North Carolina, State Senate, 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 State Senate District 23
Current incumbent	Valerie Foushee
Population	197,306
Race	74.87% White, 12.33% Black, 0.46% Native American, 4.96% Asian/Pacific Islander, 5.05% Single Race Other, 2.33% Multi-Race
Ethnicity	90.25% Non Hispanic, 9.75% Hispanic
Voting age	78.8% age 18 and over

North Carolina's twenty-third state senate district is represented by Democratic Senator Valerie Foushee. She was first appointed to the chamber on September 13, 2013 to replace Ellie Kinnaird, who resigned to work in grassroots advocacy.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 197,306 civilians reside within North Carolina's twenty-third state senate district. North Carolina state senators represent an average of 190,710 residents, as of the 2010 Census. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 160,986 residents.

About the office

Members of the North Carolina State Senate 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 6 of the North 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

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

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the senate, the Governor is responsible for selecting a replacement. When making the appointment, the Governor must make the selection from a list of recommended candidates 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 list of recommended candidates. The person selected to the seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of North Carolina State Senate 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 State Senate District 23

Incumbent Valerie Foushee (D) defeated Tom Glendinning (R) in the general election for North Carolina State Senate District 23 on November 6, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Valerie Foushee (D)	71.3	73,332
	Tom Glendinning (R)	28.7	29,530

The results have been certified.

Total votes: 102,862

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for North Carolina State Senate District 23

Incumbent Valerie Foushee advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina State Senate District 23 on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Valerie Foushee (D)

The results have been certified.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for North Carolina State Senate District 23

Tom Glendinning advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina State Senate District 23 on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Tom Glendinning (R)

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

2016

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

Incumbent Valerie Foushee defeated Mary Lopez-Carter in the North Carolina State Senate District 23 general election.

North Carolina State Senate, District 23 General Election, 2016

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Valerie Foushee Incumbent	68.06%	79,520
	Republican	Mary Lopez-Carter	31.94%	37,322
Total Votes			116,842
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections

Incumbent Valerie Foushee ran unopposed in the North Carolina State Senate District 23 Democratic primary.

North Carolina State Senate, District 23 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Democratic	Valerie Foushee Incumbent (unopposed)

Mary Lopez-Carter ran unopposed in the North Carolina State Senate District 23 Republican primary.

North Carolina State Senate, District 23 Republican Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Republican	Mary Lopez-Carter (unopposed)

2014

Elections for the North Carolina State Senate 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 Valerie Foushee was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Mary Lopez-Carter was unopposed in the Republican primary. Foushee defeated Lopez-Carter in the general election.

North Carolina State Senate, District 23 General Election, 2014

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Valerie Foushee Incumbent	68.2%	53,652
	Republican	Mary Lopez-Carter	31.8%	25,021
Total Votes			78,673

2012

Elections for the office of North Carolina State Senate 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 Eleanor Kinnaird (D) defeated Dave Carter (R) in the general election and was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Carter was unopposed in the Republican primary.

North Carolina State Senate, District 23, General Election, 2012

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Eleanor Kinnaird Incumbent	67%	71,919
	Republican	Dave Carter	33%	35,467
Total Votes			107,386

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for North Carolina State Senate District 23 raised a total of $1,186,457. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $45,633 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, North Carolina State Senate District 23

Year	Amount	Candidates	Average
2016	$67,393	2	$33,697
2014	$105,631	2	$52,816
2012	$40,991	2	$20,496
2010	$79,408	3	$26,469
2008	$129,097	3	$43,032
2006	$58,033	2	$29,017
2004	$40,487	3	$13,496
2002	$275,709	4	$68,927
2000	$389,708	5	$77,942
Total	$1,186,457	26	$45,633