North Carolina, State House, District 23

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 23
Current incumbent	Shelly Willingham
Population	81,057
Race	43.11% White, 53.16% Black, 0.3% Native American, 0.26% Asian/Pacific Islander, 2.17% Single Race Other, 1.01% Multi-Race
Ethnicity	3.5% Hispanic, 96.5% Non-Hispanic
Voting age	76.2% age 18 and over

North Carolina's twenty-third state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Shelly Willingham.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 81,057 civilians reside within North Carolina's twenty-third 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.

2016 pivot county

This district is one of 710 state legislative districts that intersects with one or more Pivot Counties. These 206 Pivot Counties voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012.

The 206 Pivot Counties are located in 34 states. Iowa, with 31, had the most such counties. The partisan makeup of state legislative districts intersecting with Pivot Counties is slightly more Republican than the overall partisan makeup of state legislatures throughout the country.

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 23

Incumbent Shelly Willingham (D) defeated Claiborne Holtzman (R) in the general election for North Carolina House of Representatives District 23 on November 6, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Shelly Willingham (D)	60.9	15,959
	Claiborne Holtzman (R)	39.1	10,266

The results have been certified.

Total votes: 26,225

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 23

Incumbent Shelly Willingham advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 23 on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Shelly Willingham (D)

The results have been certified.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 23

Claiborne Holtzman advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 23 on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Claiborne Holtzman (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 Shelly Willingham ran unopposed in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 23 general election.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 23 General Election, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Democratic	Shelly Willingham Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections

Incumbent Shelly Willingham ran unopposed in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 23 Democratic primary.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 23 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Democratic	Shelly Willingham 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. Shelly Willingham and Rusty Holderness defeated Taro Knight and Bronson Williams in the Democratic primary. Willingham defeated Holderness in the July 15 run-off primary and was unchallenged in the general election.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 23 Democratic Primary, 2014

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Shelly Willingham (advanced to runoff)	35.6%	2,978
Rusty Holderness (advanced to runoff)	30.4%	2,543
Taro Knight	20.5%	1,715
Bronson Williams	13.5%	1,126
Total Votes		8,362

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 23, Run-off Democratic Primary, 2014

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Shelly Willingham (advanced to general election)	52.2%	2,702
Rusty Holderness	47.8%	2,478
Total Votes		5,180

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 Joe Tolson (D) was unopposed in the general election and defeated William Solomon, Jr. in the May 8 Democratic primary.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 23, General Election, 2012

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Joe Tolson Incumbent	100%	30,670
Total Votes			30,670

North Carolina House of Representatives District 23 Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Joe Tolson Incumbent	58.8%	7,575
William Solomon, Jr.	41.2%	5,318
Total Votes		12,893

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for North Carolina House of Representatives District 23 raised a total of $613,830. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $25,576 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, North Carolina House of Representatives District 23

Year	Amount	Candidates	Average
2016	$19,415	1	$19,415
2014	$76,146	4	$19,037
2012	$37,068	2	$18,534
2010	$73,968	2	$36,984
2008	$99,141	2	$49,571
2006	$59,812	2	$29,906
2004	$52,300	2	$26,150
2002	$78,834	3	$26,278
2000	$117,146	6	$19,524
Total	$613,830	24	$25,576