mark transparent.pngTom McInnis (i)

District 26

Jane Ledwell Gant Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngDave Craven (i)

Did not make the ballot:
Jerry W. Tillman (i)

District 27

Green check mark transparent.pngMichael Garrett (i) Candidate Connection

Sebastian King Candidate Connection

District 28

Green check mark transparent.pngGladys Robinson (i)

Devin R. King

District 29

Duskin Lassiter

Green check mark transparent.pngSteven Jarvis

District 30

Wally White Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngPhil Berger (i)

District 31

Terri LeGrand Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngJoyce Krawiec (i)

District 32

Green check mark transparent.pngPaul Lowe (i)

Ven Challa

District 33

Tarsha Ellis

Green check mark transparent.pngCarl Ford (i)

District 34

Barry Templeton Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngVickie Sawyer (i)

District 35

Jose Santiago Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngTodd Johnson (i)

District 36

Marcus J. Singleton

Green check mark transparent.pngPaul Newton (i)

District 37

Green check mark transparent.pngJeff Jackson (i)

Sonja Nichols Candidate Connection

Jeff Scott (Libertarian Party)

District 38

Green check mark transparent.pngMujtaba Mohammed (i)

Jack Brosch

District 39

Green check mark transparent.pngDeAndrea Salvador

Joshua Niday

District 40

Green check mark transparent.pngJoyce Waddell (i)

Bobbie Shields

District 41

Green check mark transparent.pngNatasha Marcus (i) Candidate Connection

Chris Cole (Constitution Party)

District 42

Tina Miles

Green check mark transparent.pngH. Dean Proctor (i)

District 43

William Young Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngKathy Harrington (i)

District 44

David Lee Lattimore

Green check mark transparent.pngTed Alexander (i)

District 45

Jeanne Supin

Green check mark transparent.pngDeanna Ballard (i)

District 46

Edward Phifer III Candidate Connection

Did not make the ballot:
Michael Barrick 

Green check mark transparent.pngWarren Daniel (i)

District 47

David Wheeler Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngRalph Hise (i)

District 48

Brian Caskey Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngChuck Edwards (i)

District 49

Green check mark transparent.pngJulie Mayfield

Bob Penland

District 50

Victoria Fox

Green check mark transparent.pngKevin Corbin

Did not make the ballot:
Clifton Ingram Jr.  (Libertarian Party)


Primary candidates

The candidate list below is based on candidate filing lists provided by the North Carolina State Board of Elections. (I) denotes an incumbent.[1]

North Carolina State Senate primary 2020

  • Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name.
  • Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
  • * = The primary was canceled and the candidate advanced.
OfficeDemocratic Party DemocraticRepublican Party RepublicanOther
District 1

Green check mark transparent.pngTess Judge*

Green check mark transparent.pngBob Steinburg* (i)

District 2

Green check mark transparent.pngLibbie Griffin*

Green check mark transparent.pngNorman Sanderson* (i)

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngTim Harris*
District 3

Green check mark transparent.pngErnestine Bazemore*

Green check mark transparent.pngThomas Hester Jr.*

District 4

Green check mark transparent.pngMilton F. Fitch Jr.* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngSammy Webb*

District 5

Green check mark transparent.pngDonald Davis* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngKaren Kozel*

District 6

Green check mark transparent.pngIsaiah Johnson*

Green check mark transparent.pngMichael Lazzara Candidate Connection
Bob Williams Candidate Connection

District 7

Green check mark transparent.pngDonna LakeCandidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngJim Perry (i)
Billy Strickland

District 8

Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Sink Jr.Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngWilliam Rabon* (i)

Libertarian Party

Ethan Bickley

Green check mark transparent.pngAnthony Mascolo

District 9

Green check mark transparent.pngHarper Peterson* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngMichael Lee*

District 10

Green check mark transparent.pngVernon Moore*

Green check mark transparent.pngBrent Jackson* (i)

District 11

Albert Pacer
Green check mark transparent.pngAllen Wellons

Green check mark transparent.pngLisa Barnes
Patrick Harris
Dennis Nielsen

District 12

Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Kirkman*

Green check mark transparent.pngJim Burgin* (i)

District 13

Green check mark transparent.pngBarbara Yates-LockamyCandidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngDanny Earl Britt* (i)

District 14

Green check mark transparent.pngDan Blue* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngAlan David Michael*

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngJustin Walczak*
District 15

Green check mark transparent.pngJay Chaudhuri* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngMario LomuscioCandidate Connection

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngKat McDonald*
District 16

Green check mark transparent.pngWiley Nickel* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngWill MarshCandidate Connection

District 17

Green check mark transparent.pngSam Searcy* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngMark CavalieroCandidate Connection

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngTravis Groo*
District 18

Angela Bridgman Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngSarah Crawford

Scott McKaig Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngLarry Norman Candidate Connection

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngJason Loeback*
District 19

Green check mark transparent.pngKirk deViere* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngWesley Meredith*

District 20

Green check mark transparent.pngNatalie Murdock (i)
Gray Ellis Candidate Connection
Pierce Freelon Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Tarantino*

District 21

Green check mark transparent.pngBen Clark* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngSev PalaciosCandidate Connection

District 22

Green check mark transparent.pngMike Woodard* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngRick PadgettCandidate Connection

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngRay Ubinger*
District 23

Green check mark transparent.pngValerie Foushee* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngTom GlendinningCandidate Connection

District 24

Green check mark transparent.pngJ.D. Wooten*

Green check mark transparent.pngAmy Galey*

District 25

Green check mark transparent.pngHelen Probst Mills*

Green check mark transparent.pngTom McInnis* (i)

District 26

Green check mark transparent.pngJane Ledwell GantCandidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngJerry W. Tillman* (i)

District 27

Green check mark transparent.pngMichael Garrett* (i) Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngSebastian KingCandidate Connection

District 28

Green check mark transparent.pngGladys Robinson* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngDevin R. King*

District 29

Green check mark transparent.pngDuskin Lassiter*

Eddie Gallimore (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngSteven Jarvis

District 30

Green check mark transparent.pngWally WhiteCandidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngPhil Berger* (i)

District 31

Green check mark transparent.pngTerri LeGrandCandidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngJoyce Krawiec* (i)

District 32

Green check mark transparent.pngPaul Lowe* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngVen Challa*

District 33

Green check mark transparent.pngTarsha Ellis
Geoffrey Hoy

Green check mark transparent.pngCarl Ford* (i)

District 34

Green check mark transparent.pngBarry TempletonCandidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngVickie Sawyer* (i)

District 35

Green check mark transparent.pngJose SantiagoCandidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngTodd Johnson* (i)

District 36

Green check mark transparent.pngMarcus J. Singleton*

Green check mark transparent.pngPaul Newton* (i)

District 37

Green check mark transparent.pngJeff Jackson* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngSonja NicholsCandidate Connection

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngJeff Scott*
District 38

Green check mark transparent.pngMujtaba Mohammed (i)
Laura Anthony Candidate Connection
Roderick Davis

Green check mark transparent.pngJack Brosch*

District 39

Green check mark transparent.pngDeAndrea Salvador*

Did not make the ballot:
Darrell Bonapart 

Green check mark transparent.pngJoshua Niday*

District 40

Green check mark transparent.pngJoyce Waddell* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngBobbie Shields*

District 41

Green check mark transparent.pngNatasha Marcus* (i) Candidate Connection

The Republican primary was canceled.


Constitution Party

Green check mark transparent.pngChris Cole*
District 42

Green check mark transparent.pngTina Miles*

Green check mark transparent.pngH. Dean Proctor (i)
Mark Hollo

District 43

Green check mark transparent.pngWilliam YoungCandidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngKathy Harrington* (i)

District 44

Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Lee Lattimore*

Green check mark transparent.pngTed Alexander* (i)

District 45

Green check mark transparent.pngJeanne Supin*

Green check mark transparent.pngDeanna Ballard* (i)

District 46

Green check mark transparent.pngMichael Barrick*

Green check mark transparent.pngWarren Daniel* (i)

District 47

Green check mark transparent.pngDavid WheelerCandidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngRalph Hise* (i)

District 48

Green check mark transparent.pngBrian Caskey Candidate Connection
Cristal Figueroa Candidate Connection
Najah Underwood

Green check mark transparent.pngChuck Edwards* (i)

District 49

Green check mark transparent.pngJulie Mayfield
Ben Scales
Travis Smith

Green check mark transparent.pngBob Penland*

District 50

Green check mark transparent.pngVictoria Fox*

Sarah Conway
Green check mark transparent.pngKevin Corbin

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngClifton Ingram Jr.*

2020 battleground chamber

See also:State legislative battleground chambers, 2020

The North Carolina State Senate was among 24 state legislative chambers Ballotpedia identified as battleground chambers for the 2020 cycle.Click here for more information on state legislative battlegrounds.

What was at stake?

  • Democrats needed togain five seats to take control of the chamber in 2020.
  • If Democrats had flipped both the state Senate and state House while holding the governorship, they would have gained astate government trifecta. If Republicans had held both the state Senate and state House while winning the governorship, they would have gained a trifecta.

Why was it a battleground?

  • Seats needed to flip: Democrats needed to flip five of the 50 seats up (10%) in order to win control of the chamber.
  • Seats decided by 10% or less in 2018: In the 2018 elections, control of 10 seats (20% of the chamber) was decided by margins of 10% or smaller.
  • Seats flipped in 2018: Control of six seats (12% of the chamber) changed hands in 2018.
  • More seats flipped in 2018 than needed to flip in 2020: The number of seats flipped in the 2018 elections (six) was greater than the number that needed to flip to change control of the chamber in 2020 (five).
  • Race ratings:The Cook Political Report rated the North Carolina State Senate aleans Republican chamber in 2020, meaning that both parties had a good chance at winning control of the chamber but that Republicans were slightly favored to retain control.[2]


Battleground races

North Carolina State Senate
Battleground races
Republican PartyDistrict 1
Republican PartyDistrict 7
Republican PartyDistrict 18
Republican PartyDistrict 24
Republican PartyDistrict 39
Democratic seats
Democratic PartyDistrict 3
Democratic PartyDistrict 9
Democratic PartyDistrict 17
Democratic PartyDistrict 19
Democratic PartyDistrict 27

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia identifiedten battleground races in the North Carolina State Senate 2020 elections,five of which were Republican-held seats andfive of which were Democratic held seats. Based on analysis of these districts' electoral histories, these races had the potential to be more competitive than other races and could possibly have led to shifts in a chamber's partisan balance.

To determine state legislative battleground races in 2020, Ballotpedia looked for races that fit one or more of thefour factors listed below:

  1. In the last state legislative election, the winner received less than 55% of the vote.
  2. The presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the most recent state legislative election winner won by a margin of 10 percentage points or less.
  3. The presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the incumbent is not on the ballot this year.
  4. The presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and that presidential candidate won the district by a margin of 20 percentage points or more.

Republican PartyDistrict 1

What party controlled the seat heading into the election?

The Republican Party

Who were the candidates running?

Republican PartyBob Steinburg (incumbent)
Democratic PartyTess Judge

What made this a battleground race?

This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. IncumbentBob Steinburg (R) was first elected in 2018, where he received 53.2 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger,D. Cole Phelps, by 6.4 percentage points.

Democratic PartyDistrict 3

What party controlled the seat heading into the election?

The Democratic Party

Who were the candidates running?

Democratic PartyErnestine Bazemore
Republican PartyThomas Hester Jr.

What made this a battleground race?

This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018.Erica Smith (D) was first elected in 2014 where she received 48.3 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary, defeatingClark Jenkins (D) by 8.3 percentage points and running unopposed in the 2014 and 2016 general elections. In 2018, Smith was elected with 53.9 percent of the vote, defeating Republican challengerChuck Earley Jr. by 7.8 percentage points. Smith lost the 2020 Democratic primary toErnestine Bazemore.

Republican PartyDistrict 7

What party controlled the seat heading into the election?

The Republican Party

Who were the candidates running?

Republican PartyJim Perry
Democratic PartyDonna Lake

What made this a battleground race?

This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. In 2018, then incumbentLouis Pate (R) won with 53.9 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by 7.8 percentage points. Pate resigned in January of 2019 for health reasons.

Democratic PartyDistrict 9

What party controlled the seat heading into the election?

The Democratic Party

Who were the candidates running?

Democratic PartyHarper Peterson (incumbent)
Republican PartyMichael Lee

What made this a battleground race?

This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018, the presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the most recent state legislative election winner won by a margin of 10 percentage points or less. IncumbentHarper Peterson (D) was first elected in 2018 where he received 48.6 percent of the vote and defeated his Republican opponent by 0.3 percentage points.Donald Trump carried District 9 with 51.2 percent of the vote, defeatingHillary Clinton by 6 percentage points.

Democratic PartyDistrict 17

What party controlled the seat heading into the election?

The Democratic Party

Who were the candidates running?

Democratic PartySam Searcy (incumbent)
Republican PartyMark Cavaliero
Libertarian PartyTravis Groo

What made this a battleground race?

This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018, the presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the most recent state legislative election winner won by a margin of 10 percentage points or less. IncumbentSam Searcy (D) was first elected in 2018 with 50.6 percent of the vote and defeatedTamara Barringer (R) by 4.2 percentage points.Donald Trump carried District 17 with 49.6 percent of the vote, defeatingHillary Clinton by 3.4 percentage points.

Republican PartyDistrict 18

What party controlled the seat heading into the election?

The Republican Party

Who were the candidates running?

Democratic PartySarah Crawford
Republican PartyLarry Norman
Libertarian PartyJason Loeback

What made this a battleground race?

This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. In 2018, Jason Alexander (R) received 49.9 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger,Mack Paul, by 2.5 percentage points. In September 2019, Alexander announced that he would not seek re-election in 2020.

Democratic PartyDistrict 19

What party controlled the seat heading into the election?

The Democratic Party

Who were the candidates running?

Democratic PartyKirk deViere (incumbent)
Republican PartyWesley Meredith

What made this a battleground race?

This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. IncumbentKirk deViere (D) was first elected in 2018 with 50.4 percent of the vote and defeatedWesley Meredith (R) by 0.8 percentage points.

Republican PartyDistrict 24

What party controlled the seat heading into the election?

The Republican Party

Who were the candidates running?

Democratic PartyJ.D. Wooten
Republican PartyAmy Galey

What made this a battleground race?

This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. In 2018,Rick Gunn (R) was elected with 53.9 percent of the vote and defeatedJ.D. Wooten (D) by 7.8 percentage points. Gunn announced in November 2019 that he would not seek re-election in 2020.

Democratic PartyDistrict 27

What party controlled the seat heading into the election?

The Democratic Party

Who were the candidates running?

Democratic PartyMichael Garrett (incumbent)
Republican PartySebastian King

What made this a battleground race?

This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018, the presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the most recent state legislative election winner won by a margin of 10 percentage points or less.Michael Garrett (D) was first elected 2018 with 50.5 percent of the vote and defeatedTrudy Wade (R) by 1 percentage point.Donald Trump carried District 27 with 50.9 percent of the vote, defeatingHillary Clinton by 4.7 percentage points.

Republican PartyDistrict 39

What party controlled the seat heading into the election?

The Republican Party

Who were the candidates running?

Democratic PartyDeAndrea Salvador
Republican PartyJoshua Niday

What made this a battleground race?

This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. In 2018,Dan Bishop (R) was elected with 52.9 percent of the vote and defeatedChad Stachowicz (D) by 5.8 percentage points. Bishop was defeated byJoshua Niday in the 2020 Republican primary.


Battleground races map

Incumbents who were not re-elected

See also:Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report: Vol. 10, 2020

Incumbents defeated in the general election

One incumbent lost in the Nov. 3 general election. That incumbent was:

NamePartyOffice
Harper PetersonElectiondot.pngDemocraticSenate District 9

Incumbents defeated in primary elections

One incumbent lost in the March 3 primaries. That incumbent was:

NamePartyOffice
Eddie GallimoreEnds.pngRepublicanSenate District 29

Retiring incumbents

There were 11open seats where the incumbent legislator did not file for re-election in 2020.[3] Those incumbents were:

NamePartyOffice
Erica SmithElectiondot.pngDemocraticSenate District 3
Harry BrownEnds.pngRepublicanSenate District 6
Rick HornerEnds.pngRepublicanSenate District 11
John AlexanderEnds.pngRepublicanSenate District 18
Floyd McKissickElectiondot.pngDemocraticSenate District 20
Rick GunnEnds.pngRepublicanSenate District 24
Jerry W. TillmanEnds.pngRepublicanSenate District 26
Rob BryanEnds.pngRepublicanSenate District 39
Andy WellsEnds.pngRepublicanSenate District 42
Terry Van DuynElectiondot.pngDemocraticSenate District 49
Jim DavisEnds.pngRepublicanSenate District 50


The 11 seats left open in 2020 were the most since 2012.

Open Seats in North Carolina State Senate elections: 2010 - 2020
YearTotal seatsOpen seatsSeats with incumbents running for re-election
20205011 (22 percent)39 (78 percent)
2018505 (10 percent)45 (90 percent)
2016507 (14 percent)43 (86 percent)
2014505 (10 percent)45 (90 percent)
20125011 (22 percent)39 (78 percent)
2010508 (16 percent)42 (84 percent)

Redistricting in North Carolina

See also:Redistricting in North Carolina

In North Carolina, the state legislature is responsible for drawing both congressional and state legislative district lines. District maps cannot be vetoed by thegovernor. State legislative redistricting must take place in the first regular legislative session following the United States Census. There are no explicit deadlines in place for congressional redistricting.[4]

State law establishes the following requirements for state legislative districts:[4]

  • Districts must be contiguous and compact.
  • Districts "must cross county lines as little as possible." If counties are grouped together, the group should include as few counties as possible.
  • Communities of interest should be taken into account.

There are no similar restrictions in place regarding congressional districts.[4]

Process to become a candidate

See also:Ballot access requirements for political candidates in North Carolina

For partisan candidates

DocumentIcon.jpgSee statutes:Chapter 163, Article 10, Section 106 of the North Carolina General Statutes

A partisan candidate must be registered as an affiliate of the party with which he or she intends to campaign. A partisan candidate must also do the following:[5]

  • file a notice of candidacy with the appropriate board of elections (state or county-level)
  • file a felony conviction disclosure form
  • provide for payment of required filing fees

Filing fees for primary elections are established byChapter 163, Article 10, Section 107, of the North Carolina General Statutes. Filing fees formulas are summarized in the table below.[6]

Filing fees
OfficeHow the fee is determined
Governor1% of the office's annual salary
Lieutenant governor1% of the office's annual salary
State executive offices1% of the office's annual salary
United States Senator1% of the office's annual salary
United States Representative1% of the office's annual salary
State senator1% of the office's annual salary
State representative1% of the office's annual salary

For independent candidates

DocumentIcon.jpgSee statutes:Chapter 163, Article 11, Section 122 of the North Carolina General Statutes

An unaffiliated candidate must file the same forms and pay the same filing fees as partisan candidates. In addition, the candidate must petition to appear on the ballot. Signature requirements are as follows (additional petition requirements are discussedbelow).[7][8]

Signature requirements for independent candidates
OfficeSignature requirement formula
Governor, United States Senator, and other statewide offices1.5% of the total number of voters who voted in the most recent general election for governor (must include at least 200 signatures from each of three congressional districts)
United States Representative1.5% of the total number of registered voters in the district as of January 1 of the election year
State legislative seats (including those that cover more than one county)4% of the total number of registered voters in the district as of January 1 of the election year

For write-in candidates

DocumentIcon.jpgSee statutes:Chapter 163, Article 11, Section 123 of the North Carolina General Statutes

To be certified, a write-in candidate must submit a declaration of intent and petition. Signature requirements are as follows (additional petition requirements are discussedbelow).[9]

Signature requirements for write-in candidates
OfficeRequired number of signatures
Governor, United States Senator, and other statewide offices500
United States Representative; state house and state senate seats for districts that cover more than one county250
State house and state senate seats for districts that lie within one countyIf there are 5,000 or more registered voters in the district, 100 signatures; if fewer than 5,000, 1% of the number of registered voters


Petitions are due on noon 90 days before the general election.[10] Write-in candidates do not have to pay filing fees.[10]

2020 ballot access requirements

The table below details filing requirements for North Carolina State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber namePartySignatures requiredFiling feeFiling deadlineSource
North Carolina State SenateQualified partyN/A$140.0012/20/2019Source
North Carolina State SenateUnaffiliated4% of registered voters in the district$140.003/3/2020Source

Qualifications

See also:State legislature candidate requirements by state

Article 2, Section 6 of theNorth Carolina Constitution states: Each Senator, at the time of his election, shall be not less than 25 years of age, shall be a qualified voter of the State, and shall have resided in the State as a citizen for two years and in the district for which he is chosen for one year immediately preceding his election.

Salaries and per diem

See also:Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2025[11]
SalaryPer diem
$13,951/year$104/day

When sworn in

See also:When state legislators assume office after a general election

North Carolina legislators assume office on January 1 the year after their election.[12]

2020 battleground chamber

See also:State legislative battleground chambers, 2020

The North Carolina State Senate was among 24 state legislative chambers Ballotpedia identified as battleground chambers for the 2020 cycle.Click here for more information on state legislative battlegrounds.

What was at stake?

  • Democrats needed togain five seats to take control of the chamber in 2020.
  • If Democrats had flipped both the state Senate and state House while holding the governorship, they would have gained astate government trifecta. If Republicans had held both the state Senate and state House while winning the governorship, they would have gained a trifecta.

Why was it a battleground?

  • Seats needed to flip: Democrats needed to flip five of the 50 seats up (10%) in order to win control of the chamber.
  • Seats decided by 10% or less in 2018: In the 2018 elections, control of 10 seats (20% of the chamber) was decided by margins of 10% or smaller.
  • Seats flipped in 2018: Control of six seats (12% of the chamber) changed hands in 2018.
  • More seats flipped in 2018 than needed to flip in 2020: The number of seats flipped in the 2018 elections (six) was greater than the number that needed to flip to change control of the chamber in 2020 (five).
  • Race ratings:The Cook Political Report rated the North Carolina State Senate aleans Republican chamber in 2020, meaning that both parties had a good chance at winning control of the chamber but that Republicans were slightly favored to retain control.[13]


North Carolina political history

Trifectas

Astate government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.

North Carolina Party Control: 1992-2026
Fourteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  Four years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year9293949596979899000102030405060708091011121314151617181920212223242526
GovernorRDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDRRRRDDDDDDDDDD
SenateDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
HouseDDDRRRRDDDDDDDDDDDDRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Presidential politics in North Carolina

2016 Presidential election results

U.S. presidential election, North Carolina, 2016
PartyCandidateVote %VotesElectoral votes
    DemocraticHillary Clinton/Tim Kaine46.2%2,189,3160
    RepublicanGreen check mark transparent.pngDonald Trump/Mike Pence49.8%2,362,63115
    LibertarianGary Johnson/Bill Weld2.7%130,1260
    -Write-in votes1.3%59,4910
Total Votes4,741,56415
Election results via:North Carolina State Board of Elections

Voter information

How the primary works

Aprimary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. North Carolina utilizes asemi-closed primary system. Parties decide who may vote in their respective primaries. Voters may choose a primary ballot without impacting their unaffiliated status.[14]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, seethis article.

Poll times

InNorth Carolina, polling places are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Anyone in line when the polls close must be allowed to vote.[15]

Registration requirements

Check your voter registration statushere.

To register to vote in North Carolina, each applicant must be a United States citizen, a resident of the county in which they are registering to vote for at least 30 days before the election, be at least 18 years old by the time of the subsequent general election, and not be serving a felony sentence, including probation and parole.[16][17] Pre-registration is available for 16 and 17-year-olds.[17]The North Carolinavoter registration application is available online.

Voter registration applications can be completedonline or submitted to the appropriate county board of elections. Applications must be submitted at least 25 days before the election. Voters can also register and vote on the same day during the early voting period, but not on Election Day.[16][18]

The following agencies also provide voter registration services:[19]

  • Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
  • Division of Services for the Blind
  • Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
  • Division of Health Benefits
  • Division of Child and Family Well-Being/WIC
  • Division of Social Services
  • Division of Rehabilitation Services
  • Division of Employment Security (DES)
  • Division of State Operated Healthcare Facilities

Automatic registration

See also:Automatic voter registration

North Carolina does not practiceautomatic voter registration.[20]

Online registration

See also:Online voter registration

North Carolina has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visitingthis website.[21]

Same-day registration

See also:Same-day voter registration

North Carolina allowssame-day voter registration during the early voting period only.[18]

Residency requirements

Prospective voters must "live in the county where you are registering, and have resided there for at least 30 days prior to Election Day," according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.[17]

Verification of citizenship

See also:Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

North Carolina does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a voter who fraudulently or falsely registers is guilty of a "Class I felony under Chapter 163 of the NC General Statutes."[22]

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[23] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The North Carolina State Board of Elections allows residents to check their voter registration status online by using theVoter Search portal.

Voter ID requirements

North Carolina requires voters to present photo ID when voting.[24]

The following documents were acceptable forms of identification as of December 2025.Click here for the North Carolina State Board of Elections page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

Any of the following that is unexpired, or expired for one year or less:
  • North Carolina driver’s license
  • State ID from the NCDMV, also called “non-operator ID”
  • Driver’s license or non-driver ID from another state, District of Columbia, or U.S. territory (only if voter registered in North Carolina within 90 days of the election)
  • U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport card
  • North Carolina voter photo ID card issued by a county board of elections (...)
  • College or university student ID approved by the State Board of Elections (...)
  • State or local government or charter school employee ID approved by the State Board of Elections (...)

Note: A voter 65 or older may use an expired form of acceptable ID if the ID was unexpired on their 65th birthday.

Any of the following, regardless of whether the ID contains an expiration or issuance date:

  • Military or veterans ID card with photo issued by the U.S. government
  • Tribal enrollment card with photo issued by a tribe recognized by the State of North Carolina or the federal government
  • ID card with photo issued by an agency of the U.S. government or the State of North Carolina for a public assistance program
    • Note: Although this is an acceptable form of ID under North Carolina law, the State Board is not aware of any such ID in circulation that contains a photo. All IDs for voting are required to have a photo.[25]

To view North Carolina law pertaining to voter identification,click here.

For a list of acceptable student and public employee IDs,click here.

County boards of elections can issue free photo IDs for voting purposes to voters who live in their county. Voters must provide their name, date of birth, and the last four digits of their Social Security number. Voters must also have their photo taken.[24] North Carolina residents also can get a free ID card from the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles.[26]

Early voting

North Carolina permits early voting. Learn more by visitingthis website.

Early voting allows citizens to cast their ballots in person at a polling place before an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting. Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire do not offer no-excuse early voting.

Absentee voting

All voters are eligible to vote absentee in North Carolina. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.[27]

An absentee ballot request form must either be submitted online or by mail before 5 p.m. on the second Tuesday before Election Day. Completed ballots must be returned either in person or by mail and received no later than 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.[27][28][29]


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. North Carolina State Board of Elections, "2020 State & County Candidate List by Contest (.PDF)" accessed December 23, 2019
  2. The Cook Political Report, "July Update: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races," July 22, 2020
  3. Ballotpedia defines an incumbent as retiring if the incumbent did not file for office or filed for office but withdrew, was disqualified, or otherwise left a race in a manner other than losing the primary, primary runoff, or convention. If an incumbent runs as a write-in candidate, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring. If an incumbent runs in the same chamber for a different seat, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring.
  4. 4.04.14.2All About Redistricting, "North Carolina," accessed April 20, 2015
  5. North Carolina General Statutes, "Chapter 163, Article 10, Section 106," accessed April 28, 2025
  6. North Carolina General Statutes, "Chapter 163, Article 10, Section 107," accessed April 28, 2025
  7. North Carolina General Statutes, "Chapter 163, Article 11, Section 122," accessed April 28, 2025
  8. General Assembly of North Carolina, "Senate Bill 656," accessed April 28, 2025
  9. North Carolina General Statutes, "Chapter 163, Article 11, Section 123," accessed April 28, 2025
  10. 10.010.1North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Write-in Candidate Petitions," accessed April 28, 2025
  11. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2025 Legislator Compensation," December 2, 2025
  12. North Carolina Constitution, "Article II, Section 9," accessed February 12, 2021
  13. The Cook Political Report, "July Update: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races," July 22, 2020
  14. North Carolina General Assembly, "N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163–119," accessed December 15, 2025
  15. North Carolina General Assembly, "N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-166.25," accessed December 15, 2025
  16. 16.016.1North Carolina State Board of Elections, “Registering to Vote,” accessed December 15, 2025
  17. 17.017.117.2North Carolina State Board of Elections, “Who Can Register,” accessed December 15, 2025
  18. 18.018.1North Carolina State Board of Elections, “Register in Person During Early Voting,” accessed December 15, 2025
  19. North Carolina State Board of Elections, “National Voter Registration Act (NVRA),” accessed December 15, 2025
  20. National Conference of State Legislatures, "Automatic Voter Registration," accessed December 15, 2025
  21. North Carolina Department of Transportation, "Voter Registration Application," accessed December 15, 2025
  22. North Carolina State Board of Elections, "North Carolina Voter Registration Application," accessed December 15, 2025
  23. Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship.According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
  24. 24.024.1North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Voter ID," accessed December 15, 2025
  25. Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  26. North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, "I Need a State ID," accessed December 15, 2025
  27. 27.027.1North Carolina State Board of Elections, "FAQ: Voting By Mail," accessed December 15, 2025
  28. North Carolina State Board of Elections, "North Carolina Absentee Ballot Request Form," accessed December 15, 2025
  29. North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Detailed Instructions to Vote By Mail," accessed December 15, 2025


Current members of theNorth Carolina State Senate
Leadership
Majority Leader:Michael Lee
Minority Leader:Sydney Batch
Senators
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
District 41
District 42
District 43
District 44
District 45
District 46
District 47
District 48
District 49
District 50
Republican Party (30)
Democratic Party (20)


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