# North Carolina's 47th Senate district

North Carolina's 47th Senate district is one of 50 districts in the North Carolina Senate. It has been represented by Republican Ralph Hise since 2011.

## Geography

Since 2023, the district has included all of Madison, Yancey, Mitchell, Avery, Watauga, Ashe, and Alleghany counties, as well as parts of Haywood and Caldwell counties. The district overlaps with the 85th, 87th, 93rd, and 118th state house districts.

## District officeholders since 2003

| Senator | Party | Dates | Notes | Counties |
| District created January 1, 2003. | District created January 1, 2003. | District created January 1, 2003. | District created January 1, 2003. | 2003–2013 All of Madison, Yancey, Mitchell, Avery, and McDowell counties. Part of Haywood County. |
| Joe Sam Queen | Democratic | January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2005 | Lost re-election. | 2003–2013 All of Madison, Yancey, Mitchell, Avery, and McDowell counties. Part of Haywood County. |
| Keith Presnell | Republican | January 1, 2005 – January 1, 2007 | Lost re-election. | 2003–2013 All of Madison, Yancey, Mitchell, Avery, and McDowell counties. Part of Haywood County. |
| Joe Sam Queen | Democratic | January 1, 2007 – January 1, 2011 | Lost re-election. | 2003–2013 All of Madison, Yancey, Mitchell, Avery, and McDowell counties. Part of Haywood County. |
| Ralph Hise | Republican | January 1, 2011 – Present | | 2003–2013 All of Madison, Yancey, Mitchell, Avery, and McDowell counties. Part of Haywood County. |
| Ralph Hise | Republican | January 1, 2011 – Present | | 2013–2023 All of Madison, Yancey, Mitchell, McDowell, Rutherford, and Polk counties. |
| Ralph Hise | Republican | January 1, 2011 – Present | | 2023–Present All of Madison, Yancey, Mitchell, Avery, Watauga, Ashe and Alleghany counties. Parts of Haywood and Caldwell counties. |

## Election results
### 2024

North Carolina Senate 47th district general election, 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Hise (incumbent) | 75,607 | 64.15% |
| | Democratic | Frank Patton Hughes III | 42,247 | 35.85% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 117,854 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2022

North Carolina Senate 47th district Republican primary election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Hise (incumbent) | 13,163 | 50.70% |
| | Republican | Deanna Ballard (incumbent) | 12,801 | 49.30% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 25,964 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 47th district general election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Hise (incumbent) | 62,436 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 62,436 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

North Carolina Senate 47th district general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Hise (incumbent) | 68,440 | 68.44% |
| | Democratic | David Brian Wheeler | 31,554 | 31.56% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 99,997 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

North Carolina Senate 47th district Democratic primary election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | David Wheeler | 4,272 | 54.17% |
| | Democratic | Cheryl D. Swofford | 2,473 | 31.36% |
| | Democratic | Christopher H. Rumfelt | 1,141 | 14.47% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,886 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 47th district general election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Hise (incumbent) | 44,305 | 62.33% |
| | Democratic | David Wheeler | 26,777 | 37.67% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 71,082 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2016

North Carolina Senate 47th district Democratic primary election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mary Jane Boyd | 8,981 | 60.14% |
| | Democratic | Tim Murphy | 5,953 | 39.86% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,934 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 47th district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Hise (incumbent) | 56,021 | 64.85% |
| | Democratic | Mary Jane Boyd | 30,364 | 35.15% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 86,385 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

North Carolina Senate 47th district Republican primary election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Hise (incumbent) | 8,378 | 62.04% |
| | Republican | Michael Lavender | 5,127 | 37.96% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,505 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 47th district general election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Hise (incumbent) | 39,299 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,299 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2012

North Carolina Senate 47th district general election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Hise (incumbent) | 46,415 | 56.46% |
| | Democratic | Phil Feagan | 35,799 | 43.54% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 82,214 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2010

North Carolina Senate 47th district Republican primary election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Hise | 4,864 | 37.63% |
| | Republican | Tamera Frank | 4,156 | 32.15% |
| | Republican | Andy Webb | 3,906 | 30.22% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,926 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 47th district general election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Hise | 31,846 | 55.82% |
| | Democratic | Joe Sam Queen (incumbent) | 25,209 | 44.18% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 57,055 | 100% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### 2008

North Carolina Senate 47th district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joe Sam Queen (incumbent) | 41,736 | 53.59% |
| | Republican | Keith Presnell | 36,144 | 46.41% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 77,880 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2006

North Carolina Senate 47th district general election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joe Sam Queen | 27,935 | 51.29% |
| | Republican | Keith Presnell (incumbent) | 26,530 | 48.71% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 54,465 | 100% |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### 2004

North Carolina Senate 47th district general election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Keith Presnell | 37,791 | 52.56% |
| | Democratic | Joe Sam Queen (incumbent) | 34,115 | 47.44% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 71,906 | 100% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### 2002

North Carolina Senate 47th district Republican primary election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Gregg Thompson | 5,749 | 41.99% |
| | Republican | Keith Presnell | 4,307 | 31.46% |
| | Republican | Judith C. Fraser | 2,671 | 19.51% |
| | Republican | Garry W. Aldridge | 964 | 7.04% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,691 | 100% |
2002 North Carolina Senate District 47th district general election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joe Sam Queen | 25,022 | 49.05% |
| | Republican | Gregg Thompson | 24,375 | 47.78% |
| | Libertarian | Sherry Hill | 1,619 | 3.17% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 51,016 | 100% |
| | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) |