North Carolina's 23rd Senate district

North Carolina's 23rd
State Senate district
Senator
  Jonah Garson
D–Chapel Hill
Demographics65% White
15% Black
9% Hispanic
6% Asian
4% Multiracial
Population (2024)211,624

North Carolina's 23rd Senate district is one of 50 districts in the North Carolina Senate. It has been represented by Democrat Jonah Garson since his appointment in 2026.[1]

Geography

Since 2023, the district has included all of Orange, Caswell, and Person counties. The district overlaps with the 2nd, 50th, and 56th state house districts.

District officeholders

Single-member district

Senator Party Dates Notes Counties
C. U. Parrish
(Salisbury)		 Republican January 1, 1967 –
January 1, 1969		 1967–1973
All of Rowan County.[2]
C. Odell Sapp
(Salisbury)		 Republican January 1, 1969 –
January 1, 1971
Phillip Kirk Jr.
(Salisbury)		 Republican January 1, 1971 –
January 1, 1973

Multi-member district

Senator Party Dates Notes Senator Party Dates Notes Counties
Kennedy Sharpe
(Hiddenite)		 Republican January 1, 1973 –
January 1, 1975		 J. Reid Poovey
(Hickory)		 Republican January 1, 1973 –
January 1, 1975		 1973–1983
All of Alexander, Catawba, Iredell, and Yadkin counties.[3]
Pleas Lackey
(Hiddenite)		 Democratic January 1, 1975 –
January 1, 1977		 Bobby Lee Combs
(Hickory)		 Democratic January 1, 1975 –
January 1, 1979

Cass Ballenger
(Hickory)		 Republican January 1, 1977 –
January 1, 1983		 Redistricted to the 26th district.
William Redman Jr.
(Statesville)		 Republican January 1, 1979 –
January 1, 1983		 Redistricted to the 26th district.
Robert Davis
(Salisbury)		 Democratic January 1, 1983 –
January 1, 1985		 Jack Childers
(Lexington)		 Democratic January 1, 1983 –
January 1, 1985		 1983–1993
All of Rowan, Davie, and Davidson counties.[4]
Paul Sanders Smith
(Salisbury)		 Republican January 1, 1985 –
January 1, 1993		 Redistricted to the single-member district. Robert Somers
(Salisbury)		 Republican January 1, 1985 –
January 1, 1989
Betsy Lane Cochrane
(Advance)		 Republican January 1, 1989 –
January 1, 1993		 Redistricted to the 38th district.

Single-member district

Senator Party Dates Notes Counties
Paul Sanders Smith
(Salisbury)		 Republican January 1, 1993 –
January 1, 1997		 Redistricted from the multi-member district.
Retired.		 1993–2003
Parts of Iredell, Rowan, and Davidson counties.[5]
Jim Phillips Sr.
(Lexington)		 Democratic January 1, 1997 –
January 1, 2001		 Retired.

Cal Cunningham
(Lexington)		 Democratic January 1, 2001 –
January 1, 2003		 Redistricted to the 33rd district and retired.

Eleanor Kinnaird
(Chapel Hill)		 Democratic January 1, 2003 –
August 19, 2013		 Redistricted from the 16th district.
Resigned.		 2003–2005
All of Orange and Chatham counties.[6]
2005–2013
All of Orange and Person counties.[7]
2013–2023
All of Orange and Chatham counties.[8][9][10]
Vacant August 19, 2013 –
September 13, 2013

Valerie Foushee
(Chapel Hill)		 Democratic September 13, 2013 –
January 1, 2023		 Appointed to finish Kinnaird's term.
Retired to run for Congress.

Graig Meyer
(Chapel Hill)		 Democratic January 1, 2023 –
March 31, 2026		 Resigned to become executive director of the North Carolina Justice Center.[11] 2023–Present
All of Orange, Caswell, and Person counties.[12][13]
Vacant March 31, 2026 –
April 10, 2026

Jonah Garson
(Chapel Hill)		 Democratic April 10, 2026 –
Present		 Appointed to finish Meyer's term.[11]

Election results

2026

North Carolina Senate 23rd district general election, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jonah Garson (incumbent)
Republican Laura Pichardo
Total votes 100%

2024

North Carolina Senate 23rd district general election, 2024[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Graig Meyer (incumbent) 77,146 65.85%
Republican Laura Pichardo 40,011 34.15%
Total votes 117,157 100%
Democratic hold

2022

North Carolina Senate 23rd district Democratic primary election, 2022[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Graig Meyer 23,717 82.38%
Democratic Jamie DeMent Holcomb 5,072 17.62%
Total votes 28,789 100%
North Carolina Senate 23rd district Republican primary election, 2022[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Landon Woods 5,798 58.29%
Republican Bill Cooke 4,149 41.71%
Total votes 9,947 100%
North Carolina Senate 23rd district general election, 2022[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Graig Meyer 59,973 67.30%
Republican Landon Woods 29,140 32.70%
Total votes 89,113 100%
Democratic hold

2020

North Carolina Senate 23rd district general election, 2020[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Valerie Foushee (incumbent) 88,429 68.31%
Republican Tom Glendinning 41,016 31.69%
Total votes 129,445 100%
Democratic hold

2018

North Carolina Senate 23rd district general election, 2018[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Valerie Foushee (incumbent) 73,332 71.29%
Republican Tom Glendinning 29,530 28.71%
Total votes 102,862 100%
Democratic hold

2016

North Carolina Senate 23rd district general election, 2016[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Valerie Foushee (incumbent) 79,520 68.06%
Republican Mary Lopez Carter 37,322 31.94%
Total votes 116,842 100%
Democratic hold

2014

North Carolina Senate 23rd district general election, 2014[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Valerie Foushee (incumbent) 53,652 68.20%
Republican Mary Lopez-Carter 25,021 31.80%
Total votes 78,673 100%
Democratic hold

2012

North Carolina Senate 23rd district general election, 2012[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Eleanor Kinnaird (incumbent) 71,919 66.97%
Republican Dave Carter 35,467 33.03%
Total votes 107,386 100%
Democratic hold

2010

North Carolina Senate 23rd district Republican primary election, 2010[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ryan A. Hilliard 2,249 76.39%
Republican Jon Greg Bass 695 23.61%
Total votes 2,944 100%
North Carolina Senate 23rd district general election, 2010[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Eleanor Kinnaird (incumbent) 36,611 64.87%
Republican Ryan A. Hilliard 19,828 35.13%
Total votes 56,439 100%
Democratic hold

2008

North Carolina Senate 23rd district Democratic primary election, 2008[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Eleanor Kinnaird (incumbent) 27,172 64.28%
Democratic Moses Carey Jr. 15,099 35.72%
Total votes 42,271 100%
North Carolina Senate 23rd district general election, 2008[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Eleanor Kinnaird (incumbent) 62,192 70.90%
Republican Greg Bass 25,527 29.10%
Total votes 62,192 100%
Democratic hold

2006

North Carolina Senate 23rd district general election, 2006[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Eleanor Kinnaird (incumbent) 31,947 73.70%
Republican E. B. Alston 11,400 26.30%
Total votes 43,347 100%
Democratic hold

2004

North Carolina Senate 23rd district general election, 2004[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Eleanor Kinnaird (incumbent) 49,730 65.40%
Republican Robert E. "Whit" Whitfield 26,307 34.60%
Total votes 76,037 100%
Democratic hold

2002

North Carolina Senate 23rd district Democratic primary election, 2002[29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Eleanor Kinnaird (incumbent) 12,488 50.24%
Democratic Howard Lee (incumbent) 12,369 49.76%
Total votes 24,857 100%
North Carolina Senate 23rd district general election, 2002[30]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Eleanor Kinnaird (incumbent) 37,481 65.74%
Republican Peter Morcombe 17,686 31.02%
Libertarian Christopher Todd Goss 1,847 3.24%
Total votes 57,014 100%
Democratic hold

2000

North Carolina Senate 23rd district Republican primary election, 2000[31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John "Scott" Keadle 3,007 49.99%
Republican Patricia P. "Peaches" Rickard 1,810 30.09%
Republican Sharon Hege Everhart 1,198 19.92%
Total votes 6,015 100%
North Carolina Senate 23rd district general election, 2000[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Cal Cunningham 27,726 53.37%
Republican John "Scott" Keadle 23,095 44.45%
Libertarian Lawrence James Clark 1,131 2.18%
Total votes 51,952 100%
Democratic hold

References

  1. ↑ "State Senate District 23, NC". Census Reporter. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  2. ↑ J.D. Lewis (2014). "North Carolina State Senate 1967". Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  3. ↑ J.D. Lewis (2014). "North Carolina State Senate 1973-1974". Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  4. ↑ J. D. Lewis (2014). "North Carolina State Senate Districts Map - 1985 to 1992". Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  5. ↑ "1992 Senate Base Plan #6" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Interim Senate Redistricting Plan For N.C. 2002 Elections" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  7. ↑ "2003 Senate Redistricting Plan" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Rucho Senate 2" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  9. ↑ "2018 Senate Election Districts" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  10. ↑ "2019 Senate Consensus Nonpartisan Map" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  11. 1 2 Pellegrini de Paur, Chase (April 6, 2026). "Jonah Garson Will Succeed Graig Meyer in the N.C. Senate". INDY Week. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  12. ↑ "S.L. 2022-2 Senate" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  13. ↑ "S.L. 2023-146 Senate" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  14. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  15. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  16. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  17. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  18. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  19. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  20. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  21. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  22. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  23. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  24. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  25. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  26. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  27. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  28. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  29. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  30. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  31. ↑ "NC State Senate 23 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  32. ↑ "NC State Senate 23". Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
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