# North Carolina's 42nd Senate district

North Carolina's 42nd Senate district is one of 50 districts in the North Carolina Senate. It has been represented by Democrat Woodson Bradley since 2025.

## Geography

Since 2023, the district has covered part of Mecklenburg County. The district overlaps with the 88th, 100th, 102nd, 103rd, 104th, and 105th state house districts.

## District officeholders since 1993

| Senator | Party | Dates | Notes | Counties |
| District created January 1, 1993. | District created January 1, 1993. | District created January 1, 1993. | District created January 1, 1993. | 1993–2003 All of Graham, Cherokee, Clay, and Polk counties. Parts of Macon, Jackson, Transylvania, Haywood, Henderson, and Buncombe counties. |
| Bob Carpenter | Republican | January 1, 1993 – January 1, 2003 | Redistricted from the 29th district. Redistricted to the 50th district. | 1993–2003 All of Graham, Cherokee, Clay, and Polk counties. Parts of Macon, Jackson, Transylvania, Haywood, Henderson, and Buncombe counties. |
| James Forrester | Republican | January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2005 | Redistricted from the 39th district. Redistricted to the 41st district. | 2003–2005 All of Lincoln County. Parts of Gaston and Catawba Counties. |
| Austin Allran | Republican | January 1, 2005 – January 1, 2015 | Redistricted from the 44th district. Retired. | 2005–2013 All of Catawba County. Part of Iredell County. |
| Austin Allran | Republican | January 1, 2005 – January 1, 2015 | Redistricted from the 44th district. Retired. | 2013–2023 All of Catawba and Alexander counties. |
| Andy Wells | Republican | January 1, 2015 – July 27, 2020 | Retired to run for Lieutenant Governor and resigned early. | 2013–2023 All of Catawba and Alexander counties. |
| Vacant | Vacant | July 27, 2020 - August 15, 2020 | | 2013–2023 All of Catawba and Alexander counties. |
| Dean Proctor | Republican | August 15, 2020 – January 1, 2023 | Appointed to finish Wells' term. Redistricted to the 45th district. | 2013–2023 All of Catawba and Alexander counties. |
| Rachel Hunt | Democratic | January 1, 2023 – January 1, 2025 | Retired to run for Lieutenant Governor. | 2023–Present Part of Mecklenburg County. |
| Woodson Bradley | Democratic | January 1, 2025 – Present | | 2023–Present Part of Mecklenburg County. |

## Election results
### 2024

North Carolina Senate 42nd district Republican primary election, 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Stacie McGinn | 11,336 | 51.72% |
| | Republican | Jaime Daniell | 10,584 | 48.28% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,920 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 42nd district general election, 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Woodson Bradley | 62,260 | 50.08% |
| | Republican | Stacie McGinn | 62,051 | 49.92% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 124,311 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2022

North Carolina Senate 42nd district Republican primary election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Cheryl Russo | 6,775 | 50.51% |
| | Republican | Scott Stone | 6,638 | 49.49% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,413 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 42nd district general election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Rachel Hunt | 47,621 | 54.96% |
| | Republican | Cheryl Russo | 39,024 | 45.04% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 86,645 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2020

North Carolina Senate 42nd district Republican primary election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dean Proctor | 12,993 | 52.29% |
| | Republican | Mark Hollo | 11,857 | 47.71% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,850 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 42nd district general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dean Proctor (incumbent) | 72,228 | 71.27% |
| | Democratic | Tina R. Miles | 29,111 | 28.73% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 101,339 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

North Carolina Senate 42nd district Republican primary election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Andy Wells (incumbent) | 9,018 | 47.46% |
| | Republican | Mark Hollo | 6,506 | 34.24% |
| | Republican | Ryan Huffman | 2,236 | 11.77% |
| | Republican | Dustin Long | 1,241 | 6.53% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,001 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 42nd district general election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Andy Wells (incumbent) | 44,323 | 66.31% |
| | Democratic | Ric Vandett | 22,522 | 33.69% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 66,845 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

North Carolina Senate 42nd district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Andy Wells (incumbent) | 69,301 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 69,301 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

North Carolina Senate 42nd district general election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Andy Wells | 31,869 | 59.49% |
| | Democratic | Patrice "Pat" Hensley | 21,703 | 40.51% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 53,572 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2012

North Carolina Senate 42nd district Democratic primary election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joseph "Jody" Inglefield | 7,166 | 67.15% |
| | Democratic | Bivins Hollar | 3,505 | 32.85% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,671 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 42nd district general election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Austin Allran (incumbent) | 54,128 | 64.53% |
| | Democratic | Joseph "Jody" Inglefield | 29,757 | 35.47% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 83,885 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2010

North Carolina Senate 42nd district general election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Austin Allran (incumbent) | 37,429 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 37,429 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2008

North Carolina Senate 42nd district Republican primary election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Austin Allran (incumbent) | 10,464 | 65.46% |
| | Republican | Kitty Barnes | 5,522 | 34.54% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,986 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 42nd district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Austin Allran (incumbent) | 59,574 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 59,574 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2006

North Carolina Senate 42nd district general election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Austin Allran (incumbent) | 22,671 | 55.87% |
| | Democratic | Lyndon Helton | 17,906 | 44.13% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 40,577 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2004

North Carolina Senate 42nd district general election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Austin Allran (incumbent) | 51,623 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 51,623 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2002

North Carolina Senate 42nd district Republican primary election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | James Forrester (incumbent) | 9,625 | 80.46% |
| | Republican | Ronald Pope | 2,337 | 19.54% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,962 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 42nd district general election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | James Forrester (incumbent) | 36,478 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,478 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2000

North Carolina Senate 42nd district Republican primary election, 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bob Carpenter (incumbent) | 7,115 | 69.35% |
| | Republican | D. Kim Talbot | 1,652 | 16.10% |
| | Republican | Dan West | 1,492 | 14.54% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,259 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 42nd district general election, 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bob Carpenter (incumbent) | 52,299 | 90.04% |
| | Libertarian | Larry R. Gavel | 5,788 | 9.96% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 58,087 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |