# North Carolina's 72nd House district

North Carolina's 72nd House district is one of 120 districts in the North Carolina House of Representatives. It has been represented by Democrat Amber Baker since 2021.

## Geography

Since 2003, the district has included part of Forsyth County. The district overlaps with the 31st and 32nd Senate districts.

## District officeholders

| Representative | Party | Dates | Notes | Counties |
| District created January 1, 1985. | District created January 1, 1985. | District created January 1, 1985. | District created January 1, 1985. | 1985–1993 Parts of Nash and Edgecombe counties. |
| Allen Barbee | Democratic | January 1, 1985 – January 1, 1987 | Redistricted from the 8th district. Lost re-nomination. | 1985–1993 Parts of Nash and Edgecombe counties. |
| Roy Cooper | Democratic | January 1, 1987 – February 21, 1991 | Resigned to assume seat in the State Senate. | 1985–1993 Parts of Nash and Edgecombe counties. |
| Vacant | Vacant | February 21, 1991 – March 7, 1991 | | 1985–1993 Parts of Nash and Edgecombe counties. |
| Edward McGee | Democratic | March 7, 1991 – January 1, 1993 | Appointed to finish Cooper's term. | 1985–1993 Parts of Nash and Edgecombe counties. |
| Gene Arnold | Republican | January 1, 1993 – January 1, 2003 | Redistricted to the 25th district and retired. | 1993–2003 Parts of Nash and Wilson counties. |
| Earline Parmon | Democratic | January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2013 | Retired to run for State Senate. | 2003–Present Part of Forsyth County. |
| Ed Hanes | Democratic | January 1, 2013 – August 7, 2018 | Resigned. | 2003–Present Part of Forsyth County. |
| Vacant | Vacant | August 7, 2018 – August 15, 2018 | | 2003–Present Part of Forsyth County. |
| Derwin Montgomery | Democratic | August 15, 2018 – January 1, 2021 | Appointed to finish Hanes' term. Retired to run for Congress. | 2003–Present Part of Forsyth County. |
| Amber Baker | Democratic | January 1, 2021 – Present | Retired. | 2003–Present Part of Forsyth County. |

## Election results
### 2022

North Carolina House of Representatives 72nd district general election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Amber Baker (incumbent) | 18,738 | 73.87% |
| | Republican | Shelton Stallworthy | 6,628 | 26.13% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 25,366 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2020

North Carolina House of Representatives 72nd district Democratic primary election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Amber Baker | 7,678 | 58.61% |
| | Democratic | Lashun Huntley | 5,422 | 41.39% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,100 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 72nd district general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Amber Baker | 29,524 | 71.33% |
| | Republican | Dan Lawlor | 11,868 | 28.67% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,392 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2018

North Carolina House of Representatives 72nd district general election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Derwin Montgomery (incumbent) | 19,292 | 79.11% |
| | Republican | Reginald Reid | 5,093 | 20.89% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,385 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2016

North Carolina House of Representatives 72nd district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ed Hanes (incumbent) | 28,192 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,192 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2014

North Carolina House of Representatives 72nd district general election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ed Hanes (incumbent) | 17,274 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,274 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2012

North Carolina House of Representatives 72nd district Democratic primary election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ed Hanes | 3,847 | 43.63% |
| | Democratic | S. Wayne Patterson | 3,159 | 35.83% |
| | Democratic | Jimmie Lee Bonham | 1,811 | 20.54% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,817 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 72nd district general election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ed Hanes | 26,561 | 74.36% |
| | Republican | Charlie Mellies | 9,158 | 25.64% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 35,719 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2010

North Carolina House of Representatives 72nd district Democratic primary election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Earline Parmon (incumbent) | 2,205 | 75.64% |
| | Democratic | Gardenia M. Henley | 710 | 24.36% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,915 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 72nd district general election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Earline Parmon (incumbent) | 9,980 | 69.48% |
| | Republican | John Magee | 4,384 | 30.52% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,364 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2008

North Carolina House of Representatives 72nd district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Earline Parmon (incumbent) | 22,474 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,474 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2006

North Carolina House of Representatives 72nd district general election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Earline Parmon (incumbent) | 7,971 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,971 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2004

North Carolina House of Representatives 72nd district general election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Earline Parmon (incumbent) | 17,286 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,286 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2002

North Carolina House of Representatives 72nd district Democratic primary election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Earline Parmon | 2,333 | 39.74% |
| | Democratic | George Bryan | 1,639 | 27.92% |
| | Democratic | Annette Beatty | 1,220 | 20.78% |
| | Democratic | Mischi Binkley | 679 | 11.57% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,871 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 72nd district general election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Earline Parmon | 8,183 | 54.78% |
| | Republican | Vernon Robinson | 6,754 | 45.22% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,937 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2000

North Carolina House of Representatives 72nd district general election, 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Gene Arnold (incumbent) | 14,332 | 57.19% |
| | Democratic | Mary Alice Wells | 10,728 | 42.81% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 25,060 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |