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.
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() Republican January 1, 1967 – January 1, 19691967–1973 All of Rowan County. C. Odell Sapp() Republican January 1, 1969 – January 1, 1971 Phillip Kirk Jr.() Republican January 1, 1971 – January 1, 1973 Multi-member district Senator Party Dates Notes Senator Party Dates Notes Counties Kennedy Sharpe() Republican January 1, 1973 – January 1, 1975 J. Reid Poovey() Republican January 1, 1973 – January 1, 19751973–1983 All of Alexander, Catawba, Iredell, and Yadkin counties. Pleas Lackey() Democratic January 1, 1975 – January 1, 1977 Bobby Lee Combs() Democratic January 1, 1975 – January 1, 1979 Cass Ballenger() Republican January 1, 1977 – January 1, 1983 Redistricted to the 26th district. William Redman Jr.() Republican January 1, 1979 – January 1, 1983 Redistricted to the 26th district. Robert Davis() Democratic January 1, 1983 – January 1, 1985 Jack Childers() Democratic January 1, 1983 – January 1, 19851983–1993 All of Rowan, Davie, and Davidson counties. Paul Sanders Smith() Republican January 1, 1985 – January 1, 1993 Redistricted to the single-member district. Robert Somers() Republican January 1, 1985 – January 1, 1989 Betsy Lane Cochrane() Republican January 1, 1989 – January 1, 1993 Redistricted to the 38th district. Single-member district Senator Party Dates Notes Counties Paul Sanders Smith() Republican January 1, 1993 – January 1, 1997 Redistricted from the multi-member district. Retired.1993–2003 Parts of Iredell, Rowan, and Davidson counties. Jim Phillips Sr.() Democratic January 1, 1997 – January 1, 2001 Retired. Cal Cunningham() Democratic January 1, 2001 – January 1, 2003 Redistricted to the 33rd district and retired. Eleanor Kinnaird() Democratic January 1, 2003 – August 19, 2013Redistricted from the 16th district. Resigned. 2003–2005 All of Orange and Chatham counties. 2005–2013 All of Orange and Person counties.2013–2023 All of Orange and Chatham counties.Vacant August 19, 2013 – September 13, 2013 Valerie Foushee() Democratic September 13, 2013 – January 1, 2023 Appointed to finish Kinnaird's term. Retired to run for Congress. Graig Meyer() Democratic January 1, 2023 – March 31, 2026 Resigned to become executive director of the North Carolina Justice Center. 2023–PresentAll of Orange, Caswell, and Person counties.Vacant March 31, 2026 – April 10, 2026 Jonah Garson() Democratic April 10, 2026 – Present Appointed to finish Meyer's term.
Election results 2026
2024
2022
2020
2018
2016
2014
2012
2010
2008
2006
2004
2002
2000
References