The 2004 North Carolina Senate elections were held on November 2, 2004 to elect members to all fifty seats in the North Carolina Senate. The election coincided with the elections for other offices including the Presidency, U.S. Senate, Governorship, U.S. House of Representatives, Council of State, and state house. The primary election was held on July 20, 2004 with a primary run-off occurring on August 17, 2004. These elections were the first to use new district lines drawn by the General Assembly to account the for changes in population amongst each of the districts after the 2000 census.[1] The 2002 elections had been conducted under a map ordered by the North Carolina Superior Court.[2]
John Carrington (R-District 15), defeated by Neal Hunt (R)
Incumbents defeated in general election[]
Cecil Hargett (D-District 6), defeated by Harry Brown (R)
Joe Sam Queen (D-District 47), defeated by (R)
Bob Carpenter (R-District 50), defeated by John Snow (D)
Newly created seats[]
District 7, won by Doug Berger (D)
District 30, won by Don East (R)
District 40, won by Malcolm Graham (D)
District 44, won by Jim Jacumin (R)
Seats eliminated by redistricting[]
Tony Moore (R-District 5) lost a redistricting race to John Kerr (D)
Bob Rucho (R-District 39) didn't seek re-election after the 40th district was merged with his district
R. B. Sloan Jr. (R-District 41) lost re-nomination to James Forrester (R-District 42) after the 42nd district was merged with the 41st district
Virginia Foxx (R-District 45) ran for the U.S. House after the 30th district was merged with her district.
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, 2004[3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Marc Basnight (incumbent)
45,367
64.69%
Republican
Ron Toppin
24,759
35.31%
Total votes
70,126
100%
Democratichold
District 2[]
Incumbent Democrat Scott Thomas has represented the 2nd district and its predecessors since 2001.
North Carolina Senate 2nd district general election, 2004[4]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Scott Thomas (incumbent)
37,123
54.46%
Republican
Chuck Tyson
29,966
43.96%
Libertarian
Richard C. Evey
1,073
1.57%
Total votes
68,162
100%
Democratichold
District 3[]
Incumbent Democrat Clark Jenkins has represented the 3rd district since 2003.
North Carolina Senate 3rd district general election, 2004[5]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Clark Jenkins (incumbent)
36,343
66.04%
Republican
Beverly Moore
18,686
33.96%
Total votes
55,029
100%
Democratichold
District 4[]
Incumbent Democrat Robert Holloman has represented the 4th district since 2003.
North Carolina Senate 4th district general election, 2004[6]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Robert Holloman (incumbent)
44,249
100%
Total votes
44,249
100%
Democratichold
District 5[]
The new 5th district includes the homes of Incumbent Democrat turned Republican Tony Moore, who has represented the 5th district since 2003 and Incumbent Democrat John Kerr, who has represented the 7th district and its predecessors since 1993. Kerr defeated Moore in the general election.
North Carolina Senate 5th district general election, 2004[7]
Incumbent Democrat Cecil Hargett has represented the 6th district since 2003. Hargett lost re-election to Republican Harry Brown.
North Carolina Senate 6th district general election, 2004[8]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Harry Brown
21,624
52.38%
Democratic
Cecil Hargett (incumbent)
18,514
44.84%
Libertarian
Mathew Tillman
1,148
2.78%
Total votes
41,286
100%
Republicangain from Democratic
District 7[]
The new 7th district includes all of Franklin, Granville, Vance, and Warren Counties. Democrat Doug Berger won the open seat.
North Carolina Senate 7th district general election, 2004[9]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Doug Berger
35,091
56.87%
Republican
Harold N. Frazier
26,616
43.13%
Total votes
61,707
100%
Democraticwin (new seat)
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, 2004[10]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
R. C. Soles Jr. (incumbent)
39,897
54.26%
Republican
Jack Swann
33,627
45.74%
Total votes
73,524
100%
Democratichold
District 9[]
Incumbent Republican Minority Leader Patrick Ballantine had represented the 9th district and its predecessors since 1995. Ballantine ran for Governor and resigned his seat on April 20, 2004. Fellow Republican Woody White was appointed to replace him on May 5, 2004. White ran for re-election to a full term, but he lost re-election to Democrat Julia Boseman.
North Carolina Senate 9th district general election, 2004[11]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Julia Boseman
40,486
50.55%
Republican
Woody White (incumbent)
39,601
49.45%
Total votes
80,087
100%
Democraticgain from Republican
District 10[]
Incumbent Democrat Charles Albertson has represented the 10th district and its predecessors since 1993.
North Carolina Senate 10th district general election, 2004[12]
Incumbent Democrat A.B. Swindell has represented the 11th district and its predecessors since 2001.
North Carolina Senate 11th district general election, 2004[13]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
A. B. Swindell (incumbent)
40,234
60.37%
Republican
Dennis Nielsen
26,417
39.63%
Total votes
66,651
100%
Democratichold
District 12[]
Incumbent Republican Fred Smith has represented the 12th district since 2003.
North Carolina Senate 12th district general election, 2004[14]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Fred Smith (incumbent)
48,674
100%
Total votes
48,674
100%
Republicanhold
District 13[]
Incumbent Democrat David Weinstein has represented the 13th district and its predecessors since 1997.
North Carolina Senate 13th district general election, 2004[15]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
David Weinstein (incumbent)
37,829
100%
Total votes
37,829
100%
Democratichold
District 14[]
incumbent Democrat Vernon Malone has represented the 14th district since 2003.
North Carolina Senate 14th district general election, 2004[16]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Vernon Malone (incumbent)
45,727
64.11%
Republican
John Odoom
25,595
35.89%
Total votes
71,322
100%
Democratichold
District 15[]
Incumbent Republican John Carrington has represented the 15th district and its predecessors since 1995. Carrington lost re-nomination to fellow Republican Neal Hunt, who won the general election.
North Carolina Senate 15th district general election, 2004[17]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Neal Hunt
59,970
84.58%
Libertarian
Lee Griffin
10,934
15.42%
Total votes
70,904
100%
Republicanhold
District 16[]
Incumbent Democrat Eric Miller Reeves has represented the 16th district and its predecessors since 1997. Reeves retired and Democrat Janet Cowell won the open seat.
North Carolina Senate 16th district general election, 2004[18]
Incumbent Republican Richard Stevens has represented the 17th district since 2003.
North Carolina Senate 17th district general election, 2004[19]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Richard Stevens (incumbent)
55,908
58.74%
Democratic
Norwood Clark
37,432
39.33%
Libertarian
Ryan Maas
1,844
1.94%
Total votes
95,184
100%
Republicanhold
District 18[]
Incumbent Democrat Wib Gulley, who had represented the 18th district and its predecessors since 1993, resigned on March 19, 2004. Ralph Alexander Hunt was appointed to finish Hunt's term on April 21, 2004. Hunt didn't seek a full term and Democrat Bob Atwater won the open seat.
North Carolina Senate 18th district general election, 2004[20]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Bob Atwater
46,875
58.04%
Republican
Christine Mumma
32,709
40.50%
Libertarian
Jon Guze
1,186
1.47%
Total votes
80,770
100%
Democratichold
District 19[]
Incumbent Democratic Majority Leader Tony Rand has represented the 19th district and its predecessors since 1995.
North Carolina Senate 19th district general election, 2004[21]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Tony Rand (incumbent)
43,413
100%
Total votes
43,413
100%
Democratichold
District 20[]
Incumbent Democrat Jeanne Lucas has represented the 20th district and its predecessors since 1993.
North Carolina Senate 20th district general election, 2004[22]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Jeanne Lucas (incumbent)
55,050
90.24%
Libertarian
Ray Ubinger
5,953
9.76%
Total votes
61,003
100%
Democratichold
District 21[]
Incumbent Democrat Larry Shaw has represented the 21st district and its predecessors since 1995.
North Carolina Senate 21st district general election, 2004[23]
Incumbent Republican Fern Shubert has represented the 35th district since 2003. Shubert ran for Governor. Fellow Republican Eddie Goodall won the open seat.
North Carolina Senate District 35th district general election, 2004[37]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Eddie Goodall
55,204
99.59%
Independent
Cornelius F. (Neal) Brantley, Jr. (write-in)
230
0.41%
Total votes
55,434
100%
Republicanhold
District 36[]
Incumbent Republican Fletcher Hartsell Jr. has represented the 36th district and its predecessors since 1991.
North Carolina Senate 36th district general election, 2004[38]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Fletcher Hartsell Jr. (incumbent)
46,848
81.42%
Libertarian
Mike Helms
10,692
18.58%
Total votes
57,540
100%
Republicanhold
District 37[]
Incumbent Democrat Dan Clodfelter has represented the 37th district and its predecessors since 1999.
North Carolina Senate 37th district general election, 2004[39]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Dan Clodfelter (incumbent)
40,902
100%
Total votes
40,902
100%
Democratichold
District 38[]
Incumbent Democrat Charlie Dannelly has represented the 38th district and its predecessors since 1995.
North Carolina Senate 38th district general election, 2004[40]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Charlie Dannelly (incumbent)
47,898
100%
Total votes
47,898
100%
Democratichold
District 39[]
The new 39th distirct includes the homes of incumbent Republicans Bob Rucho, who has represented the 39th district and its predecessors since 1997, and Robert Pittenger, who has represented the 40th district since 2003. Rucho retired and Pittenger was elected here.
North Carolina Senate 39th district general election, 2004[41]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Robert Pittenger (incumbent)
64,948
89.08%
Libertarian
Andy Grum
7,965
10.92%
Total votes
72,913
100%
Republicanhold
District 40[]
The new 40th district is based in Mecklenburg County and had no incumbent. Democrat Maclom Graham won the open seat.
North Carolina Senate 40th district general election, 2004[42]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Malcolm Graham
42,096
57.88%
Republican
Brian Sisson
30,633
42.12%
Total votes
72,729
100%
Democraticwin (new seat)
District 41[]
The new 41st district includes the homes of incumbent Republicans R. B. Sloan Jr., who has represented the 41st district since 2003, and James Forrester, who has represented the 42nd district and its predecessors since 1991. Forrester defeated Sloan in the Republican primary and was re-elected here.
North Carolina Senate 41st district general election, 2004[43]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
James Forrester (incumbent)
50,458
68.93%
Democratic
Rita W. McElwaine
22,741
31.07%
Total votes
73,199
100%
Republicanhold
District 42[]
The new 42nd district overlaps with much of the former 44th district. Incumbent Republican Austin Allran, who has represented the 44th district and its predecessors since 1987, was re-elected here.
North Carolina Senate 42nd district general election, 2004[44]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Austin Allran (incumbent)
51,623
100%
Total votes
51,623
100%
Republicanhold
District 43[]
Incumbent Democrat David Hoyle has represented the 43rd district and its predecessors since 1993.
North Carolina Senate 43rd district general election, 2004[45]
The new 44th district includes all of Burke and Caldwell counties and has no incumbent. Republican Jim Jacumin won the open seat.
North Carolina 44th district general election, 2004[46]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Jim Jacumin
38,567
61.54%
Democratic
Richard Cornwell Avery
24,100
38.46%
Total votes
62,667
100%
Republicanwin (new seat)
District 45[]
The new 45th district includes the homes of Incumbent Republicans Virginia Foxx, who has represented the 45th district and its predecessors since 1995, and John Garwood, who has represented the 30th district and its predecessors since 1997. Foxx ran for the U.S. House and Garwood was re-elected here.
North Carolina Senate 45th district general election, 2004[47]
Incumbent Republican Bob Carpenter has represented the 50th district and its predecessors since 1989. Carpenter lost re-election to Democrat John Snow.
North Carolina Senate 50th district general election, 2004[52]