# North Carolina's 16th Senate district

North Carolina's 16th Senate district is one of 50 districts in the North Carolina Senate. It has been represented by Democrat Gale Adcock since 2023.

## Geography

Since 2003, the district has included part of Wake County. The district overlaps with the 11th, 40th, 41st, and 49th state house districts.

## District officeholders
### Multi-member district

| Senator | Party | Dates | Notes | Senator | Party | Dates | Notes | Counties |
| Eleanor Kinnaird | Democratic | January 1, 1997 – January 1, 2003 | Redistricted to the 23rd district. | Howard Lee | Democratic | January 1, 1997 – January 1, 2003 | Redistricted to the 23rd district and lost re-nomination. | 1997–2003 All of Orange, Chatham, and Moore counties. Parts of Randolph and Lee counties. |

### Single-member district

| Senator | Party | Dates | Notes | Counties |
| Eric Miller Reeves | Democratic | January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2005 | Redistricted from the 14th district. Retired. | 2003–Present Part of Wake County. |
| Janet Cowell | Democratic | January 1, 2005 – January 1, 2009 | Retired to run for State Treasurer. | 2003–Present Part of Wake County. |
| Josh Stein | Democratic | January 1, 2009 – March 21, 2016 | Resigned. | 2003–Present Part of Wake County. |
| Vacant | Vacant | March 21, 2016 – April 19, 2016 | | 2003–Present Part of Wake County. |
| Jay Chaudhuri | Democratic | April 19, 2016 – January 1, 2019 | Appointed to finish Stein's term. Redistricted to the 15th district. | 2003–Present Part of Wake County. |
| Wiley Nickel | Democratic | January 1, 2019 – January 1, 2023 | Retired to run for Congress. | 2003–Present Part of Wake County. |
| Gale Adcock | Democratic | January 1, 2023 – Present | | 2003–Present Part of Wake County. |

## Election results
### 2024

North Carolina Senate 16th district general election, 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gale Adcock (incumbent) | 84,424 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 84,424 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2022

North Carolina Senate 16th district general election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gale Adcock | 49,204 | 65.18% |
| | Republican | James Powers | 23,161 | 30.68% |
| | Libertarian | Dee Watson | 1,771 | 2.35% |
| | Green | Michael Trudeau | 1,348 | 1.79% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 75,484 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2020

North Carolina Senate 16th district general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Wiley Nickel (incumbent) | 80,530 | 65.65% |
| | Republican | Will Marsh | 42,144 | 34.35% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 122,674 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2018

North Carolina Senate 16th district Democratic primary election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Wiley Nickel | 8,585 | 55.48% |
| | Democratic | Luis Toledo | 6,890 | 44.52% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,475 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 16th district general election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Wiley Nickel | 63,335 | 65.28% |
| | Republican | Paul Smith | 30,308 | 31.24% |
| | Libertarian | Brian Irving | 3,382 | 3.49% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 97,025 | 100% |
| | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) |

### 2016

North Carolina Senate 16th district Democratic primary election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jay Chaudhuri | 20,232 | 62.93% |
| | Democratic | Ellis Hankins | 11,916 | 37.07% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,148 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 16th district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jay Chaudhuri (incumbent) | 68,842 | 65.33% |
| | Republican | Eric Weaver | 36,530 | 34.67% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 105,372 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2014

North Carolina Senate 16th district general election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Josh Stein (incumbent) | 42,422 | 67.11% |
| | Republican | Molotov Mitchell | 20,791 | 32.89% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 63,213 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2012

North Carolina Senate 16th district general election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Josh Stein (incumbent) | 69,405 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 69,405 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2010

North Carolina Senate 16th district general election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Josh Stein (incumbent) | 32,248 | 54.89% |
| | Republican | Michael Beezley | 24,466 | 41.64% |
| | Libertarian | Stephanie E. Watson | 2,040 | 3.47% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 58,754 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2008

North Carolina Senate 16th district Democratic primary election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Josh Stein | 15,715 | 47.97% |
| | Democratic | Jack Nichols | 13,224 | 40.37% |
| | Democratic | Mike Shea | 3,822 | 11.67% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,761 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 16th district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Josh Stein | 58,357 | 60.82% |
| | Republican | John Alexander | 37,586 | 39.18% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 95,943 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2006

North Carolina Senate 16th district general election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Janet Cowell (incumbent) | 30,330 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,330 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2004

North Carolina Senate 16th district Democratic primary election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Janet Cowell | 5,367 | 49.03% |
| | Democratic | Jack Nichols | 2,641 | 24.13% |
| | Democratic | Carter Worthy | 2,136 | 19.51% |
| | Democratic | Mike Shea | 802 | 7.33% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,946 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 16th district general election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Janet Cowell | 45,396 | 59.44% |
| | Republican | Mark A. Bradick | 28,995 | 37.97% |
| | Libertarian | Jason P. Mara | 1,979 | 2.59% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 76,370 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2002

North Carolina Senate 16th district general election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Eric Miller Reeves (incumbent) | 25,799 | 49.29% |
| | Republican | Paul Coble | 25,323 | 48.38% |
| | Libertarian | Jason Mara | 1,215 | 2.32% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 52,337 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2000

North Carolina Senate 16th district general election, 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Eleanor Kinnaird (incumbent) | 68,346 | 27.09% |
| | Democratic | Howard Lee (incumbent) | 65,167 | 25.83% |
| | Republican | William T. "Bill" Boyd | 60,222 | 23.87% |
| | Republican | Vickie Hargrove | 58,561 | 23.21% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 252,296 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |