# Ben Clark (politician)

Ben Clark is an American politician who served in the North Carolina Senate from the 21st district (representing constituents in Hoke and Cumberland counties) from 2013 to 2023. He also served as secretary of the Senate Democratic caucus. On September 20, 2021, Clark announced he wouldn't seek re-election in 2022. On November 22, 2021, Clark announced he would run for the congress in the newly-drawn NC-09 Congressional district.

## NC Senate

During five terms in the NC Senate, Clark has made his focus supporting the military, expanding healthcare access, and providing every child with a sound education. Clark led the effort to reopen NC schools after COVID-19 rates fell. He was 1 of 4 Democratic conferees on the 2021 budget that repealed NC taxes on military retirement income

## Electoral history
### 2020

North Carolina Senate 21st district general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ben Clark (incumbent) | 50,105 | 68.02% |
| | Republican | Sev Palacios | 23,557 | 31.98% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 73,662 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2018

North Carolina Senate 21st district Democratic primary election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ben Clark (incumbent) | 6,491 | 55.63% |
| | Democratic | Naveed Aziz | 5,177 | 44.37% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,668 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 21st district general election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ben Clark (incumbent) | 33,238 | 70.94% |
| | Republican | Timothy Leever | 13,616 | 29.06% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 46,854 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2016

North Carolina Senate 21st district Democratic primary election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ben Clark (incumbent) | 11,736 | 49.80% |
| | Democratic | Naveed Aziz | 10,432 | 44.27% |
| | Democratic | Eronomy Neon (Mohammed) Smith | 1,398 | 5.93% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,566 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 21st district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ben Clark (incumbent) | 49,081 | 71.74% |
| | Republican | Dan Travieso | 19,338 | 28.26% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 68,419 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2014

North Carolina Senate 21st district Democratic primary election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ben Clark (incumbent) | 6,421 | 55.68% |
| | Democratic | Billy R. King | 3,860 | 33.47% |
| | Democratic | Sylvia Adamczyk | 766 | 6.64% |
| | Democratic | Eronomy (Mohammed) Smith | 484 | 4.20% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,531 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 21st district general election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ben Clark (incumbent) | 31,663 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 31,663 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2012

North Carolina Senate 21st district Democratic primary election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Billy R. King | 4,353 | 24.46% |
| | Democratic | Ben Clark | 3,525 | 19.81% |
| | Democratic | Larry Shaw | 3,523 | 19.79% |
| | Democratic | Curtis Worthy | 3,385 | 19.02% |
| | Democratic | Allen Thomas, Jr. | 2,489 | 13.98% |
| | Democratic | Eronomy (Mohammed) Smith | 523 | 2.94% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,798 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 21st district Democratic primary run-off election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ben Clark | 2,436 | 59.88% |
| | Democratic | Billy R. King | 1,632 | 40.12% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,068 | 100% |
North Carolina Senate 21st district general election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ben Clark | 57,805 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 57,805 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |