# North Carolina's 85th House district

North Carolina's 85th House district is one of 120 districts in the North Carolina House of Representatives. It has been represented by Republican Dudley Greene since 2021.

## Geography

Since 2023, the district has included all of Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties, as well as most of McDowell County. The district overlaps with the 46th and 47th Senate districts.

## District officeholders

| Representative | 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 Parts of Robeson and Hoke counties. |
| Ronnie Sutton | Democratic | January 1, 1993 – January 1, 2003 | Redistricted to the 47th district. | 1993–2003 Parts of Robeson and Hoke counties. |
| Mitch Gillespie | Republican | January 1, 2003 – January 6, 2013 | Redistricted from the 49th district. Resigned. | 2003–2013 All of McDowell County Part of Burke County. |
| Mitch Gillespie | Republican | January 1, 2003 – January 6, 2013 | Redistricted from the 49th district. Resigned. | 2013–2023 All of Avery, Mitchell, and McDowell counties. |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 6, 2013 – January 29, 2013 | | 2013–2023 All of Avery, Mitchell, and McDowell counties. |
| Josh Dobson | Republican | January 29, 2013 – January 1, 2021 | Appointed to finish Gillespie's term. Retired to run for Labor Commissioner. | 2013–2023 All of Avery, Mitchell, and McDowell counties. |
| Dudley Greene | Republican | January 1, 2021 – Present | | 2013–2023 All of Avery, Mitchell, and McDowell counties. |
| Dudley Greene | Republican | January 1, 2021 – Present | | 2023–Present All of Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties. Part of McDowell County. |

## Election results
### 2022

North Carolina House of Representatives 85th district general election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dudley Greene (incumbent) | 26,613 | 74.59% |
| | Democratic | Robert Cordle | 9,066 | 25.41% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 35,679 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

North Carolina House of Representatives 85th district general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dudley Greene | 31,073 | 77.48% |
| | Democratic | Ted Remington | 9,031 | 22.52% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 40,104 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

North Carolina House of Representatives 85th district general election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Josh Dobson (incumbent) | 20,408 | 74.95% |
| | Democratic | Howard Larsen | 6,822 | 25.05% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 27,230 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

North Carolina House of Representatives 85th district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Josh Dobson (incumbent) | 29,064 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 29,064 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

North Carolina House of Representatives 85th district general election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Josh Dobson (incumbent) | 15,467 | 74.88% |
| | Democratic | JR Edwards | 5,188 | 25.12% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,655 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2012

North Carolina House of Representatives 85th district general election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mitch Gillespie (incumbent) | 21,895 | 68.48% |
| | Democratic | JR Edwards | 10,077 | 31.52% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 31,972 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2010

North Carolina House of Representatives 85th district Democratic primary election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Beth Ostgaard | 1,048 | 54.13% |
| | Democratic | Aaron Bradley Scott | 888 | 45.87% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,936 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 85th district general election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mitch Gillespie (incumbent) | 12,421 | 69.01% |
| | Democratic | Beth Ostgaard | 5,577 | 30.99% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,998 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2008

North Carolina House of Representatives 85th district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mitch Gillespie (incumbent) | 16,432 | 59.24% |
| | Democratic | Chuck Aldridge | 11,304 | 40.76% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 27,736 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2006

North Carolina House of Representatives 85th district general election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mitch Gillespie (incumbent) | 8,899 | 54.07% |
| | Democratic | Chuck Aldridge | 7,560 | 45.93% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,459 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2004

North Carolina House of Representatives 85th district general election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mitch Gillespie (incumbent) | 16,047 | 66.09% |
| | Democratic | Philip J. Tate | 8,234 | 33.91% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,281 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2002

North Carolina House of Representatives 85th district general election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mitch Gillespie (incumbent) | 10,318 | 58.16% |
| | Democratic | A. Everette Clark | 7,424 | 41.84% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,742 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2000

North Carolina House of Representatives 85th district general election, 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ronnie Sutton (incumbent) | 12,927 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,927 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |