# Shelly Willingham

Shelly Willingham (born November 27, 1943) is a Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. He has represented the 23rd district (which includes all of Martin and Edgecombe counties) since 2015. He previously served in the House from 2002 to 2003.

## Political career

Willingham was first appointed to the 70th district of the North Carolina House of Representatives in 2002 to succeed Toby Fitch, who stepped down to become a judge. Willingham ran for a full term in the new 24th district (the geographic successor to the 70th district) in 2002, but lost the primary to Jean Farmer-Butterfield who went on to win the general election. Willingham unsuccessfully challenged state senator Clark Jenkins in the 2004, 2006, and 2008 primaries. Willingham then served 2 terms on the Edgecombe County School Board. Willingham returned to the NC House in 2015, after being elected in 2014 to the 23rd district. Since his initial election in 2014, Willingham has been re-elected to the NC House a total of 4 times, most recently in 2022.

## Electoral history
### 2020

North Carolina House of Representatives 23rd district general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Shelly Willingham (incumbent) | 21,754 | 58.76% |
| | Republican | Claiborne Holtzman | 14,656 | 39.59% |
| | Green | Abbie (Bud) Lane | 612 | 1.65% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 37,022 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2018

North Carolina House of Representatives 23rd district general election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Shelly Willingham (incumbent) | 15,959 | 60.85% |
| | Republican | Claiborne Holtzman | 10,266 | 39.15% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,225 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2016

North Carolina House of Representatives 23rd district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Shelly Willingham (incumbent) | 27,208 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 27,208 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2014

North Carolina House of Representatives 23rd district Democratic primary election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Shelly Willingham | 2,978 | 35.61% |
| | Democratic | R. B. (Rusty) Holderness | 2,543 | 30.41% |
| | Democratic | Taro Knight | 1,715 | 20.51% |
| | Democratic | Bronson Williams | 1,126 | 13.47% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,362 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 23rd district Democratic primary run-off election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Shelly Willingham | 2,702 | 52.16% |
| | Democratic | R. B. (Rusty) Holderness | 2,478 | 47.84% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,180 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 23rd district general election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Shelly Willingham | 18,660 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,660 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2008

North Carolina Senate 3rd district Democratic primary election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Clark Jenkins (incumbent) | 16,187 | 50.52% |
| | Democratic | Shelly Willingham | 13,200 | 41.20% |
| | Democratic | Henry Williams II | 2,652 | 8.28% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,039 | 100% |

### 2006

North Carolina Senate 3rd district Democratic primary election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Clark Jenkins (incumbent) | 7,969 | 64.28% |
| | Democratic | Shelly Willingham | 4,429 | 35.72% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,398 | 100% |

### 2004

North Carolina Senate 3rd district Democratic primary election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Clark Jenkins (incumbent) | 5,044 | 33.13% |
| | Democratic | Shelly Willingham | 4,991 | 32.79% |
| | Democratic | Charles Elliott Johnson | 4,011 | 26.35% |
| | Democratic | Jim Rouse | 1,177 | 7.73% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,223 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 3rd district Democratic primary run-off election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Clark Jenkins (incumbent) | 6,070 | 54.47% |
| | Democratic | Shelly Willingham | 5,074 | 45.53% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,144 | 100% |

### 2002

North Carolina House of Representatives 24th district Democratic primary election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jean Farmer-Butterfield | 2,431 | 36.11% |
| | Democratic | Shelly Willingham (incumbent) | 2,102 | 31.22% |
| | Democratic | A P Coleman | 1,502 | 22.31% |
| | Democratic | Ronald L. (Ronnie) Williams | 697 | 10.35% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,732 | 100% |

## Committee assignments
### 2021-2022 Session

* Appropriations
* Appropriations - Transportation
* Alcoholic Beverage Control (Vice Chair)
* Insurance (Vice Chair)
* Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform
* Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
* State Personnel

### 2019-2020 Session

* Appropriations
* Appropriations - Transportation
* Alcoholic Beverage Control
* Insurance
* Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform
* Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
* State and Local Government

### 2017-2018 Session

* Appropriations
* Appropriations - Justice and Public Safety
* Alcoholic Beverage Control
* Elections and Ethics Law
* Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
* State Personnel
* Transportation

### 2015-2016 session

* Appropriations
* Appropriations - Information Technology
* Alcoholic Beverage Control
* Elections
* Agriculture
* Banking
* Education - Universities
* Judiciary IV