# North Carolina's 3rd Senate district

North Carolina's 3rd Senate district is one of 50 districts in the North Carolina Senate. It has been represented by Republican Bob Brinson since 2025.

## Geography

Since 2023, the district has included all of Warren, Northampton, Halifax, Martin, Bertie, Hertford, Gates, Camden, Currituck, and Tyrrell counties. The district overlaps with the 1st, 5th, 23rd, and 27th house districts.

## District officeholders since 1991

| Senator | Party | Dates | Notes | Counties |
| Bev Perdue | Democratic | January 1, 1991 – January 1, 2001 | Retired to run for Lieutenant Governor. | 1991–1993 All of Carteret, Craven, and Pamlico counties. |
| Bev Perdue | Democratic | January 1, 1991 – January 1, 2001 | Retired to run for Lieutenant Governor. | 1993–2003 All of Craven and Pamlico counties. Part of Carteret County. |
| Scott Thomas | Democratic | January 1, 2001 – January 1, 2003 | Redistricted to the 2nd district. | 1993–2003 All of Craven and Pamlico counties. Part of Carteret County. |
| Clark Jenkins | Democratic | January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2015 | Lost re-nomination. | 2003–2005 All of Edgecombe, Martin, Bertie, Washington, and Tyrrell counties. Part of Pitt County. |
| Clark Jenkins | Democratic | January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2015 | Lost re-nomination. | 2005–2013 All of Edgecombe and Martin counties. Part of Pitt County. |
| Clark Jenkins | Democratic | January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2015 | Lost re-nomination. | 2013–2019 All of Northampton, Hertford, Bertie, Chowan, Edgecombe, Martin, and Tyrrell counties. |
| Erica Smith | Democratic | January 1, 2015 – January 1, 2021 | Retired to run for U.S Senator. | 2013–2019 All of Northampton, Hertford, Bertie, Chowan, Edgecombe, Martin, and Tyrrell counties. |
| Erica Smith | Democratic | January 1, 2015 – January 1, 2021 | Retired to run for U.S Senator. | 2019–2023 All of Vance, Warren, Northampton, Bertie, Martin, and Beaufort counties. |
| Ernestine Bazemore | Democratic | January 1, 2021 – January 1, 2023 | Lost re-nomination. | 2019–2023 All of Vance, Warren, Northampton, Bertie, Martin, and Beaufort counties. |
| Bobby Hanig | Republican | January 1, 2023 – January 1, 2025 | Redistricted from the 1st district. Redistricted to the 1st district. | 2023–2025 All of Warren, Northampton, Halifax, Martin, Bertie, Hertford, Gates, Camden, Currituck, and Tyrrell counties. |
| Bob Brinson | Republican | January 1, 2025 – Present | Redistricted from the 2nd district. | 2025–Present All of Lenoir, Craven, and Beaufort counties. |

## Election results
### 2024

North Carolina Senate 3rd district Republican primary election, 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bob Brinson | 13,211 | 54.41% |
| | Republican | Michael Speciale | 11,069 | 45.59% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,280 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 3rd district general election, 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bob Brinson (incumbent) | 64,025 | 59.99% |
| | Democratic | Charles Dudley | 42,704 | 40.01% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 106,729 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2022

North Carolina Senate 3rd district Democratic primary election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Valerie Jordan | 13,644 | 59.65% |
| | Democratic | Ernestine Bazemore (incumbent) | 9,229 | 40.35% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,873 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 3rd district general election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bobby Hanig | 37,984 | 52.53% |
| | Democratic | Valerie Jordan | 34,320 | 47.47% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 72,304 | 100% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### 2020

North Carolina Senate 3rd district general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ernestine Bazemore | 45,507 | 52.03% |
| | Republican | Thomas S. Hester Jr. | 41,959 | 47.97% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 87,466 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2018

North Carolina Senate 3rd district general election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Erica Smith (incumbent) | 33,942 | 53.86% |
| | Republican | C. "Chuck" Earley Jr. | 29,082 | 46.14% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 63,024 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2016

North Carolina Senate 3rd district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Erica Smith (incumbent) | 57,507 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 57,507 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2014

North Carolina Senate 3rd district Democratic primary election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Erica Smith | 10,557 | 48.34% |
| | Democratic | Clark Jenkins (incumbent) | 8,730 | 39.97% |
| | Democratic | Alan Mizelle | 2,552 | 11.69% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,839 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 3rd district general election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Erica Smith | 39,635 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,635 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2012

North Carolina Senate 3rd district Democratic primary election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Clark Jenkins (incumbent) | 19,694 | 67.46% |
| | Democratic | Florence Arnold Armstrong | 9,500 | 32.54% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 29,194 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 3rd district general election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Clark Jenkins (incumbent) | 65,851 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 65,851` | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2010

North Carolina Senate 3rd district Democratic primary election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Clark Jenkins (incumbent) | 9,313 | 49.73% |
| | Democratic | Frankie L. Bordeaux | 7,119 | 38.01% |
| | Democratic | Florence Arnold Armstrong | 2,295 | 12.26% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,727 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 3rd district Republican primary election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | C. B. Daughtridge | 1,707 | 76.31% |
| | Republican | Henry Williams | 530 | 23.69% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,237 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 3rd district general election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Clark Jenkins (incumbent) | 27,586 | 62.72% |
| | Republican | C. B. Daughtridge | 16,399 | 37.28% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,985 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2008

North Carolina Senate 3rd district Democratic primary election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Clark Jenkins (incumbent) | 16,187 | 50.52% |
| | Democratic | Shelly Willingham | 13,200 | 41.20% |
| | Democratic | Henry Williams II | 2,652 | 8.28% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,039 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 3rd district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Clark Jenkins (incumbent) | 57,703 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 57,703 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2006

North Carolina Senate 3rd district Democratic primary election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Clark Jenkins (incumbent) | 7,969 | 64.28% |
| | Democratic | Shelly Willingham | 4,429 | 35.72% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,398 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 3rd district general election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Clark Jenkins (incumbent) | 19,633 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,633 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2004

North Carolina Senate 3rd district Democratic primary election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Clark Jenkins (incumbent) | 5,044 | 33.13% |
| | Democratic | Shelly Willingham | 4,991 | 32.79% |
| | Democratic | Charles Elliott Johnson | 4,011 | 26.35% |
| | Democratic | Jim Rouse | 1,177 | 7.73% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,223 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 3rd district Democratic primary run-off election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Clark Jenkins (incumbent) | 6,070 | 54.47% |
| | Democratic | Shelly Willingham | 5,074 | 45.53% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,144 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 3rd district general election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Clark Jenkins (incumbent) | 36,343 | 66.04% |
| | Republican | Beverly Moore | 18,686 | 33.96% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 55,029 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2002

North Carolina Senate 3rd district Democratic primary election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Clark Jenkins | 10,687 | 45.30% |
| | Democratic | Patricia Ferguson | 9,757 | 41.36% |
| | Democratic | Ann M. Slocumb | 1,626 | 6.89% |
| | Democratic | Henry Williams II | 1,523 | 6.46% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,593 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 3rd district general election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Clark Jenkins | 26,444 | 66.69% |
| | Republican | Don Carson | 12,743 | 32.14% |
| | Libertarian | Henry Boschen | 464 | 1.17% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,651 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2000

North Carolina Senate 3rd district general election, 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Scott Thomas | 29,313 | 54.13% |
| | Republican | David G. Hipps | 24,836 | 45.87% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 54,149 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |