2002 North Carolina Senate election

Template:Short description The 2002 North Carolina Senate election was held on November 5, 2002, as part of the state's biennial election to the General Assembly. All fifty seats in the North Carolina Senate were elected.

Results summary

District	Incumbent	Party		Elected	Party
1st	Marc Basnight	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	Marc Basnight	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
2nd	Scott ThomasTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	Scott Thomas	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
3rd	Edward WarrenTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	Clark Jenkins	rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
	R. L. "Bob" MartinTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
4th	Frank BallanceTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	Robert Lee Holloman	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
5th	New seat			Tony P. Moore	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
6th	New seat			Cecil Hargett	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
7th	John KerrTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	John Kerr	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
8th	R. C. Soles Jr.Template:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	R. C. Soles Jr.	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
9th	Patrick J. BallantineTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep	Patrick J. Ballantine	rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
	Luther JordanTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
10th	Charles W. AlbertsonTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	Charles W. Albertson	rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
	Oscar HarrisTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
11th	A. B. SwindellTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	A. B. Swindell	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
12th	Allen WellonsTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	Fred Smith	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
13th	David F. WeinsteinTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	David F. Weinstein	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
14th	New seat			Vernon Malone	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
15th	John H. CarringtonTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep	John H. Carrington	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
16th	Eric Miller ReevesTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	Eric Miller Reeves	rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
	Brad MillerTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
17th	New seat			Richard Y. Stevens	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
18th	Wib GulleyTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	Wib Gulley	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
19th	Tony RandTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	Tony Rand	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
20th	Jeanne Hopkins LucasTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	Jeanne Hopkins Lucas	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
21st	Larry ShawTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	Larry Shaw	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
22nd	New seat			Harris Blake	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
23rd	Eleanor KinnairdTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	Eleanor Kinnaird	rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
	Howard LeeTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
24th	Hugh WebsterTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep	Hugh Webster	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
25th	William R. PurcellTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	William R. Purcell	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
26th	Phil BergerTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep	Phil BergerTemplate:Efn	rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
	Bob ShawTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
27th	Kay HaganTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	Kay Hagan	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
28th	Bill Martin†Template:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	Katie G. Dorsett	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
29th	New seat			Jerry W. Tillman	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
30th	John A. GarwoodTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep	John A. Garwood	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
31st	Hamilton Horton Jr.Template:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep	Hamilton Horton Jr.	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
32nd	Linda GarrouTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	Linda Garrou	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
33rd	Stan BinghamTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep	Stan Bingham	rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
	Cal Cunningham†Template:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
34th	New seat			Andrew C. Brock	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
35th	Aaron Plyler†Template:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	Fern Shubert	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
36th	Fletcher L. Hartsell Jr.Template:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep	Fletcher L. Hartsell Jr.	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
37th	Dan ClodfelterTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	Dan Clodfelter	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
38th	Charlie DannellyTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	Charlie Dannelly	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
39th	Bob RuchoTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep	Bob Rucho	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
40th	T. L. "Fountain" OdomTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	Robert Pittenger	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
41st	New seat			R. B. Sloan Jr.	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
42nd	James ForresterTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep	James Forrester	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
43rd	David W. HoyleTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	David W. Hoyle	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
44th	Austin M. AllranTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep	Austin M. Allran	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
45th	Virginia FoxxTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep	Virginia Foxx	rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
	Kenneth MooreTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
46th	Walter H. DaltonTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	Walter H. Dalton	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
47th	New seat			Joe Sam Queen	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
48th	Charles Newell Carter†Template:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	Tom Apodaca	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
49th	Steve MetcalfTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem	Steve Metcalf	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem
50th	Robert C. CarpenterTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep	Robert C. Carpenter	rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Rep
	Dan RobinsonTemplate:Efn	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Dem

† - Incumbent not seeking re-election

Party		Candi- dates	Votes		Seats
			No.	%	No.	+/–	%
style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Democratic Party	45	1,022,552	46.770%	28	Decrease7	56%
style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Republican Party	42	1,109,755	50.759%	22	Increase7	44%
style="background:Template:Party color;"|	Libertarian Party	27	54,025	2.471%	0	Steady	0%
Total		114	2,186,332	100.00%	50	Steady	100.00%

Senate seats Democratic   56% Republican   44%

Popular vote Republican   50.76% Democratic   46.77% Libertarian   2.47%

Incumbents defeated in the primary election

• Howard Lee (D-District 23) lost re-nomination to Eleanor Kinnaird in a redistricting race
• Bob Shaw (R-District 26) lost re-nomination to Phil Berger in a redistricting race
• Kenneth Moore (R-District 45) lost re-nomination to Virginia Foxx in a redistricting race

Incumbents defeated in the general election

• Allen Wellons (D-District 12), defeated by Fred Smith (R)
• T. L. "Fountain" Odom (D-District 40), defeated by Robert Pittenger (R)

Open seats that changed parties

• Aaron Plyler (D-District 35) didn't seek re-election, seat won by Fern Shubert (R)
• Charles Newell Carter (D-District 28) didn't seek re-election, seat won by Tom Apodaca
• Dan Robinson (D-District 50) lost a redistricting race to Robert C. Carpenter (R-District 50)

Newly created seats

• District 5, won by Tony P. Moore (D)
• District 6, won by Cecil Hargett (D)
• District 14, won by Vernon Malone (D)
• District 17, won by Richard Y. Stevens (R)
• District 22, won by Harris Blake (R)
• District 29, won by Jerry W. Tillman (R)
• District 34, won by Andrew C. Brock (R)
• District 41, won by R. B. Sloan Jr. (R)
• District 47, won by Joe Sam Queen (D)

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report	Template:USRaceRating	October 4, 2002

Detailed results

Districts 1–25

District 1

Incumbent Democratic President Pro Tempore Marc Basnight has represented the 1st district since 1985.

North Carolina Senate 1st district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Marc Basnight (incumbent)		66.63%
		Ron Toppin		33.37%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 2

The new 2nd district overlaps with much of the former 3rd district. Incumbent Democrat Scott Thomas, who has represented the 3rd district since 2001, was re-elected here. Republican primary

North Carolina Senate 2nd district Republican primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Chuck Tyson		56.67%
		Jule D. Wheatly		43.33%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 2nd district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Scott Thomas (incumbent)		51.69%
		Chuck Tyson		48.31%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 3

The new 3rd district includes the homes of incumbent Democrats Edward Warren, who has represented the 9th district since 1991, and R. L. "Bob" Martin, who has represented the 6th district since 1985. Neither sought re-election here and Democrat Clark Jenkins won the open seat. Democratic primary

North Carolina Senate 3rd district Democratic primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Clark Jenkins		45.30%
		Patricia Ferguson		41.36%
		Ann M. Slocumb		6.89%
		Henry Williams II		6.46%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 3rd district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Clark Jenkins		66.69%
		Don Carson		32.14%
		Henry Boschen		1.17%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 4

The new 4th district overlaps with much of the former 2nd district. Incumbent Democrat Frank Ballance, who has represented the 2nd district since 1989, ran for the U.S. House. Democrat Robert Lee Holloman won the open seat. Democratic primary

North Carolina Senate 4th district Democratic primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Robert Lee Holloman		31.61%
		Robert B. Partin		26.99%
		Ronnie C. Reaves		19.93%
		Clinton G. "T-Bone" Alston		11.80%
		Charles J. Worth		9.67%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 4th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Robert Lee Holloman		84.11%
		Tom Eisenmenger		15.89%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 5

The new 5th district is based in Wilson and Pitt counties and isn't a safe seat for either party. Democrat Tony P. Moore won the open seat. Democratic primary

North Carolina Senate 5th district Democratic primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Tony P. Moore		33.94%
		James M. Johnson III		32.95%
		William L. Neill		17.03%
		Robert Wheeler Jr.		16.08%
Total votes				100%

Republican primary

North Carolina Senate 5th district Republican primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Tom Coulson		69.74%
		George H. Gray		30.26%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 5th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Tony P. Moore		50.86%
		Tom Coulson		47.95%
		Christopher Ruff		1.19%
Total votes				100%
	win (new seat)

District 6

The new 6th district is based in Jones and Onslow counties. Democrat Cecil Hargett won the open seat. Democratic primary

North Carolina Senate 6th district Democratic primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Cecil Hargett		63.70%
		Kever M. Clark		36.30%
Total votes				100%

Republican primary

North Carolina Senate 6th district Republican primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Tommy Pollard Jr.		61.61%
		Thomas R. "Tom" Mattison		38.39%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 6th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Cecil Hargett		51.78%
		Tommy Pollard Jr.		48.22%
Total votes				100%
	win (new seat)

District 7

The new 7th district overlaps with much of the former 8th district. Incumbent Democrat John Kerr, who has represented the 8th district since 1993, was re-elected here.

North Carolina Senate 7th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		John Kerr (incumbent)		53.95%
		Carolyn B. Russell		46.05%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 8

The new 8th district overlaps with much of the former 18th district.
Incumbent Democrat R. C. Soles Jr., who has represented the 18th district and its predecessors since 1977, was re-elected here. Republican primary

North Carolina Senate 8th district Republican election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Ray Gilbert		56.47%
		Dial Gray		43.53%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina District 8th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		R. C. Soles Jr. (incumbent)		54.56%
		Ray Gilbert		40.17%
		Edward Gore		5.26%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 9

The new 9th district includes the homes of incumbent Republican Patrick J. Ballantine, who has represented the 4th district since 1995, and Democrat Luther Jordan, who has represented the 7th district since 1993, Ballantine was re-elected here. Republican primary

North Carolina Senate 9th district Republican primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Patrick J. Ballantine (incumbent)		88.82%
		Dallas J. Brown Jr.		11.18%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 9th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Patrick J. Ballantine (incumbent)		65.11%
		Laura Padgett		32.93%
		Shaun Mitchell		1.96%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 10

The new 10th district includes the homes of incumbent Democrats Charles W. Albertson, who has represented the 5th district since 1993, and Oscar Harris, who has represented the 15th district since 1999, Albertson was re-elected here. Democratic primary

North Carolina Senate 10th district Democratic primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Charles W. Albertson (incumbent)		70.22%
		Robert Bradshaw		29.78%
Total votes				100%

Republican primary

North Carolina Senate 10th district Republican primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		George E. Wilson		69.69%
		Lewis T. Harris III		15.47%
		Derl Walker		14.84%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 10th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Charles W. Albertson (incumbent)		54.52%
		George E. Wilson		45.48%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 11

The new 11th district overlaps with much of the former 10th district. Incumbent Democrat A. B. Swindell, who has represented the 10th district since 2001, was re-elected here.

North Carolina Senate 11th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		A. B. Swindell (incumbent)		60.13%
		Willie Cooke		37.79%
		Charles Yow		2.08%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 12

The new 12th district includes the homes of incumbent Democrat Allen Wellons, who has represented the 11th district since 1997. Wellons lost re-election here to Republican Fred Smith. Republican primary

North Carolina Senate 12th district Republican primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Fred Smith		80.54%
		E. Ray Boswell		19.46%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 12th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Fred Smith		57.67%
		Allen Wellons (incumbent)		42.33%
Total votes				100%
	gain from

District 13

The new 13th district overlaps with much of the former 30th district. Incumbent Democrat David F. Weinstein, who has represented the 30th district since 1997, was re-elected here.

North Carolina Senate 13th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		David F. Weinstein (incumbent)		100%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 14

The new 14th district is based in Wake County and has no incumbent. Democrat Vernon Malone won the open seat. Republican primary

North Carolina Senate 14th district Republican primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Carol Bennett		55.65%
		Loretta Thompson		44.35%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 14th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Vernon Malone		64.55%
		Carol Bennett		32.92%
		Richard Davison		2.53%
Total votes				100%
	win (new seat)

District 15

The new 15th district overlaps with much of the former 36th district. Incumbent Republican John H. Carrington, who has represented the 15th district since 1995, was re-elected here. Republican primary

North Carolina Senate 15th district Republican primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		John H. Carrington (incumbent)		70.48%
		George C. Mackie Jr.		29.52%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 15th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		John H. Carrington (incumbent)		57.08%
		Dorothy Gerry Bowles		40.36%
		Nathan Wilson		2.57%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 16

The new 16th district overlaps with much of the former 14th district. Incumbent Democrats Eric Miller Reeves and Brad Miller have represented the 14th district since 1997.
Miller ran for the U.S. House while Reeves was re-elected here.

North Carolina Senate 16th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Eric Miller Reeves (incumbent)		49.29%
		Paul Coble		48.38%
		Jason Mara		2.32%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 17

The new 17th district is based in Southern Wake County and had no incumbent. Republican Richard Y. Stevens won the open seat. Republican primary

North Carolina Senate 17th district Republican primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Richard Y. Stevens		69.53%
		David S. Sharpe Jr.		30.47%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 17th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Richard Y. Stevens		61.69%
		Thomas B. Hunt		34.30%
		Susan Hogarth		4.01%
Total votes				100%
	win (new seat)

District 18

The new 18th district overlaps with much of the northern portion of the former 13th district. Incumbent Democrat Wib Gulley, who has represented the 13th district since 1993, was re-elected here.

North Carolina Senate 18th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Wib Gulley (incumbent)		46.23%
		Tom Davidson		40.53%
		Mark Kitchens		3.24%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 19

The new 19th district overlaps with much of the former 24th district. Incumbent Democrat Tony Rand, who has represented the 24th district since 1995, was re-elected here. Democratic primary

North Carolina Senate 19th district Democratic primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Tony Rand (incumbent)		77.58%
		Russell McLaurin		22.42%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 19th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Tony Rand (incumbent)		63.36%
		Bob White		36.64%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 20

The new 20th district (based in Durham County) overlaps with much of the southern portion of the old 13th district. Incumbent Democrat Jeanne Hopkins Lucas, who has represented the 13th district since 1993, was re-elected here.

North Carolina Senate District 20th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Jeanne Hopkins Lucas (incumbent)		89.31%
		Jonathan Guze		10.69%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 21

The new 21st district overlaps with much of the former 41st district. Incumbent Democrat Larry Shaw, who has represented the 41st district since 1995, was re-elected here. Democratic primary

North Carolina Senate 21st district Democratic primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Larry Shaw (incumbent)		66.31%
		Audrey "Sister" Ray		33.69%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 21st district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Larry Shaw (incumbent)		66.66%
		Richard D. Evans		33.34%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 22

The new 22nd district includes all of Moore and Lee counties, as well as the western portion of Harnett County. Republican Harris Blake won the open seat. Democratic primary

North Carolina Senate 22nd district Democratic primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Jimmy L. Love Sr.		62.17%
		Wanda H. Hunt		37.83%
Total votes				100%

Republican primary

North Carolina Senate 22nd district Republican primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Harris Blake		37.29%
		Teena S. Little		31.78%
		Bobby Ray Hall		15.62%
		Tim McNeill		15.31%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 22nd district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Harris Blake		54.43%
		Jimmy L. Love Sr.		43.74%
		Jonathan Lubecky		1.83%
Total votes				100%
	win (new seat)

District 23

The new 23rd district overlaps with much of the former 16th district. Incumbent Democrats Eleanor Kinnaird and Howard Lee have both represented the 16th district since 1997. Kinnaird was re-elected here. Democratic primary

North Carolina Senate 23rd district Democratic primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Eleanor Kinnaird (incumbent)		50.24%
		Howard Lee (incumbent)		49.76%
Total votes				100%

General election

2002 North Carolina Senate 23rd district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Eleanor Kinnaird (incumbent)		65.74%
		Peter Morcombe		31.02%
		Christopher Todd Goss		3.24%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 24

The new 24th district overlaps with much of the former 21st district. Incumbent Republican Hugh Webster, who has represented the 21st district since 1995, was re-elected here.

North Carolina Senate 24th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Hugh Webster (incumbent)		57.79%
		Bill Powell		42.21%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 25

The new 25th district overlaps with much of the eastern portion of the former 17th district. Incumbent Democrat William R. Purcell, who has represented the 17th district since 1997, was re-elected here.

North Carolina Senate 25th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		William R. Purcell (incumbent)		57.63%
		Donald M. Dawkins		42.37%
Total votes				100%
	hold

Districts 26–50

District 26

The new 26th district includes the homes of incumbent Republicans Phil Berger, who has represented the 12th district since 2001, and Bob Shaw, who has represented the 19th district since 1985. Berger was re-elected here. Republican primary

North Carolina Senate 26th district Republican primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Phil Berger (incumbent)		52.82%
		Bob Shaw (incumbent)		47.18%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 26th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Phil Berger (incumbent)		84.69%
		Jim Capo		15.31%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 27

The new 27th district overlaps with much of the former 32nd district. Incumbent Democrat Kay Hagan, who has represented the 32nd district since 1999, was re-elected here.

North Carolina Senate 27th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Kay Hagan (incumbent)		56.16%
		Mark McDaniel		41.30%
		Tom Bailey		2.54%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 28

The new 28th district overlaps with much of the former 31st district. Incumbent Democrat Bill Martin, who has represented the 31st district since 1983 did not seek re-election. Democrat Katie G. Dorsett won the open seat.

North Carolina Senate 28th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Katie G. Dorsett		64.01%
		Mike Causey		34.29%
		Eric Preston Medlock		1.70%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 29

The new 29th district includes Randolph and Montgomery counties and had no incumbent. Republican Jerry W. Tillman won the open seat. Democratic primary

North Carolina Senate 29th district Democratic primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Mac Whatley		64.50%
		Charles K. Moss		35.50%
Total votes				100%

Republican primary

North Carolina Senate 29th district Republican primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Jerry W. Tillman		46.26%
		Bob Crumley		24.54%
		Joe O. Shaw		23.17%
		Max Gardner Reece Jr.		6.03%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 29th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Jerry W. Tillman		64.64%
		Mac Whatley		33.47%
		Douglas Kania		1.88%
Total votes				100%
	win (new seat)

District 30

The new 30th district overlaps with much of the former 27th district. Incumbent Republican John A. Garwood, who has represented the 27th district since 1997, was re-elected here. Democratic primary

North Carolina Senate 30th district Democratic election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Ed Gambill		54.09%
		Lana Wood Brendle		45.91%
Total votes				100%

Republican primary

North Carolina Senate 30th district Republican primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		John A. Garwood (incumbent)		54.88%
		Don W. East		45.12%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 30th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		John A. Garwood (incumbent)		61.16%
		Ed Gambill		36.03%
		James Wentz		2.81%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 31

The new 31st district overlaps with parts of the former 20th district. Incumbent Republican Hamilton Horton Jr., who has represented the 20th district since 1995, was re-elected here.

North Carolina Senate 31st district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Hamilton Horton Jr. (incumbent)		88.15%
		Donn Linton		11.85%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 32

the new 32nd district overlaps with parts of the former 20th district. Incumbent Democrat Linda Garrou, who has represented the 20th district since 1999, was re-elected here.

North Carolina Senate 32nd district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Linda Garrou (incumbent)		100%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 33

The new 33rd district includes the homes of incumbent Democrat Cal Cunningham, who has represented the 23rd district since 2001, and incumbent Republican Stan Bingham, who has represented the 38th district since 2001. Cunningham did not seek re-election and Bingham was re-elected here. Republican primary

North Carolina Senate 33rd district Republican primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Stan Bingham (incumbent)		71.13%
		Ronald Gilbert Coleman		28.87%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 33rd district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Stan Bingham (incumbent)		100%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 34

The new 34th district includes all of Davie and Yadkin counties as well as most of Rowan County. Republican Andrew C. Brock won the open seat. Democratic primary

North Carolina Senate 34th district Democratic primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		John Carlyle Sherrill III		58.82%
		Debra Brown Groce		41.18%
Total votes				100%

Republican primary

North Carolina Senate 34th district Republican primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Andrew C. Brock		36.69%
		Gus Andrews		32.15%
		Mac Butner		26.00%
		Baxter (Bo) Turner		5.15%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 34th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Andrew C. Brock		60.19%
		John Carlyle Sherrill III		37.10%
		J. Conrad Jones		2.72%
Total votes				100%
	win (new seat)

District 35

The new 35th district overlaps with much of the western portion of the old 17th district. Incumbent Democrat Aaron Plyler, who has represented the 17th district since 1983, did not seek re-election. Republican Fern Shubert won the open seat. Republican primary

North Carolina Senate 35th district Republican primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Fern Shubert		49.23%
		Eddie Goodall		17.94%
		Clayton Loflin		13.03%
		Paul Standridge		10.31%
		W. P. "Bill" Davis		9.49%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 35th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Fern Shubert		66.68%
		Frank McGuirt		33.32%
Total votes				100%
	gain from

District 36

The new 36th district overlaps with much of the former 22nd district. Incumbent Republican Fletcher L. Hartsell Jr., who has represented the 22nd district since 1991, was re-elected here.

North Carolina Senate 36th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Fletcher L. Hartsell Jr. (incumbent)		66.23%
		Larry Harris		28.16%
		Mike Helms		5.61%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 37

The new 37th district overlaps with much of the former 40th district. Incumbent Democrat Dan Clodfelter, who has represented the 40th district since 1999, was re-elected here.

North Carolina Senate 37th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Dan Clodfelter (incumbent)		100%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 38

The new 38th district overlaps with much of the former 33rd district. Incumbent Democrat Charlie Dannelly, who has represented the 38th district since 1995, was re-elected here.

North Carolina Senate 38th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Charlie Dannelly (incumbent)		100%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 39

The new 39th district overlaps with much of the former 35th district. Incumbent Republican Bob Rucho, who has represented the 35th district since 1997, was re-elected here.

North Carolina Senate 39th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Bob Rucho (incumbent)		65.15%
		Joe Spencer		31.53%
		Heather Head		3.32%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 40

The new 40th district overlaps with much of the former 34th district. Incumbent Democrat T. L. "Fountain" Odom, who has represented the 40th district since 1989, lost re-election here to Republican Robert Pittenger.

North Carolina Senate 40th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Robert Pittenger		54.55%
		T. L. "Fountain" Odom (incumbent)		43.13%
		Steven Wright		2.31%
Total votes				100%
	gain from

District 41

The new 41st district includes all of Alexander and Iredell counties and had no incumbent. Republican R. B. Sloan Jr. won the open seat.

North Carolina Senate 41st district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		R. B. Sloan Jr.		68.02%
		Victor Crosby		31.98%
Total votes				100%
	win (new seat)

District 42

The new 42nd district overlaps with much of the former 39th district. Incumbent Republican James Forrester, who has represented the 39th district and its predecessors since 1991, was re-elected here. Republican primary

North Carolina Senate 42nd district Republican primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		James Forrester (incumbent)		80.46%
		Ronald Pope		19.54%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 42nd district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		James Forrester (incumbent)		100%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 43

The new 43rd district overlaps with much of the former 25th district. Incumbent Democrat David W. Hoyle, who has represented the 25th district since 1993, was re-elected here.

North Carolina Senate 43rd district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		David W. Hoyle (incumbent)		53.01%
		Michael Harrington		46.99%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 44

The new 44th district overlaps with much of the former 26th district. Incumbent Republican Austin M. Allran, who has represented the 26th district since 1987, was re-elected here. Republican primary

North Carolina Senate 44th district Republican primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Austin M. Allran (incumbent)		63.04%
		William R. "Bill" McDonald III		36.96%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 44th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Austin M. Allran (incumbent)		100%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 45

The new 45th district includes the homes of incumbent Republicans Virginia Foxx, who has represented the 12th district since 1995, and Kenneth Moore, who has represented the 27th district since 1997. Foxx was re-elected here.

North Carolina Senate 45th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Virginia Foxx (incumbent)		61.81%
		Mollie C. Laws		34.87%
		Fran Grig		3.31%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 46

The new 46th district overlaps with much of the former 37th district. Incumbent Democrat Walter H. Dalton, who has represented the 37th district since 1997, was re-elected here.

North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Walter H. Dalton (incumbent)		52.43%
		John Weatherly		45.05%
		Tony Brown		2.53%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 47

The new 47th district includes all of Avery, Mitchell, McDowell, Yancey, and Madison counties as well as most of Haywood County. The district had no incumbent and Democrat Joe Sam Queen won the open seat. Republican primary

North Carolina Senate 47th district Republican primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Gregg Thompson		41.99%
		Keith Presnell		31.46%
		Judith C. Fraser		19.51%
		Garry W. Aldridge		7.04%
Total votes				100%

General election

2002 North Carolina Senate District 47th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Joe Sam Queen		49.05%
		Gregg Thompson		47.78%
		Sherry Hill		3.17%
Total votes				100%
	win (new seat)

District 48

The new 48th District includes all of Henderson and Polk counties as well as southwestern Buncombe County. The District includes the home of Incumbent Democrat Charles Newell Carter, who has represented the 28th district since 1999. Carter did not seek re-election and Republican Tom Apodaca won the open seat. Republican primary

North Carolina Senate 48th district Republican primary election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Tom Apodaca		34.72%
		Grady H. Hawkins		26.04%
		Ralph Ledford		22.92%
		Jesse Ledbetter		16.32%
Total votes				100%

General election

North Carolina Senate 48th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Tom Apodaca		66.74%
		Robert Cogburn Burris		33.26%
Total votes				100%
	gain from

District 49

The new 49th district overlaps with much of the western portion of the old 28th district. Incumbent Democrat Steve Metcalf, who has represented the 28th district since 1999, was re-elected here.

North Carolina Senate 49th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Steve Metcalf (incumbent)		55.93%
		R. L. Clark		44.07%
Total votes				100%
	hold

District 50

The new 50th district includes the homes of Incumbent Democrat Dan Robinson, who has represented the 29th district since 1999, and incumbent Republican Robert C. Carpenter, who has represented the 42nd district since 1989. Carpenter defeated Robinson to win another term in the Senate.

North Carolina Senate 50th district general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Robert C. Carpenter (incumbent)		56.46%
		Dan Robinson (incumbent)		43.54%
Total votes				100%
	hold

See also

• List of North Carolina state legislatures