# North Carolina's 46th Senate district

North Carolina's 46th Senate district is one of 50 districts in the North Carolina Senate. It has been represented by Republican Warren Daniel since 2013.

## Geography

Since 2023, the district has covered all of Burke and McDowell counties, as well as part of Buncombe County. The district overlaps with the 85th, 86th, 113th, 114th, 115th, and 116th 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 Rutherford and Cleveland counties. |
| Walter Dalton | Democratic | January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2009 | Redistricted from the 37th district. Retired to run for Lieutenant Governor. | 2003–2013 All of Rutherford and Cleveland counties. |
| Debbie Clary | Republican | January 1, 2009 – January 10, 2012 | Resigned. | 2003–2013 All of Rutherford and Cleveland counties. |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 10, 2012 - January 27, 2012 | | 2003–2013 All of Rutherford and Cleveland counties. |
| Wes Westmoreland | Republican | January 27, 2012 – January 1, 2013 | Appointed to finish Clary's term. Retired. | 2003–2013 All of Rutherford and Cleveland counties. |
| Warren Daniel | Republican | January 1, 2013 – Present | Redistricted from the 44th district. | 2013–2019 All of Burke and Cleveland counties. |
| Warren Daniel | Republican | January 1, 2013 – Present | Redistricted from the 44th district. | 2019–2023 All of Burke, Caldwell, and Avery counties. |
| Warren Daniel | Republican | January 1, 2013 – Present | Redistricted from the 44th district. | 2023–Present All of Burke and McDowell counties. Part of Buncombe County. |

## Election results
### 2024

North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Warren Daniel (incumbent) | 68,675 | 65.23% |
| | Democratic | John Ager | 36,604 | 34.77% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 105,279 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2022

North Carolina Senate 46th district Republican primary election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Warren Daniel (incumbent) | 12,395 | 61.28% |
| | Republican | Mark Crawford | 7,831 | 38.72% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,226 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Warren Daniel (incumbent) | 47,709 | 60.25% |
| | Democratic | Billy Martin | 31,478 | 39.75% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 79,187 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Warren Daniel (incumbent) | 67,919 | 72.28% |
| | Democratic | Edward Phifer | 26,045 | 27.72% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 93,964 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Warren Daniel (incumbent) | 42,445 | 69.97% |
| | Democratic | Art Sherwood | 18,218 | 30.03% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 60,663 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

North Carolina Senate 46th district Democratic primary election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Anne Fischer | 7,527 | 53.77% |
| | Democratic | Jim Cates | 6,471 | 46.23% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,998 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Warren Daniel (incumbent) | 52,997 | 66.16% |
| | Democratic | Anne Fischer | 27,106 | 33.84% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 80,103 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Warren Daniel (incumbent) | 30,373 | 58.71% |
| | Democratic | Emily B. Church | 21,363 | 41.29% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 51,736 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2012

North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Warren Daniel (incumbent) | 43,904 | 55.96% |
| | Democratic | John T. McDevitt | 32,409 | 41.31% |
| | Libertarian | Richard C. Evey | 2,144 | 2.73% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 78,457 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2010

North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Debbie Clary (incumbent) | 32,007 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,007 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2008

North Carolina Senate 46th district Democratic primary election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Keith H. Melton | 13,522 | 64.55% |
| | Democratic | Phil D. Clark | 7,425 | 35.45% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,947 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Debbie Clary | 36,059 | 50.50% |
| | Democratic | Keith H. Melton | 35,338 | 49.50% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 71,397 | 100% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### 2006

North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Walter Dalton (incumbent) | 22,557 | 54.42% |
| | Republican | Wes Westmoreland | 18,890 | 45.58% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,447 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2004

North Carolina Senate 46th district Democratic primary election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Walter Dalton (incumbent) | 6,042 | 83.41% |
| | Democratic | James W. "Buck" Carr | 1,202 | 16.59% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,244 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Walter Dalton (incumbent) | 32,595 | 53.43% |
| | Republican | James "Jim" Testa | 28,409 | 46.57% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 61,004 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2002

North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Walter Dalton (incumbent) | 22,251 | 52.43% |
| | Republican | John Weatherly | 19,118 | 45.05% |
| | Libertarian | Tony Brown | 1,072 | 2.53% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 42,441 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |