North Carolina, State House, District 18

Note: North Carolina's state legislative district maps are the subject of ongoing legal actions. On June 5, 2017, the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed a federal district court decision finding that 28 state legislative districts had been subject to an illegal racial gerrymander. The district court then ordered state lawmakers to draft remedial maps for use in the 2018 election cycle. The legislature adopted new state House and Senate district maps on August 30, 2017. On October 26, 2017, the district court appointed a special master "to assist the Court in further evaluating and, if necessary, redrawing" the revised district maps. The special master, Nate Persily, issued final recommendations on December 1, 2017. On January 19, 2018, the district court issued an order adopting Persily's recommendations, which incorporated some changes to the maps drawn by the state legislature. However, on February 6, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a partial stay against the district court's order. On June 28, 2018, the high court partially affirmed the district court's decision but returned the case to the lower court for reconsideration regarding its original ruling on districts in Wake and Mecklenburg counties. As a result of these actions, several district numbers and boundaries changed. Consequently, the demographic information in this article might not apply to the newly drawn district boundaries. We will update this information as new developments occur. For more information on redistricting in North Carolina, see this article.

North Carolina House of Representatives District 18
Current incumbent	Deb Butler
Population	77,681
Race	62.02% White, 30.87% Black, 0.77% Native American, 0.83% Asian/Pacific Islander, 2.98% Single Race Other, 2.54% Multi-Race
Ethnicity	93.56% Non Hispanic, 6.44% Hispanic
Voting age	79.1% age 18 and over

North Carolina's eighteenth state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Deb Butler.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 77,681 civilians reside within North Carolina's eighteenth state house district. North Carolina state representatives represent an average of 79,462 residents, as of the 2010 Census. After the 2000 Census, each member represented approximately 67,078 residents.

About the office

Members of the North Carolina House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. North Carolina legislators assume office the first day of the new General Assembly in January.

Qualifications

Article 2, Section 7 of the North Carolina Constitution states: "Each Representative, at the time of his election, shall be a qualified voter of the State, and shall have resided in the district for which he is chosen for one year immediately preceding his election."

Salaries

State legislators
Salary	Per diem
$13,951/year	$104/day; set by statute.

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the state House, the governor is responsible for appointing a replacement. The governor must appoint the recommended individual submitted by the political party committee that holds the vacant seat. The appointment must be made by the Governor within seven days of receiving the candidate recommendation. The person selected to the seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of North Carolina House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for March 3, 2020. The filing deadline was December 20, 2019.

2018

General election

General election for North Carolina House of Representatives District 18

Incumbent Deb Butler (D) defeated Louis Harmati (R) and Joseph Sharp (L) in the general election for North Carolina House of Representatives District 18 on November 6, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Deb Butler (D)	62.4	17,812
	Louis Harmati (R)	34.5	9,835
	Joseph Sharp (L)	3.1	885

The results have been certified.

Total votes: 28,532

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 18

Incumbent Deb Butler advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 18 on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Deb Butler (D)

The results have been certified.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 18

Louis Harmati advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 18 on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Louis Harmati (R)

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

2016

Elections for the North Carolina House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on March 15, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was December 21, 2015.

Incumbent Susi Hamilton defeated Jerry Benton in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 18 general election.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 18 General Election, 2016

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Susi Hamilton Incumbent	61.10%	22,006
	Republican	Jerry Benton	38.90%	14,011
Total Votes			36,017
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections

Incumbent Susi Hamilton ran unopposed in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 18 Democratic primary.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 18 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Democratic	Susi Hamilton Incumbent (unopposed)

Jerry Benton ran unopposed in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 18 Republican primary.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 18 Republican Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Republican	Jerry Benton (unopposed)

2014

Elections for the North Carolina House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 6, 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 28, 2014. Incumbent Susi Hamilton was unopposed in the Democratic primary and was unchallenged in the general election.

2012

Elections for the office of North Carolina House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on May 8, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 29, 2012. Incumbent Susi Hamilton (D) defeated Louis Harmati (R) in the general election and James A. Knox in the Democratic primary. Harmati was unopposed in the Republican primary.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 18, General Election, 2012

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Susan Hamilton Incumbent	66.5%	22,588
	Republican	Louis Harmati	33.5%	11,362
Total Votes			33,950

North Carolina House of Representatives District 18 Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Susan Hamilton Incumbent	70.3%	4,798
James A. Knox	29.7%	2,028
Total Votes		6,826

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for North Carolina House of Representatives District 18 raised a total of $896,461. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $33,202 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, North Carolina House of Representatives District 18

Year	Amount	Candidates	Average
2016	$108,146	2	$54,073
2014	$85,633	1	$85,633
2012	$179,119	3	$59,706
2010	$166,171	4	$41,543
2008	$33,815	5	$6,763
2006	$118,664	3	$39,555
2004	$63,135	3	$21,045
2002	$21,825	3	$7,275
2000	$119,953	3	$39,984
Total	$896,461	27	$33,202