North Carolina, State House, District 78

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 78
Current incumbent	Allen McNeill
Population	76,980
Race	87.05% White, 6.22% Black, 0.68% Native American, 0.51% Asian/Pacific Islander, 3.99% Single Race Other, 1.54% Multi-Race
Ethnicity	8.07% Hispanic, 91.93% Non-Hispanic
Voting age	75.9% age 18 and over

North Carolina's seventy-eighth state house district is represented by Republican Representative Allen McNeill.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 76,980 civilians reside within North Carolina's seventy-eighth 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 78

Incumbent Allen McNeill (R) defeated James Meredith Jr. (D) in the general election for North Carolina House of Representatives District 78 on November 6, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Allen McNeill (R)	78.8	20,829
	James Meredith Jr. (D)	21.2	5,612

The results have been certified.

Total votes: 26,441

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 78

James Meredith Jr. advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 78 on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		James Meredith Jr. (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 78

Incumbent Allen McNeill advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 78 on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Allen McNeill (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 Allen McNeill defeated Bill McCaskill in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 78 general election.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 78 General Election, 2016

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Allen McNeill Incumbent	78.11%	27,040
	Democratic	Bill McCaskill	21.89%	7,579
Total Votes			34,619
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections

Bill McCaskill ran unopposed in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 78 Democratic primary.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 78 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Democratic	Bill McCaskill (unopposed)

Incumbent Allen McNeill ran unopposed in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 78 Republican primary.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 78 Republican Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Republican	Allen McNeill 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 Allen McNeill was unopposed in the Republican 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. Allen McNeill (R) defeated Gerald C. Parker (D) in general election. He replaced incumbent Harold Brubaker (R) on the ballot. Parker replaced Joel McClosky on the general election ballot.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 78, General Election, 2012

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Allen Ray McNeill	75%	24,880
	Democratic	Gerald C. Parker	25%	8,272
Total Votes			33,152

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for North Carolina House of Representatives District 78 raised a total of $1,206,955. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $70,997 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, North Carolina House of Representatives District 78

Year	Amount	Candidates	Average
2016	$46,673	2	$23,337
2014	$36,073	1	$36,073
2012	$19,973	3	$6,658
2010	$300,612	2	$150,306
2008	$218,695	3	$72,898
2006	$238,649	1	$238,649
2004	$230,905	1	$230,905
2002	$76,375	2	$38,188
2000	$39,000	2	$19,500
Total	$1,206,955	17	$70,997