North Carolina, State House, District 15

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 15
Current incumbent	Phillip Shepard
Population	77,307
Race	75.14% White, 15.03% Black, 0.76% Native American, 1.95% Asian/Pacific Islander, 3.12% Single Race Other, 4.01% Multi-Race
Ethnicity	89.63% Non Hispanic, 10.37% Hispanic
Voting age	77.1% age 18 and over

North Carolina's fifteenth state house district is represented by Republican Representative Phillip Shepard.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 77,307 civilians reside within North Carolina's fifteenth 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 15

Incumbent Phillip Shepard (R) defeated Daniel Whitten (D) in the general election for North Carolina House of Representatives District 15 on November 6, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Phillip Shepard (R)	66.4	9,076
	Daniel Whitten (D)	33.6	4,596

The results have been certified.

Total votes: 13,672

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 15

Daniel Whitten advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 15 on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Daniel Whitten (D)

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

Republican primary election

Republican primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 15

Incumbent Phillip Shepard advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 15 on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Phillip Shepard (R)

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 Phillip Shepard defeated Dan Whitten in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 15 general election.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 15 General Election, 2016

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Phillip Shepard Incumbent	69.60%	13,273
	Democratic	Dan Whitten	30.40%	5,797
Total Votes			19,070
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections

Dan Whitten ran unopposed in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 15 Democratic primary.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 15 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Democratic	Dan Whitten (unopposed)

Incumbent Phillip Shepard ran unopposed in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 15 Republican primary.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 15 Republican Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Republican	Phillip Shepard Incumbent (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 Phillip Shepard defeated Jim Morton in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 15 Republican Primary, 2014

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Phillip Shepard Incumbent	79.3%	3,282
Jim Morton	20.7%	856
Total Votes		4,138

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 Phillip Shepard (R) was unopposed in both the general election and Republican primary.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 15, General Election, 2012

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Phillip Shepard Incumbent	100%	12,111
Total Votes			12,111

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for North Carolina House of Representatives District 15 raised a total of $667,640. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $31,792 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, North Carolina House of Representatives District 15

Year	Amount	Candidates	Average
2016	$38,998	2	$19,499
2014	$61,135	2	$30,568
2012	$25,030	1	$25,030
2010	$217,605	4	$54,401
2008	$61,195	2	$30,598
2006	$131,926	4	$32,982
2004	$61,905	1	$61,905
2002	$50,782	2	$25,391
2000	$19,064	3	$6,355
Total	$667,640	21	$31,792