# North Carolina's 2nd Senate district

North Carolina's 2nd Senate district is one of 50 districts in the North Carolina Senate. It has been represented by Republican Norman Sanderson since 2025.

## Geography

Since 2023, the district has included all of Lenoir, Craven, and Beaufort counties. The district overlaps with the 3rd, 12th, 13th, and 79th state house districts.

## District officeholders since 1989

| Senator | Party | Dates | Notes | Counties |
| Frank Ballance | Democratic | January 1, 1989 – January 1, 2003 | Redistricted to the 4th district and retired to run for Congress. | 1989–1993 All of Northampton and Hertford counties. Parts of Warren, Halifax, Bertie, Martin, Edgecombe, and Gates counties. |
| Frank Ballance | Democratic | January 1, 1989 – January 1, 2003 | Redistricted to the 4th district and retired to run for Congress. | 1993–2003 All of Warren, Northampton, Hertford, Gates counties. Parts of Vance, Halifax, and Bertie counties. |
| Scott Thomas | Democratic | January 1, 2003 – January 30, 2006 | Redistricted from the 3rd district. Resigned to become District Attorney. | 2003–2023 All of Carteret, Craven, and Pamlico counties. |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 30, 2006 – February 1, 2006 | | 2003–2023 All of Carteret, Craven, and Pamlico counties. |
| C.W. "Pete" Bland | Democratic | February 1, 2006 – January 1, 2007 | Appointed to finish Thomas's term. Lost re-election. | 2003–2023 All of Carteret, Craven, and Pamlico counties. |
| Jean Preston | Republican | January 1, 2007 – January 1, 2013 | Retired. | 2003–2023 All of Carteret, Craven, and Pamlico counties. |
| Norman Sanderson | Republican | January 1, 2013 – January 1, 2023 | Redistricted to the 1st district. | 2003–2023 All of Carteret, Craven, and Pamlico counties. |
| Jim Perry | Republican | January 1, 2023 – July 2, 2024 | Redistricted from the 7th district. Resigned. | 2023–2025 All of Lenoir, Craven, and Beaufort counties. |
| Vacant | Vacant | July 2, 2024 – July 30, 2024 | | 2023–2025 All of Lenoir, Craven, and Beaufort counties. |
| Bob Brinson | Republican | July 30, 2024 – January 1, 2025 | Appointed to finish Perry's term. Redistricted to the 3rd district. | 2023–2025 All of Lenoir, Craven, and Beaufort counties. |
| Norman Sanderson | Republican | January 1, 2025 – Present | Redistricted from the 1st district. | 2025–Present All of Warren, Halifax, Martin, Chowan, Washington, Hyde, Pamlico, and Carteret counties. |

## Election results
### 2024

North Carolina Senate 2nd district general election, 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Norman Sanderson (incumbent) | 63,006 | 56.05% |
| | Democratic | Tare Davis | 47,001 | 41.81% |
| | Libertarian | Maria Cormos | 2,406 | 2.14% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 112,413 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2022

North Carolina Senate 2nd district general election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Perry (incumbent) | 53,067 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 53,067 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

North Carolina Senate 2nd district general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Norman Sanderson (incumbent) | 63,014 | 63.16% |
| | Democratic | Libbie Griffin | 32,870 | 32.95% |
| | Libertarian | Tim Harris | 3,884 | 3.89% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 99,768 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

North Carolina Senate 2nd district Democratic primary election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ginger Garner | 3,944 | 50.47% |
| | Democratic | Dorothea D. White | 3,871 | 49.53% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,815 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 2nd district Republican primary election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Norman Sanderson (incumbent) | 11,293 | 76.29% |
| | Republican | Lisa Oakley | 3,510 | 23.71% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,803 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 2nd District general election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Norman Sanderson (incumbent) | 42,898 | 61.78% |
| | Democratic | Ginger Garner | 24,644 | 35.49% |
| | Libertarian | Tim Harris | 1,894 | 2.73% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 69,436 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

North Carolina Senate 2nd district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Norman Sanderson (incumbent) | 58,032 | 66.29% |
| | Democratic | Dorothea E. White | 29,505 | 33.71% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 87,537 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

North Carolina Senate 2nd district Democratic primary election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Carroll G. (Carr) Ipock II | 3,989 | 48.87% |
| | Democratic | Dorothea E. White | 2,751 | 33.70% |
| | Democratic | Fernie J. Hymon | 1,422 | 17.42% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,162 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 2nd district general election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Norman Sanderson (incumbent) | 36,562 | 60.45% |
| | Democratic | Carroll G. (Carr) Ipock II | 23,925 | 39.55% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 60,487 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2012

North Carolina Senate 2nd district Republican primary election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Norman Sanderson | 11,057 | 51.86% |
| | Republican | Randy Ramsey | 6,819 | 31.98% |
| | Republican | Ken Jones | 3,446 | 16.16% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,322 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 2nd district general election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Norman Sanderson | 53,873 | 63.12% |
| | Democratic | Greg Muse | 31,479 | 36.88% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 85,352 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2010

North Carolina Senate 2nd district general election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jean Preston (incumbent) | 36,390 | 65.72% |
| | Democratic | Barbara Garrity-Blake | 18,982 | 34.28% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 55,372 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2008

North Carolina Senate 2nd district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jean Preston (incumbent) | 51,117 | 61.61% |
| | Democratic | Greg D. Muse | 31,849 | 38.39% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 82,966 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2006

North Carolina Senate 2nd district Republican primary election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jean Preston | 6,558 | 79.34% |
| | Republican | Norman Sanderson | 1,708 | 20.66% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,266 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 2nd district general election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jean Preston | 28,340 | 57.38% |
| | Democratic | C.W. "Pete" Bland (incumbent) | 21,052 | 42.62% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 49,392 | 100% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### 2004

North Carolina Senate 2nd district general election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Scott Thomas (incumbent) | 37,123 | 54.46% |
| | Republican | Chuck Tyson | 29,966 | 43.96% |
| | Libertarian | Richard C. Evey | 1,073 | 1.57% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 68,162 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2002

North Carolina Senate 2nd district Republican primary election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Chuck Tyson | 5,951 | 56.67% |
| | Republican | Jule D. Wheatly | 4,551 | 43.33% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,502 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 2nd district general election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Scott Thomas (incumbent) | 26,011 | 51.69% |
| | Republican | Chuck Tyson | 24,310 | 48.31% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 50,321 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2000

North Carolina Senate 2nd district general election, 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Frank Ballance (incumbent) | 35,977 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 35,977 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |