# North Carolina's 97th House district

North Carolina's 97th House district is one of 120 districts in the North Carolina House of Representatives. It has been represented by Republican Heather Rhyne since 2024.

## Geography

Since 2003, the district has included all of Lincoln County. The district overlaps with the 44th Senate district.

## District officeholders

| Representative | Party | Dates | Notes | Counties |
| District created January 1, 1993. | District created January 1, 1993. | District created January 1, 1993. | District created January 1, 1993. | 1993–2003 Parts of Wayne, Sampson, and Duplin counties. |
| Jerry Braswell | Democratic | January 1, 1993 – February 11, 2000 | Resigned. | 1993–2003 Parts of Wayne, Sampson, and Duplin counties. |
| Vacant | Vacant | February 11, 2000 – March 21, 2000 | | 1993–2003 Parts of Wayne, Sampson, and Duplin counties. |
| Jimmie Ford | Democratic | March 21, 2000 – January 1, 2001 | Appointed to finish Braswell's term. Lost re-nomination. | 1993–2003 Parts of Wayne, Sampson, and Duplin counties. |
| Larry Bell | Democratic | January 1, 2001 – January 1, 2003 | Redistricted to the 21st district. | 1993–2003 Parts of Wayne, Sampson, and Duplin counties. |
| Joe Kiser | Republican | January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2009 | Redistricted from the 45th district. Retired. | 2003–Present All of Lincoln County. |
| Jonathan Rhyne Jr. | Republican | January 1, 2009 – August 15, 2011 | Resigned. | 2003–Present All of Lincoln County. |
| Vacant | Vacant | August 15, 2011 – August 24, 2011 | | 2003–Present All of Lincoln County. |
| Jason Saine | Republican | August 24, 2011 – August 12, 2024 | Appointed to finish Rhyne's term. Resigned. | 2003–Present All of Lincoln County. |
| Vacant | Vacant | August 12, 2024 – August 19, 2024 | | 2003–Present All of Lincoln County. |
| Heather Rhyne | Republican | August 19, 2024 – Present | Appointed to finish Saine's term. | 2003–Present All of Lincoln County. |

## Election results
### 2024

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Heather Rhyne (incumbent) | 43,332 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,332 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2022

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jason Saine (incumbent) | 28,875 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,875 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jason Saine (incumbent) | 35,988 | 74.13% |
| | Democratic | Greg McBryde | 12,558 | 25.87% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 48,546 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district Republican primary election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jason Saine (incumbent) | 6,927 | 83.07% |
| | Republican | Nic Haag | 1,412 | 16.93% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,339 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jason Saine (incumbent) | 22,122 | 70.51% |
| | Democratic | Natalie Robertson | 9,252 | 29.49% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 31,374 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jason Saine (incumbent) | 31,390 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 31,390 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jason Saine (incumbent) | 16,604 | 70.65% |
| | Democratic | Rosemary B. Hubbard | 6,898 | 29.35% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,502 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2012

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district Republican primary election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jason Saine (incumbent) | 5,982 | 51.57% |
| | Republican | Jim Klein | 4,003 | 34.51% |
| | Republican | Charles E. Newman | 1,615 | 13.92% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,600 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jason Saine (incumbent) | 26,690 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,690 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2010

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jonathan Rhyne Jr. (incumbent) | 18,274 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,274 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2008

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jonathan Rhyne Jr. | 25,765 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 25,765 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2006

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Joe Kiser (incumbent) | 12,080 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,080 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2004

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Joe Kiser (incumbent) | 17,888 | 61.13% |
| | Democratic | Ken H. Fortenberry | 11,374 | 38.87% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 29,262 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2002

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district Republican primary election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Joe Kiser (incumbent) | 4,362 | 70.30% |
| | Republican | David J. Noles | 1,843 | 29.70% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,205 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Joe Kiser (incumbent) | 11,859 | 58.51% |
| | Democratic | Floyd E. Mason | 7,760 | 38.29% |
| | Libertarian | Bryan Edwards | 650 | 3.21% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,269 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2000

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district Democratic primary election, 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Larry Bell | 2,822 | 57.33% |
| | Democratic | Jimmie Ford (incumbent) | 2,100 | 42.67% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,922 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Larry Bell | 9,131 | 72.63% |
| | Republican | John Sherman Best | 3,441 | 27.37% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,572 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |