# North Carolina's 53rd House district

North Carolina's 53rd House district is one of 120 districts in the North Carolina House of Representatives. It has been represented by Republican Howard Penny Jr. since 2020.

## Geography

Since 2023, the district has included parts of Harnett and Johnston counties. The district overlaps with the 10th and 12th Senate districts.

## District officeholders since 1995

| Representative | Party | Dates | Notes | Counties |
| James C. Carpenter | Republican | January 1, 1995 – May 3, 2000 | Resigned. | 1995–2003 All of Cherokee County, Clay, and Macon counties. Part of Jackson County. |
| Vacant | Vacant | May 3, 2000 – May 5, 2000 | | 1995–2003 All of Cherokee County, Clay, and Macon counties. Part of Jackson County. |
| Roger West | Republican | May 5, 2000 – January 1, 2003 | Appointed to finish Carpenter's term. Redistricted to the 120th district. | 1995–2003 All of Cherokee County, Clay, and Macon counties. Part of Jackson County. |
| David Lewis | Republican | January 1, 2003 – August 20, 2020 | Resigned. | 2003–2023 Part of Harnett County. |
| Vacant | Vacant | August 20, 2020 – September 17, 2020 | | 2003–2023 Part of Harnett County. |
| Howard Penny Jr. | Republican | September 17, 2020 – Present | Appointed to finish Lewis's term. | 2003–2023 Part of Harnett County. |
| Howard Penny Jr. | Republican | September 17, 2020 – Present | Appointed to finish Lewis's term. | 2023–Present Parts of Harnett and Johnston counties. |

## Election results
### 2022

North Carolina House of Representatives 53rd district Republican primary election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Howard Penny Jr. (incumbent) | 5,142 | 63.25% |
| | Republican | Brian Hawley | 2,988 | 36.75% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,130 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 53rd district general election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Howard Penny Jr. (incumbent) | 22,118 | 67.14% |
| | Democratic | Kevin G. Thurman | 10,824 | 32.86% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,942 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

North Carolina House of Representatives 53rd district Democratic primary election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sally Weeks Benson | 4,045 | 65.86% |
| | Democratic | John C. Fitzpatrick Sr. | 2,097 | 34.14% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,142 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 53rd district general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Howard Penny Jr. (incumbent) | 26,228 | 60.97% |
| | Democratic | Sally Weeks Benson | 15,129 | 35.17% |
| | Libertarian | Zach Berly | 1,658 | 3.85% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,015 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

North Carolina House of Representatives 53rd district Democratic primary election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Richard Chapman | 1,640 | 77.84% |
| | Democratic | Alan Longman | 467 | 22.16% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,107 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 53rd district general election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Lewis (incumbent) | 17,201 | 62.99% |
| | Democratic | Richard Chapman | 10,108 | 37.01% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 27,309 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

North Carolina House of Representatives 53rd district Republican primary election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Lewis (incumbent) | 6,007 | 78.64% |
| | Republican | Chuck Levorse | 1,632 | 21.36% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,639 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 53rd district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Lewis (incumbent) | 19,548 | 60.66% |
| | Democratic | Jon Blum | 12,678 | 39.34% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,226 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

North Carolina House of Representatives 53rd district Democratic primary election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Susan Byerly | 2,356 | 81.30% |
| | Democratic | Thomas Ellis II | 542 | 18.70% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,898 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 53rd district general election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Lewis (incumbent) | 10,966 | 55.74% |
| | Democratic | Susan Byerly | 8,707 | 44.26% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,673 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2012

North Carolina House of Representatives 53rd district Democratic primary election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joe E. Langley | 3,710 | 64.34% |
| | Democratic | Thomas E. Ellis II | 2,056 | 35.66% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,766 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 53rd district general election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Lewis (incumbent) | 17,365 | 56.50% |
| | Democratic | Joe E. Langley | 13,370 | 43.50% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,735 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2010

North Carolina House of Representatives 53rd district Democratic primary election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Abraham Oudeh | 1,696 | 56.29% |
| | Democratic | Thomas E. Ellis II | 1,317 | 43.71% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,013 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 53rd district general election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Lewis (incumbent) | 13,533 | 66.61% |
| | Democratic | Abraham Oudeh | 6,784 | 33.39% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,317 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2008

North Carolina House of Representatives 53rd district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Lewis (incumbent) | 16,135 | 52.79% |
| | Democratic | Joseph Lindsey "Joe" Tart | 14,431 | 47.21% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,566 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2006

North Carolina House of Representatives 53rd district general election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Lewis (incumbent) | 7,763 | 53.14% |
| | Democratic | Frank Stewart | 6,846 | 46.86% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,609 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2004

North Carolina House of Representatives 53rd district general election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Lewis (incumbent) | 14,633 | 58.89% |
| | Democratic | Louise Taylor | 10,217 | 41.11% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,850 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2002

North Carolina House of Representatives 53rd district Democratic primary election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Larry C. Upchurch | 2,543 | 46.25% |
| | Democratic | Sam Stephenson | 2,301 | 41.85% |
| | Democratic | N. Carnell Robinson | 654 | 11.90% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,498 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 53rd district Republican primary election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Lewis | 1,690 | 53.94% |
| | Republican | Teddy Byrd | 1,443 | 46.06% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,133 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 53rd district general election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Lewis | 9,672 | 61.77% |
| | Democratic | Larry C. Upchurch | 5,987 | 38.23% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,659 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2000

North Carolina House of Representatives 53rd district general election, 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Roger West (incumbent) | 16,842 | 60.77% |
| | Democratic | W.C. "Sonny" Burrell | 10,873 | 39.23% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 27,715 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |