2002 North Carolina Senate election

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
† - Incumbent not seeking re-election

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)

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

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


 * General election

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


 * General election

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


 * General election

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


 * Republican primary


 * General election

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


 * Republican primary


 * General election

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.

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


 * General election

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


 * General election

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


 * Republican primary


 * General election

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.

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


 * General election

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.

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


 * General election

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


 * General election

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.

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


 * General election

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.

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


 * General election

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.

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


 * General election

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


 * Republican primary


 * General election

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


 * General election

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.

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.

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


 * General election

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.

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.

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


 * Republican primary


 * General election

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


 * Republican primary


 * General election

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.

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.

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


 * General election

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


 * Republican primary


 * General election

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


 * General election

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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


 * General election

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.

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


 * General election

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.

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.

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


 * General election

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


 * General election

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.

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.