The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina were held on November 8, 2016, to elect the 13 U.S. representatives from the state of North Carolina, one from each of the state's 13 congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections.
Primary elections were originally scheduled for March 15, but were moved to June 7, due to successful challenges to the 1st and 12th congressional districts in federal court and the drawing of new maps affecting almost all of the state's districts.
Long before the court had ruled, candidates had filed for the March 15 party primaries for each district under the old maps in December 2015, per the North Carolina State Board of Elections. After the court ruled and the North Carolina General Assembly passed new district maps, the State Board established a filing period for the new primary date for candidates of major parties, March 16–25. Candidates had to refile for the June 7 primary, if they still chose to run, in any district they chose. The results of the March 15 primary, which went ahead because ballots had already been printed and mailed to absentee voters by the time of the ruling, were not counted.
2016 North Carolina redistricting
The North Carolina Legislature's 2012 redistricting was found unconstitutional by the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina and replaced on February 19, 2016.
District Old PVI New PVI Incumbent G. K. Butterfield Renee Ellmers Walter B. Jones Jr. David Price Virginia Foxx Mark Walker David Rouzer Richard Hudson Robert Pittenger Patrick McHenry Mark Meadows Alma Adams George Holding
Overview Statewide PartyCandidatesVotesSeats %+/– %Republican132,447,32653.22976.92Democratic132,142,66146.60323.08Libertarian18,4710.1800.00Total4,598,458100.0100.013100.0
By district Results of the 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina by district:
DistrictRepublicanDemocraticLibertarianTotalResult Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %District 1 101,567 28.96% 240,661 68.62% 8,471 2.42% 350,699 100.00% Democratic holdDistrict 2 221,485 56.71% 169,082 43.29% 0 0.00% 390,567 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 3 217,531 67.20% 106,170 32.80% 0 0.00% 323,701 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 4 130,161 31.78% 279,380 68.22% 0 0.00% 409,541 100.00% Democratic holdDistrict 5 207,625 58.40% 147,887 41.60% 0 0.00% 355,512 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 6 207,983 59.23% 143,167 40.77% 0 0.00% 351,150 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 7 211,801 60.91% 135,905 39.09% 0 0.00% 347,706 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 8 189,863 58.77% 133,182 41.23% 0 0.00% 323,045 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 9 193,452 58.18% 139,041 41.82% 0 0.00% 332,493 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 10 220,825 63.14% 128,919 36.86% 0 0.00% 349,744 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 11 230,405 64.09% 129,103 35.91% 0 0.00% 359,508 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 12 115,185 32.98% 234,115 67.02% 0 0.00% 349,300 100.00% Democratic holdDistrict 13 199,443 56.10% 156,049 43.90% 0 0.00% 355,492 100.00% Republican holdTotal 2,447,326 53.22% 2,142,661 46.60% 8,471 0.18% 4,598,458 100.00%
District 1
The 1st district is located in Northeastern North Carolina. The new map made the 1st district somewhat more compact.The previous (2011) map is located at http://www.ncleg.net/GIS/Download/District_Plans/DB_2011/Congress/Rucho-Lewis_Congress_3/Maps/mapSimple.pdf and the current (2016) map is located at http://www.ncleg.net/GIS/Download/District_Plans/DB_2016/Congress/CCP16_Corrected/CCP16_Corrected_11x17.pdf Incumbent Democrat G. K. Butterfield, who had represented the district since 2004, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 73% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D+15.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee G. K. Butterfield, incumbent U.S. Representative
Republican primary Candidates No candidates filed for the Republican primary for this seat under the old map, but Powell Dew Jr filed under the new map and was unopposed for his party's nomination.
Nominee H. Powell Dew Jr., member of the Stantonsburg Town Council
Libertarian primary C. L. Cooke was running unopposed for the Libertarian nomination under the old map. J. J. Summerell was the only Libertarian candidate to file under the new map.
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Results
District 2
The 2nd district is located in central North Carolina. The new map moved the 2nd district to the east and the north. Incumbent Republican Renee Ellmers, who had represented the district since 2011, ran for re-election. She was re-elected with 59% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+8.
Republican primary Campaign Ellmers had faced a primary challenge from radio host Frank Roche in 2014. Despite Roche's weak fundraising, she only won the primary 59% to 41%. Her role in a 20-week abortion ban bill being pulled intensified calls from the conservative wing to challenge her in 2016.
Jim Duncan, the former chair of the Chatham County Republican Party and co-founder of the grassroots organization The Coalition for American Principles, challenged Ellmers for the Republican nomination at first but dropped out after the district lines changed. 2014 candidate Frank Roche also ran again at first but likewise did not file in the new 2nd district. Businessman Tim D'Annunzio and former North Carolina Republican Party communications director Kay Daly also ran before the district map changed and then switched to other districts.
The new district incorporated much of what had been the 13th district, leading that district's representative, George Holding, to file as a candidate in the 2nd, although his home was now in the 4th district. Meanwhile, Greg Brannon entered the 2nd district GOP primary as well, after losing the primary for U.S. Senate to incumbent Richard Burr.
Ellmers was subject to a high level of campaign spending by outside groups aligning themselves with the Tea Party movement, including Americans for Prosperity, which spent in the "low six figures" to defeat her. They opposed Ellmers for her votes on a bill related to abortion as well as votes on spending and budget bills, and to support the continuation of the Export-Import Bank.
Candidates Nominee George Holding, incumbent U.S. Representative for North Carolina's 13th congressional district
Eliminated in primary Greg Brannon, physician, Tea Party activist and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014 & 2016 Renee Ellmers, incumbent U.S. Representative
Withdrawn Kay Daly (running in the 13th district) Tim D'Annunzio, businessman, nominee for North Carolina's 4th congressional district in 2012 and candidate for North Carolina's 8th congressional district in 2010. (running in the 8th district) Jim Duncan, chair of the Chatham County Republican Party, co-founder of the grassroots organization The Coalition for American Principles Frank Roche, conservative internet talk show host and lecturer in economics at Elon University, candidate for this seat in 2012, candidate for North Carolina's 4th congressional district in 2010 and candidate for State Treasurer in 2012
Endorsements
Results
Democratic primary Adam Coker was running unopposed for the Democratic nomination under the previous district map. After the new map was adopted, two candidates who had previously filed to run in the 13th district, like Holding, filed in the 2nd: John McNeil and Ron Sanyal. They were joined by three other candidates who had previously not filed for any seat.
Candidates Nominee John P. McNeil, attorney and U.S. Marine Corps veteran
Eliminated in primary Elton R. Brewington Steven E. Hight Ron Sanyal, candidate for this seat in 2014 Jane Watson, attorney
Withdrawn Adam Coker, small business owner and entrepreneur (running in 13th district)
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Endorsements
Results
District 3
The 3rd district is located on the Atlantic coast of North Carolina. It covers the Outer Banks and the counties adjacent to the Pamlico Sound. The new map made the district somewhat more compact, removing some of its more southern and western areas. Incumbent Republican Walter B. Jones Jr., who had represented the district since 1995, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 68% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+11.
Republican primary Jones, who has a reputation as a maverick, ran for re-election, saying "I like to be a thorn in people's ass". Taylor Griffin, a one-time aide to United States Senator Jesse Helms and to President George W. Bush, ran against Jones in the Republican primary again in 2016, just as he had done in 2014.
Candidates Nominee Walter B. Jones Jr., incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Taylor Griffin, former aide to Senator Jesse Helms and President George W. Bush, candidate for this seat in 2014 Phil Law, Hewlett-Packard site supervisor and Marine veteran
Endorsements
Results
Democratic primary David Allan Hurst was running unopposed for the Democratic nomination under the old map. After the new district map was adopted, he was joined by U.S. Army veteran Ernest T. Reeves, who had just lost the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate to Deborah Ross.
Candidates Nominee Ernest T. Reeves, candidate for U.S. Senate in 2014 and 2016
Eliminated in primary David Allan Hurst
Results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Results
District 4
The 4th district is located in the Research Triangle area. The new map made the 4th district more compact, removing its southern portions. Incumbent Democrat David Price, who had represented the district since 1997, and previously represented it from 1987 to 1995, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 75% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D+13.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee David Price, incumbent U.S. Representative
Republican primary Sue Googe, a first-generation Chinese immigrant, filed to challenge Price.
Candidates Nominee Sue Googe, real estate investment company founder
Eliminated in primary Teiji Kimball, U.S. Army Reserve member and veteran
Results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Results
District 5
The 5th district is located in northwestern North Carolina, from the Appalachian Mountains to the Piedmont Triad area. The new map shifted the district slightly to the north and put the entirety of Forsyth County in the district. Incumbent Republican Virginia Foxx, who had represented the district since 2005, ran for re-election. She was re-elected with 61% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+9.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Virginia Foxx, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Pattie Curran, Tea Party activist
Results
Democratic primary Josh Brannon, the 2014 nominee for this seat, was running unopposed for the Democratic nomination under the previous district map. After the new district map was adopted, he was joined by two other challengers, including Jim Roberts, who had previously been running in the 6th district.
Candidates Nominee