North Carolina, State Senate, District 8

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 8
Current incumbent	William Rabon
Population	200,133
Race	74.73% White, 19.01% Black, 0.92% Native American, 0.46% Asian/Pacific Islander, 3.12% Single Race Other, 1.76% Multi-Race
Ethnicity	94.28% Non Hispanic, 5.72% Hispanic
Voting age	79.3% age 18 and over

North Carolina's eighth state senate district is represented by Republican Senator William Rabon.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 200,133 civilians reside within North Carolina's eighth 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.

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 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 8

Incumbent Dr. William Rabon (R) defeated David Sink Jr. (D) and Anthony Mascolo (L) in the general election for North Carolina State Senate District 8 on November 6, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Dr. William Rabon (R)	58.5	55,024
	David Sink Jr. (D)	38.5	36,191
	Anthony Mascolo (L)	2.9	2,764

The results have been certified.

Total votes: 93,979

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for North Carolina State Senate District 8

David Sink Jr. advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina State Senate District 8 on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		David Sink Jr. (D)

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

Republican primary election

Republican primary for North Carolina State Senate District 8

Incumbent Dr. William Rabon advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina State Senate District 8 on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Dr. William Rabon (R)

The results have been certified.

Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for North Carolina State Senate District 8

Anthony Mascolo defeated Randy Crow in the Libertarian primary for North Carolina State Senate District 8 on May 8, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Anthony Mascolo (L)	58.2	53
	Randy Crow (L)	41.8	38

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

Total votes: 91

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 William Rabon ran unopposed in the North Carolina State Senate District 8 general election.

North Carolina State Senate, District 8 General Election, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Republican	William Rabon Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections

Incumbent William Rabon ran unopposed in the North Carolina State Senate District 8 Republican primary.

North Carolina State Senate, District 8 Republican Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Republican	William Rabon Incumbent (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 Bill Rabon was unopposed in the Republican primary, while Ernie Ward defeated Danny Hefner in the Democratic primary. Rabon defeated Ward in the general election.

North Carolina State Senate, District 8 General Election, 2014

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Bill Rabon Incumbent	57%	39,402
	Democratic	Ernie Ward	43%	29,707
Total Votes			69,109

North Carolina State Senate, District 8 Democratic Primary, 2014

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Ernie Ward	55.7%	6,745
Danny Hefner	44.3%	5,359
Total Votes		12,104

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 William Rabon (R) defeated Danny Hefner (D) in the general election and was unopposed in the Republican primary.

North Carolina State Senate, District 8, General Election, 2012

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	William Rabon Incumbent	60%	58,282
	Democratic	Danny Hefner	40%	38,919
Total Votes			97,201

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for North Carolina State Senate District 8 raised a total of $4,767,178. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $207,269 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, North Carolina State Senate District 8

Year	Amount	Candidates	Average
2016	$417,073	1	$417,073
2014	$721,983	3	$240,661
2012	$382,400	2	$191,200
2010	$946,052	3	$315,351
2008	$994,016	3	$331,339
2006	$753,046	3	$251,015
2004	$219,452	2	$109,726
2002	$146,124	4	$36,531
2000	$187,032	2	$93,516
Total	$4,767,178	23	$207,269