# North Carolina's 7th Senate district

North Carolina's 7th Senate district is one of 50 districts in the North Carolina Senate. It has been represented by Republican Michael Lee since 2023.

## Geography

Since 2023, the district has covered most of New Hanover County. The district overlaps with the 18th, 19th, and 20th house districts.

## District officeholders since 1973
### Multi-member district

| Senator | Party | Dates | Notes | Senator | Party | Dates | Notes | Counties |
| James Russell Kirby | Democratic | January 1, 1973 – January 1, 1977 | Redistricted from the 8th district. | Dallas Alford Jr. | Democratic | January 1, 1973 – January 1, 1983 | Redistricted to the 10th district. | 1973–1983 All of Vance, Warren, Franklin, Nash, and Wilson counties. |
| James Davis Speed | Democratic | January 1, 1977 – January 1, 1983 | Redistricted to the 11th district. | Dallas Alford Jr. | Democratic | January 1, 1973 – January 1, 1983 | Redistricted to the 10th district. | 1973–1983 All of Vance, Warren, Franklin, Nash, and Wilson counties. |

### Single-member district

| Senator | Party | Dates | Notes | Counties |
| Julius Arnette Wright | Republican | January 1, 1983 – June 1, 1985 | Redistricted from the 4th district. Resigned. | 1983–1993 All of New Hanover County. Part of Pender County. |
| Vacant | Vacant | June 1, 1985 – June 4, 1985 | | 1983–1993 All of New Hanover County. Part of Pender County. |
| Franklin Ervin Williams | Republican | June 4, 1985 – January 1, 1987 | Appointed to finish Wright's term. | 1983–1993 All of New Hanover County. Part of Pender County. |
| Franklin Lee Block | Democratic | January 1, 1987 – January 1, 1993 | | 1983–1993 All of New Hanover County. Part of Pender County. |
| Luther Jordan | Democratic | January 1, 1993 – April 23, 2002 | Died. | 1993–2003 Parts of New Hanover, Pender, Onslow, Jones, and Lenoir counties. |
| Vacant | Vacant | April 23, 2002 – January 1, 2003 | | 1993–2003 Parts of New Hanover, Pender, Onslow, Jones, and Lenoir counties. |
| John Kerr III | Democratic | January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2005 | Redistricted from the 8th district. Redistricted to the 5th district. | 2003–2005 All of Greene and Lenoir counties. Part of Wayne County. |
| Doug Berger | Democratic | January 1, 2005 – January 1, 2013 | Redistricted to the 18th district and lost re-election. | 2005–2013 All of Granville, Vance, Warren, and Franklin counties. |
| Louis Pate | Republican | January 1, 2013 – January 14, 2019 | Redistricted from the 5th district. Resigned. | 2013–2019 Parts of Wayne, Lenoir, and Pitt counties. |
| Louis Pate | Republican | January 1, 2013 – January 14, 2019 | Redistricted from the 5th district. Resigned. | 2019–2023 All of Wayne and Lenoir counties. |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 14, 2019 – January 31, 2019 | | 2019–2023 All of Wayne and Lenoir counties. |
| Jim Perry | Republican | January 31, 2019 – January 1, 2023 | Appointed to finish Pate's term. Redistricted to the 2nd district. | 2019–2023 All of Wayne and Lenoir counties. |
| Michael Lee | Republican | January 1, 2023 – Present | Redistricted from the 9th district. | 2023–Present Most of New Hanover County. |

## Election results
### 2024

North Carolina Senate 7th district general election, 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Michael Lee (incumbent) | 63,217 | 52.21% |
| | Democratic | David Hill | 52,953 | 43.74% |
| | Libertarian | John Evans | 4,903 | 4.05% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 121,073 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2022

North Carolina Senate 7th district general election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Michael Lee (incumbent) | 44,908 | 50.97% |
| | Democratic | Marcia Morgan | 43,198 | 49.03% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 88,106 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

North Carolina Senate 7th district Republican primary election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Perry (incumbent) | 10,214 | 65.94% |
| | Republican | Billy Strickland | 5,275 | 34.06% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,489 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 7th district general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Perry (incumbent) | 45,364 | 55.25% |
| | Democratic | Donna Lake | 36,737 | 44.75% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 82,101 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

North Carolina Senate 7th district general election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Louis Pate (incumbent) | 30,329 | 53.90% |
| | Democratic | David B. Brantley | 25,940 | 46.10% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 56,269 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

North Carolina Senate 7th district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Louis Pate (incumbent) | 66,035 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 66,035 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

North Carolina Senate 7th district general election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Louis Pate (incumbent) | 37,323 | 68.80% |
| | Democratic | Erik Anderson | 16,924 | 31.20% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 54,247 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2012

North Carolina Senate 7th district general election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Louis Pate (incumbent) | 60,120 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 60,120 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2010

North Carolina Senate 7th district Democratic primary election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Doug Berger (incumbent) | 11,742 | 65.19% |
| | Democratic | Ronald R. Alligood | 6,269 | 34.81% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,011 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 7th district general election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Doug Berger (incumbent) | 27,084 | 51.80% |
| | Republican | Michael Schriver | 25,206 | 48.20% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 52,290 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2008

North Carolina Senate 7th district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Doug Berger (incumbent) | 48,874 | 61.25% |
| | Republican | Chuck Stires | 28,588 | 35.83% |
| | Libertarian | Kira Howe | 2,331 | 2.92% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 79,793 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2006

North Carolina Senate 7th district general election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Doug Berger (incumbent) | 22,225 | 60.64% |
| | Republican | Chuck Stires | 14,423 | 39.36% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,648 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2004

North Carolina Senate 7th district Democratic primary election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Doug Berger | 6,360 | 36.69% |
| | Democratic | Darryl D. Moss | 3,412 | 19.68% |
| | Democratic | Bobby W. Rogers | 3,292 | 18.99% |
| | Democratic | C. Douglas Jackson | 1,961 | 11.31% |
| | Democratic | Bernard A. Holliday | 1,424 | 8.22% |
| | Democratic | Jack Day | 884 | 5.10% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,333 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 7th district Democratic primary run-off election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Doug Berger | 4,409 | 51.15% |
| | Democratic | Darryl D. Moss | 4,210 | 48.85% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,619 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 7th district general election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Doug Berger | 35,091 | 56.87% |
| | Republican | Harold N. Frazier | 26,616 | 43.13% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 61,707 | 100% |
| | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) |

### 2002

North Carolina Senate 7th district general election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Kerr III (incumbent) | 21,211 | 53.95% |
| | Republican | Carolyn B. Russell | 18,108 | 46.05% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,319 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2000

North Carolina Senate 7th district Democratic primary election, 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Luther Jordan (incumbent) | 6,454 | 78.07% |
| | Democratic | Ronnie J. Bell | 1,813 | 21.93% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,267 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 7th district general election, 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Luther Jordan (incumbent) | 17,242 | 69.28% |
| | Republican | Thomas R. "Tom" Mattison | 7,008 | 28.16% |
| | Libertarian | Stephen Shepherd | 639 | 2.57% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,889 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |