2008 North Carolina Senate election

Not to be confused with 2008 United States Senate election in North Carolina.

2008 North Carolina Senate election

November 4, 2008 (2008-11-04)
All 50 seats in the North Carolina Senate 26 (without Lieutenant Governor) seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Marc Basnight Phil Berger Party Democratic Republican Leader since January 1, 1993 January 1, 2005 Leader's seat 1st - Manteo 26th - Eden Last election 31 19 Seats before 31 19 Seats won 30 20 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 1,821,994 1,769,130 Percentage 51.50% 47.40%
Results:      Democratic hold      Republican hold      Republican gain
President pro tempore before election Marc Basnight Democratic Elected President pro tempore Marc Basnight Democratic

The 2008 North Carolina Senate election was held on November 5, 2008, to elect members to all fifty seats in the North Carolina Senate. The primary election was held on May 6, 2008, with a primary run-off occurring on June 24, 2008.

Results summary

District	Incumbent	Party		Elected	Party
1st	Marc Basnight		Dem	Marc Basnight		Dem
2nd	Jean Preston		Rep	Jean Preston		Rep
3rd	Clark Jenkins		Dem	Clark Jenkins		Dem
4th	Edward Jones		Dem	Edward Jones		Dem
5th	John H. Kerr III†		Dem	Don Davis		Dem
6th	Harry Brown		Rep	Harry Brown		Rep
7th	Doug Berger		Dem	Doug Berger		Dem
8th	R. C. Soles Jr.		Dem	R. C. Soles Jr.		Dem
9th	Julia Boseman		Dem	Julia Boseman		Dem
10th	Charles W. Albertson		Dem	Charles W. Albertson		Dem
11th	A. B. Swindell		Dem	A. B. Swindell		Dem
12th	Fred Smith†		Rep	David Rouzer		Rep
13th	David F. Weinstein		Dem	David F. Weinstein		Dem
14th	Vernon Malone		Dem	Vernon Malone		Dem
15th	Neal Hunt		Rep	Neal Hunt		Rep
16th	Janet Cowell†		Dem	Josh Stein		Dem
17th	Richard Y. Stevens		Rep	Richard Y. Stevens		Rep
18th	Bob Atwater		Dem	Bob Atwater		Dem
19th	Tony Rand		Dem	Tony Rand		Dem
20th	Floyd McKissick Jr.		Dem	Floyd McKissick Jr.		Dem
21st	Larry Shaw		Dem	Larry Shaw		Dem
22nd	Harris Blake		Rep	Harris Blake		Rep
23rd	Eleanor Kinnaird		Dem	Eleanor Kinnaird		Dem
24th	Anthony Foriest		Dem	Anthony Foriest		Dem
25th	William R. Purcell		Dem	William R. Purcell		Dem
26th	Phil Berger		Rep	Phil Berger		Rep
27th	Kay Hagan†		Dem	Don Vaughan		Dem
28th	Katie G. Dorsett		Dem	Katie G. Dorsett		Dem
29th	Jerry W. Tillman		Rep	Jerry W. Tillman		Rep
30th	Don W. East		Rep	Don W. East		Rep
31st	Peter S. Brunstetter		Rep	Peter S. Brunstetter		Rep
32nd	Linda Garrou		Dem	Linda Garrou		Dem
33rd	Stan Bingham		Rep	Stan Bingham		Rep
34th	Andrew C. Brock		Rep	Andrew C. Brock		Rep
35th	Eddie Goodall		Rep	Eddie Goodall		Rep
36th	Fletcher L. Hartsell Jr.		Rep	Fletcher L. Hartsell Jr.		Rep
37th	Dan Clodfelter		Dem	Dan Clodfelter		Dem
38th	Charlie Dannelly		Dem	Charlie Dannelly		Dem
39th	Bob Rucho		Rep	Bob Rucho		Rep
40th	Malcolm Graham		Dem	Malcolm Graham		Dem
41st	James Forrester		Rep	James Forrester		Rep
42nd	Austin M. Allran		Rep	Austin M. Allran		Rep
43rd	David W. Hoyle		Dem	David W. Hoyle		Dem
44th	Jim Jacumin		Rep	Jim Jacumin		Rep
45th	Steve Goss		Dem	Steve Goss		Dem
46th	Walter H. Dalton†		Dem	Debbie A. Clary		Rep
47th	Joe Sam Queen		Dem	Joe Sam Queen		Dem
48th	Tom Apodaca		Rep	Tom Apodaca		Rep
49th	Martin Nesbitt		Dem	Martin Nesbitt		Dem
50th	John J. Snow Jr.		Dem	John J. Snow Jr.		Dem

† - Incumbent not seeking re-election

Party		Candi- dates	Votes		Seats
			No.	%	No.	+/–	%
	Democratic Party	39	1,821,994	50.166%	30	1	60%
	Republican Party	40	1,769,130	48.710%	20	1	40%
	Libertarian Party	8	40,813	1.124%	0		0%
Total		87	3,631,937	100.00%	50		100.00%

Senate seats Democratic   60% Republican   40%

Popular vote Democratic   50.166% Republican   48.710% Libertarian   1.124%

Open seats that changed parties

• Walter H. Dalton (D-District 46) ran for Lieutenant Governor, seat won by Debbie A. Clary (R)

Detailed results

Districts 1–25

District 1

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

North Carolina Senate 1st district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Marc Basnight (incumbent)	62,661	100%
Total votes			62,661	100%
	Democratic hold

District 2

Incumbent Republican Jean Preston has represented the 2nd district since 2007.

North Carolina Senate 2nd district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jean Preston (incumbent)	51,117	61.61%
	Democratic	Greg D. Muse	31,849	38.39%
Total votes			82,966	100%
	Republican hold

District 3

Incumbent Democrat Clark Jenkins has represented the 3rd district since 2003.

North Carolina Senate 3rd district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Clark Jenkins (incumbent)	57,703	100%
Total votes			57,703	100%
	Democratic hold

District 4

Incumbent Democrat Edward Jones has represented the 4th district since 2007.

North Carolina Senate 4th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Edward Jones (incumbent)	57,429	100%
Total votes			57,429	100%
	Democratic hold

District 5

Incumbent Democrat John H. Kerr III has represented the 5th district and its predecessors since 1993. Kerr didn't seek re-election and Democrat Don Davis won the open seat.

North Carolina Senate 5th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Don Davis	40,982	52.90%
	Republican	Louis Pate	36,493	47.10%
Total votes			77,475	100%
	Democratic hold

District 6

Incumbent Republican Harry Brown has represented the 6th district since 2005.

North Carolina Senate 6th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Harry Brown (incumbent)	38,139	100%
Total votes			38,139	100%
	Republican hold

District 7

Incumbent Democrat Doug Berger has represented the 7th district since 2005.

North Carolina Senate 7th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Doug Berger (incumbent)	48,874	61.25%
	Republican	Chuck Stires	28,588	35.83%
	Libertarian	Kira Howe	2,331	2.92%
Total votes			79,793	100%
	Democratic hold

District 8

Incumbent Democrat R. C. Soles Jr. has represented the 8th district and its predecessors since 1977.

North Carolina Senate 8th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	R. C. Soles Jr. (incumbent)	47,905	48.66%
	Republican	Bettie Fennell	45,093	45.80%
	Libertarian	Rachel Joiner Merrill	5,454	5.54%
Total votes			98,452	100%
	Democratic hold

District 9

Incumbent Democrat Julia Boseman has represented the 9th district since 2005.

North Carolina Senate 9th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Julia Boseman (incumbent)	50,516	51.67%
	Republican	Michael Lee	47,244	48.33%
Total votes			97,760	100%
	Democratic hold

District 10

Incumbent Democrat Charles W. Albertson has represented the 10th district and its predecessors since 1993.

North Carolina Senate 10th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Charles W. Albertson (incumbent)	51,375	100%
Total votes			51,375	100%
	Democratic hold

District 11

Incumbent Democrat A. B. Swindell has represented the 11th district and its predecessors since 2001.

North Carolina Senate 11th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	A. B. Swindell (incumbent)	59,461	100%
Total votes			59,461	100%
	Democratic hold

District 12

Incumbent Republican Fred Smith has represented the 12th district since 2003. Smith ran for Governor and Republican David Rouzer won the open seat.

North Carolina Senate 12th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	David Rouzer	44,261	51.93%
	Democratic	Kay Carroll	40,971	48.07%
Total votes			85,232	100%
	Republican hold

District 13

Incumbent Democrat David F. Weinstein has represented the 13th district and its predecessors since 1997.

North Carolina Senate 13th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David F. Weinstein (incumbent)	45,776	100%
Total votes			45,776	100%
	Democratic hold

District 14

Incumbent Democrat Vernon Malone has represented the 14th district since 2003.

North Carolina Senate 14th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Vernon Malone (incumbent)	67,823	69.45%
	Republican	Carol Bennett	29,835	30.55%
Total votes			97,658	100%
	Democratic hold

District 15

Incumbent Republican Neal Hunt has represented the 15th district since 2005.

North Carolina Senate 15th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Neal Hunt (incumbent)	56,873	52.83%
	Democratic	Chris Mintz	46,175	42.89%
	Libertarian	Jan MacKay	4,602	4.27%
Total votes			107,650	100%
	Republican hold

District 16

Incumbent Democrat Janet Cowell has represented the 16th district since 2005. Cowell ran for State Treasurer and Democrat Josh Stein won the open seat.

North Carolina Senate 16th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Josh Stein	58,357	60.82%
	Republican	John Alexander	37,586	39.18%
Total votes			95,943	100%
	Democratic hold

District 17

Incumbent Republican Richard Y. Stevens has represented the 17th district since 2003.

North Carolina Senate 17th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Richard Y. Stevens (incumbent)	75,311	81.20%
	Libertarian	Brian Irving	17,441	18.80%
Total votes			92,752	100%
	Republican hold

District 18

Incumbent Democrat Bob Atwater has represented the 18th district since 2005.

North Carolina Senate 18th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bob Atwater (incumbent)	66,916	69.00%
	Republican	Roger Gerber	30,063	31.00%
Total votes			96,979	100%
	Democratic hold

District 19

Incumbent Democrat Tony Rand has represented the 19th district and its predecessors since 1995.

North Carolina Senate 19th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tony Rand (incumbent)	57,027	100%
Total votes			57,027	100%
	Democratic hold

District 20

Incumbent Democrat Floyd McKissick Jr. has represented the 20th district since 2007.

North Carolina Senate 20th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Floyd McKissick Jr. (incumbent)	64,178	74.58%
	Republican	Ken Chandler	19,666	22.55%
	Libertarian	David C. Rollins	3,377	3.87%
Total votes			87,221	100%
	Democratic hold

District 21

Incumbent Democrat Larry Shaw has represented the 21st district and its predecessors since 1995.

North Carolina Senate 21st district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Larry Shaw (incumbent)	48,430	100%
Total votes			48,430	100%
	Democratic hold

District 22

Incumbent Republican Harris Blake has represented the 22nd district since 2003.

North Carolina Senate 22nd district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Harris Blake (incumbent)	50,111	60.27%
	Democratic	Abraham Oudeh	33,033	39.73%
Total votes			83,144	100%
	Republican hold

District 23

Incumbent Democrat Eleanor Kinnaird has represented the 23rd district and its predecessors since 1997.

North Carolina Senate 23rd district general election, 2008

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

District 24

Incumbent Democrat Anthony Foriest has represented the 24th district since 2007.

North Carolina Senate 24th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Anthony Foriest (incumbent)	38,539	52.51%
	Republican	Rick Gunn	34,854	47.49%
Total votes			73,393	100%
	Democratic hold

District 25

Incumbent Democrat William R. Purcell has represented the 25th district and its predecessors since 1997.

North Carolina Senate 25th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	William R. Purcell (incumbent)	42,760	60.84%
	Republican	Janice B. Abernathy	27,519	39.16%
Total votes			70,279	100%
	Democratic hold

Districts 26–50

District 26

Incumbent Republican Minority Leader Phil Berger has represented the 26th district since and its predecessors since 2001.

North Carolina Senate 26th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Phil Berger (incumbent)	65,392	100%
Total votes			65,392	100%
	Republican hold

District 27

Incumbent Democrat Kay Hagan has represented the 27th district and its predecessors since 1999. Hagan ran for the U.S Senate and Democrat Don Vaughan won the open seat.

North Carolina Senate 27th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Don Vaughan	59,609	68.75%
	Republican	Joe Wilson	27,100	31.25%
Total votes			86,709	100%
	Democratic hold

District 28

Incumbent Democrat Katie G. Dorsett has represented the 28th district since 2003.

2008 North Carolina Senate District 28th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Katie G. Dorsett (incumbent)	61,911	100%
Total votes			61,911	100%
	Democratic hold

District 29

Incumbent Republican Jerry W. Tillman has represented the 29th district since 2003.

North Carolina Senate 29th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jerry W. Tillman (incumbent)	45,614	68.00%
	Democratic	Ronald Franklin	21,316	31.78%
	Unaffiliated	Write-ins	146	0.22%
Total votes			67,076	100%
	Republican hold

District 30

Incumbent Republican Don W. East has represented the 30th district since 2005.

North Carolina Senate 30th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Don W. East (incumbent)	52,754	100%
Total votes			52,754	100%
	Republican hold

District 31

Incumbent Republican Peter S. Brunstetter has represented the 31st district since 2006.

North Carolina Senate 31st district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Peter S. Brunstetter (incumbent)	65,201	100%
Total votes			65,201	100%
	Republican hold

District 32

Incumbent Democrat Linda Garrou has represented the 32nd district and its predecessors since 1999.

North Carolina Senate 32nd district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Linda Garrou (incumbent)	57,672	100%
Total votes			57,672	100%
	Democratic hold

District 33

Incumbent Republican Stan Bingham has represented the 33rd district and its predecessors since 2001.

North Carolina Senate 33rd district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Stan Bingham (incumbent)	61,387	100%
Total votes			61,387	100%

District 34

Incumbent Republican Andrew C. Brock has represented the 34th district since 2003.

North Carolina Senate 34th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Andrew C. Brock (incumbent)	47,960	61.17%
	Democratic	John Carlyle Sherrill III	30,443	38.83%
Total votes			78,403	100%
	Republican hold

District 35

Incumbent Republican Eddie Goodall has represented the 35th district since 2005.

North Carolina Senate District 35th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Eddie Goodall (incumbent)	75,025	100%
Total votes			75,025	100%
	Republican hold

District 36

Incumbent Republican Fletcher L. Hartsell Jr. has represented the 36th district and its predecessors since 1991.

North Carolina Senate 36th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Fletcher L. Hartsell Jr. (incumbent)	50,052	56.81%
	Democratic	Charles Paxton	38,047	43.19%
Total votes			88,099	100%
	Republican hold

District 37

Incumbent Democrat Dan Clodfelter has represented the 37th district and its predecessors since 1999.

North Carolina Senate 37th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dan Clodfelter (incumbent)	48,608	67.84%
	Republican	Vince Coscia	30,315	28.35%
	Libertarian	Rusty Sheridan	2,733	3.81%
Total votes			71,656	100%
	Democratic hold

District 38

Incumbent Democrat Charlie Dannelly has represented the 38th district and its predecessors since 1995.

North Carolina Senate 38th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Charlie Dannelly (incumbent)	67,755	73.33%
	Republican	James R. Soder	22,056	23.87%
	Libertarian	C. Travis Wheat	2,588	2.80%
Total votes			92,399	100%
	Democratic hold

District 39

Incumbent Republican Bob Rucho has represented the 39th district and its predecessors since 2008 and previously from 1997 to 2005.

North Carolina Senate 39th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bob Rucho (incumbent)	73,799	100%
Total votes			73,799	100%
	Republican hold

District 40

Incumbent Democrat Maclom Graham has represented the 40th district since 2005.

North Carolina Senate 40th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Malcolm Graham (incumbent)	66,307	66.96%
	Republican	Ed Mulheren	32,711	33.04%
Total votes			99,018	100%
	Democratic hold

District 41

Incumbent Republican James Forrester has represented the 41st district and its predecessors since 1991.

North Carolina Senate 41st district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James Forrester (incumbent)	67,211	100%
Total votes			67,211	100%
	Republican hold

District 42

Incumbent Republican Austin M. Allran has represented the 42nd district and its predecessors since 1987.

North Carolina Senate 42nd district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Austin M. Allran (incumbent)	59,574	100%
Total votes			59,574	100%
	Republican hold

District 43

Incumbent Democrat David W. Hoyle has represented the 43rd district and its predecessors since 1993.

North Carolina Senate 43rd district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David W. Hoyle (incumbent)	35,838	51.47
	Republican	Kathy Harrington	33,791	48.53
Total votes			69,629	100%
	Democratic hold

District 44

Incumbent Republican Jim Jacumin has represented the 44th district since 2005.

North Carolina 44th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Jacumin (incumbent)	41,320	57.88%
	Democratic	Jim Cates	27,782	38.92%
	Libertarian	Richard C. Evey	2,287	3.20%
Total votes			71,389	100%
	Republican hold

District 45

Incumbent Democrat Steve Goss has represented the 45th district since 2007.

North Carolina Senate 45th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Steve Goss (incumbent)	46,014	53.90%
	Republican	Jerry Butler	39,349	46.10%
Total votes			85,363	100%
	Democratic hold

District 46

Incumbent Democrat Walter H. Dalton has represented the 46th district and its predecessors since 1997.
Dalton ran for Lieutenant Governor. Republican Debbie A. Clary won the open seat.

North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Debbie A. Clary	36,059	50.50%
	Democratic	Keith H. Melton	35,338	49.50%
Total votes			71,397	100%
	Republican gain from Democratic

District 47

Incumbent Democrat Joe Sam Queen has represented the 47th district since 2007, and previously from 2003 to 2005.

North Carolina Senate 47th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joe Sam Queen (incumbent)	41,736	53.59%
	Republican	Keith Presnell	36,144	46.41%
Total votes			77,880	100%
	Democratic hold

District 48

Incumbent Republican Tom Apodaca has represented the 48th district since 2003.

North Carolina Senate 48th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Tom Apodaca (incumbent)	64,183	100%
Total votes			64,183	100%
	Republican hold

District 49

Incumbent Democratic Majority Leader Martin Nesbitt has represented the 49th district since 2004.

North Carolina Senate 49th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Martin Nesbitt (incumbent)	56,150	65.64%
	Republican	R. L. Clark	29,391	34.36%
Total votes			85,541	100%
	Democratic hold

District 50

Incumbent Democrat John J. Snow Jr. has represented the 50th district since 2005.

North Carolina Senate 50th district general election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John J. Snow Jr. (incumbent)	46,536	57.45%
	Republican	Susan C. Pons	34,462	42.55%
Total votes			80,998	100%
	Democratic hold

See also

• List of North Carolina state legislatures