North Carolina's 23rd House district is one of 120 districts in the North Carolina House of Representatives. It has been represented by Democrat Shelly Willingham since 2015.
Geography Since 2023, the district has included all of Edgecombe, Martin, and Bertie counties. The district overlaps with the 1st, 2nd, and 5th Senate districts.
District officeholders Multi-member district Representative Party Dates Notes Representative Party Dates Notes Representative Party Dates Notes Representative Party Dates Notes Representative Party Dates Notes Representative Party Dates Notes Representative Party Dates Notes Counties District created January 1, 1967. Norwood Bryan Jr.() Democratic January 1, 1967 – January 1, 1973 Redistricted to the 20th district. Sneed High() Democratic January 1, 1967 – January 1, 1969 Joseph Raynor Jr.() Democratic January 1, 1967 – January 1, 1973 Redistricted from the Cumberland County district. Isaac O'Hanlon() Democratic January 1, 1967 – January 1, 1969 Redistricted from the Cumberland County district. 1967–1973 All of Cumberland County. Lester Carter Jr.() Democratic January 1, 1969 – January 1, 1971 Charles Rose Jr.() Democratic January 1, 1969 – January 1, 1971 Sneed High() Democratic January 1, 1971 – January 1, 1973 Redistricted to the 20th district. Glenn Jernigan() Democratic January 1, 1971 – January 1, 1973 Redistricted to the 20th district. Henry Frye() Democratic January 1, 1973 – January 1, 1981 Redistricted from the 26th district. Retired to run for State Senate. Tom Gilmore() Democratic January 1, 1973 – January 2, 1978 Resigned. Charlie Phillips() Democratic January 1, 1973 – January 1, 1977 Redistricted from the 26th district. Tom Sawyer() Democratic January 1, 1973 – January 1, 1979 Charlie Webb() Democratic January 1, 1973 – January 1, 1979 Robert Payne() Republican January 1, 1973 – January 1, 1975 Redistricted from the 26th district. Margaret Keesee() Republican January 1, 1973 – January 1, 1975 1973–1983 All of Guilford County. W. Marcus Short() Democratic January 1, 1975 – January 1, 1979 Leo Heer() Democratic January 1, 1975 – January 1, 1977 Mary Seymour() Democratic January 1, 1977 – January 1, 1983 Redistricted to the 27th district. James Morgan() Democratic January 1, 1977 – January 1, 1983 Vacant January 2, 1978 – May 9, 1978 Byron Haworth() Democratic May 9, 1978 – January 1, 1983 Appointed to finish Gilmore's term. Howard Coble() Republican January 1, 1979 – January 1, 1983 Redistricted to the 27th district. Margaret Keesee() Republican January 1, 1979 – January 1, 1983 Redistricted to the 27th district. Ralph Edwards() Democratic January 1, 1979 – January 1, 1983 Dorothy Burnley() Republican January 1, 1981 – January 1, 1983 Redistricted to the 28th district. Ken Spaulding() Democratic January 1, 1983 – January 1, 1985 Redistricted from the 16th district. Retired to run for Congress. Paul Pulley Jr.() Democratic January 1, 1983 – January 1, 1985 Redistricted from the 16th district. Redistricted to the 68th district. George Miller Jr.() Democratic January 1, 1983 – January 1, 1985 Redistricted from the 16th district. Redistricted to the 69th district. 1983–1985 All of Durham County. Mickey Michaux() Democratic January 1, 1985 – January 1, 2003 Redistricted to the 31st district. 1985–2003 Part of Durham County. Sharon Thompson() Democratic January 1, 1989 – January 1, 1991 Redistricted from the 68th district. George Miller Jr.() Democratic January 1, 1989 – January 1, 2001 Redistricted from the 69th district. Lost re-nomination Paul Luebke() Democratic January 1, 1991 – January 1, 2003 Redistricted to the 30th district. Paul Miller() Democratic January 1, 2001 – January 1, 2003 Redistricted to the 29th district.
Single-member district Representative Party Dates Notes Counties Joe Tolson() Democratic January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2015 Redistricted from the 71st district. Retired. 2003–2013 Parts of Edgecombe and Wilson counties. 2013–2023 All of Edgecombe and Martin counties. Shelly Willingham() Democratic January 1, 2015 – Present Lost re-nomination. 2023–Present All of Edgecombe, Martin, and Bertie counties.
Election results 2026
2024
2022
2020
2018
2016
2014
2012
2010
2008
2006
2004
2002
2000
References