# North Carolina's 23rd House district

North Carolina's 23rd House district is one of 120 districts in the North Carolina House of Representatives. It has been represented by Democrat Shelly Willingham since 2015.

## Geography

Since 2023, the district has included all of Edgecombe, Martin, and Bertie counties. The district overlaps with the 3rd and 5th Senate districts.

## District officeholders since 1983
### Multi-member district

| Representative | Party | Dates | Notes | Representative | Party | Dates | Notes | Representative | Party | Dates | Notes | Counties |
| Ken Spaulding | Democratic | January 1, 1983 – January 1, 1985 | Redistricted from the 16th district. Retired to run for Congress. | Paul Pulley Jr. | Democratic | January 1, 1983 – January 1, 1985 | Redistricted from the 16th district. Redistricted to the 68th district. | George W. Miller Jr. | Democratic | January 1, 1983 – January 1, 1985 | Redistricted from the 16th district. Redistricted to the 69th district. | 1983–1985 All of Durham County. |
| Mickey Michaux | Democratic | January 1, 1985 – January 1, 2003 | Redistricted to the 31st district. | | | | | | | | | 1985–2003 Part of Durham County. |
| Mickey Michaux | Democratic | January 1, 1985 – January 1, 2003 | Redistricted to the 31st district. | Sharon Thompson | Democratic | January 1, 1989 – January 1, 1991 | Redistricted from the 68th district. | George W. Miller Jr. | Democratic | January 1, 1989 – January 1, 2001 | Redistricted from the 69th district. Lost re-nomination | 1985–2003 Part of Durham County. |
| Mickey Michaux | Democratic | January 1, 1985 – January 1, 2003 | Redistricted to the 31st district. | Paul Luebke | Democratic | January 1, 1991 – January 1, 2003 | Redistricted to the 30th district. | George W. Miller Jr. | Democratic | January 1, 1989 – January 1, 2001 | Redistricted from the 69th district. Lost re-nomination | 1985–2003 Part of Durham County. |
| Mickey Michaux | Democratic | January 1, 1985 – January 1, 2003 | Redistricted to the 31st district. | Paul Luebke | Democratic | January 1, 1991 – January 1, 2003 | Redistricted to the 30th district. | Paul Miller | Democratic | January 1, 2001 – January 1, 2003 | Redistricted to the 29th district. | 1985–2003 Part of Durham County. |

### Single-member district

| Representative | Party | Dates | Notes | Counties |
| Joe Tolson | Democratic | January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2015 | Redistricted from the 71st district. Retired. | 2003–2013 Parts of Edgecombe and Wilson counties. |
| Joe Tolson | Democratic | January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2015 | Redistricted from the 71st district. Retired. | 2013–2023 All of Edgecombe and Martin counties. |
| Shelly Willingham | Democratic | January 1, 2015 – Present | | 2013–2023 All of Edgecombe and Martin counties. |
| Shelly Willingham | Democratic | January 1, 2015 – Present | | 2023–Present All of Edgecombe, Martin, and Bertie counties. |

## Election results
### 2022

North Carolina House of Representatives 23rd district general election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Shelly Willingham (incumbent) | 16,488 | 54.42% |
| | Republican | James Crowell Proctor | 13,809 | 45.58% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,297 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2020

North Carolina House of Representatives 23rd district general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Shelly Willingham (incumbent) | 21,754 | 58.76% |
| | Republican | Claiborne Holtzman | 14,656 | 39.59% |
| | Green | Abbie "Bud" Lane | 612 | 1.65% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 37,022 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2018

North Carolina House of Representatives 23rd district general election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Shelly Willingham (incumbent) | 15,959 | 60.85% |
| | Republican | Claiborne Holtzman | 10,266 | 39.15% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,225 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2016

North Carolina House of Representatives 23rd district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Shelly Willingham (incumbent) | 27,208 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 27,208 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2014

North Carolina House of Representatives 23rd district Democratic primary election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Shelly Willingham | 2,978 | 35.61% |
| | Democratic | R. B. "Rusty" Holderness | 2,543 | 30.41% |
| | Democratic | Taro Knight | 1,715 | 20.51% |
| | Democratic | Bronson Williams | 1,126 | 13.47% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,362 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 23rd district Democratic primary run-off election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Shelly Willingham | 2,702 | 52.16% |
| | Democratic | R. B. "Rusty" Holderness | 2,478 | 47.84% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,180 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 23rd district general election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Shelly Willingham | 18,660 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,660 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2012

North Carolina House of Representatives 23rd district Democratic primary election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joe Tolson (incumbent) | 7,575 | 58.75% |
| | Democratic | William Solomon Jr. | 5,318 | 41.25% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,893 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 23rd district general election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joe Tolson (incumbent) | 30,670 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,670 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2010

North Carolina House of Representatives 23rd district general election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joe Tolson (incumbent) | 12,043 | 53.38% |
| | Republican | Gerald Shepheard | 10,517 | 46.62% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,560 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2008

North Carolina House of Representatives 23rd district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joe Tolson (incumbent) | 20,211 | 62.21% |
| | Republican | Garland Shepheard | 12,275 | 37.79% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,486 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2006

North Carolina House of Representatives 23rd district general election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joe Tolson (incumbent) | 7,924 | 71.05% |
| | Republican | Henry Williams II | 3,228 | 28.95% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,152 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2004

North Carolina House of Representatives 23rd district general election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joe Tolson (incumbent) | 17,040 | 65.93% |
| | Republican | Henry Williams II | 8,804 | 34.07% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 25,844 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2002

North Carolina House of Representatives 23rd district general election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joe Tolson (incumbent) | 9,678 | 53.38% |
| | Republican | Bettie West | 8,244 | 45.47% |
| | Libertarian | Douglas Ellis | 207 | 1.14% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,129 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2000

North Carolina House of Representatives 23rd district Democratic primary election, 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Paul Luebke (incumbent) | 15,105 | 31.15% |
| | Democratic | Mickey Michaux (incumbent) | 14,256 | 29.40% |
| | Democratic | Paul Miller | 10,238 | 21.12% |
| | Democratic | George W. Miller Jr. (incumbent) | 8,886 | 18.33% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 48,485 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 23rd district general election, 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Paul Luebke (incumbent) | 57,471 | 33.70% |
| | Democratic | Mickey Michaux (incumbent) | 51,329 | 30.10% |
| | Democratic | Paul Miller | 44,521 | 26.11% |
| | Libertarian | Robert Dorsey | 9,819 | 5.76% |
| | Libertarian | Raymond Ubinger | 7,397 | 4.34% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 170,537 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |