# North Carolina's 65th House district

North Carolina's 65th House district is one of 120 districts in the North Carolina House of Representatives. It has been represented by Republican Reece Pyrtle since 2021.

## Geography

Since 2023, the district has included all of Rockingham County. The district overlaps with the 26th Senate district.

## 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. | 1985–2003 Part of Wake County. |
| Aaron Fussell | Democratic | January 1, 1985 – January 1, 1995 | Redistricted from the 21st district. | 1985–2003 Part of Wake County. |
| Rick Eddins | Republican | January 1, 1995 – January 1, 2003 | Redistricted to the 40th district. | 1985–2003 Part of Wake County. |
| Nelson Cole | Democratic | January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2011 | Redistricted from the 25th district. Lost re-election. | 2003–2005 All of Caswell County. Part of Rockingham County. |
| Nelson Cole | Democratic | January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2011 | Redistricted from the 25th district. Lost re-election. | 2005–2013 Part of Rockingham County. |
| Bert Jones | Independent | January 1, 2011 – January 1, 2019 | Switched parties. Retired. | 2005–2013 Part of Rockingham County. |
| Bert Jones | Republican | January 1, 2011 – January 1, 2019 | Switched parties. Retired. | 2013–2019 All of Caswell County. Part of Rockingham County. |
| Jerry Carter | Republican | January 1, 2019 – August 3, 2021 | Died. | 2019–2023 Part of Rockingham County. |
| Vacant | Vacant | August 3, 2021 – August 11, 2021 | | 2019–2023 Part of Rockingham County. |
| Reece Pyrtle | Republican | August 11, 2021 – Present | Appointed to finish Carter's term. | 2019–2023 Part of Rockingham County. |
| Reece Pyrtle | Republican | August 11, 2021 – Present | Appointed to finish Carter's term. | 2023–Present All of Rockingham County. |

## Election results
### 2022

North Carolina House of Representatives 65th district Democratic primary election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jay Donecker | 2,183 | 69.32% |
| | Democratic | Gary L. Smith | 966 | 30.68% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,149 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 65th district Republican primary election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Reece Pyrtle (incumbent) | 5,813 | 79.86% |
| | Republican | Joseph A. Gibson III | 1,466 | 20.14% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,279 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 65th district general election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Reece Pyrtle (incumbent) | 21,740 | 67.16% |
| | Democratic | Jay Donecker | 10,632 | 32.84% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,372 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

North Carolina House of Representatives 65th district general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jerry Carter (incumbent) | 26,784 | 64.74% |
| | Democratic | Amanda Joann Bell | 14,590 | 35.26% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,734 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

North Carolina House of Representatives 65th district Democratic primary election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Michael H. "Mike" Lee | 1,394 | 50.78% |
| | Democratic | Wally White | 1,351 | 49.22% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,745 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 65th district general election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jerry Carter | 16,464 | 57.38% |
| | Democratic | Michael H. "Mike" Lee | 10,007 | 34.88% |
| | Libertarian | Houston Barrow | 2,220 | 7.74% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,691 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

North Carolina House of Representatives 65th district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bert Jones (incumbent) | 21,857 | 60.39% |
| | Democratic | H. Keith Duncan | 14,336 | 39.61% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,193 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

North Carolina House of Representatives 65th district general election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bert Jones (incumbent) | 15,808 | 65.26% |
| | Democratic | Elretha Perkins | 8,416 | 34.74% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,224 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2012

North Carolina House of Representatives 65th district general election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bert Jones (incumbent) | 21,324 | 59.47% |
| | Democratic | William E. Osborne | 14,534 | 40.53% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 35,858 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2010

North Carolina House of Representatives 65th district general election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Bert Jones | 9,628 | 56.01% |
| | Democratic | Nelson Cole (incumbent) | 7,561 | 43.99% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,189 | 100% |
| | Independent gain from Democratic | Independent gain from Democratic | Independent gain from Democratic | Independent gain from Democratic |

### 2008

North Carolina House of Representatives 65th district Democratic primary election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Nelson Cole (incumbent) | 8,121 | 75.57% |
| | Democratic | Vanessa McGee Smith-Kearney | 2,626 | 24.43% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,747 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 65th district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Nelson Cole (incumbent) | 20,495 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,495 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2006

North Carolina House of Representatives 65th district general election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Nelson Cole (incumbent) | 9,749 | 66.56% |
| | Republican | Michael Moore | 4,897 | 33.44% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,646 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2004

North Carolina House of Representatives 65th district general election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Nelson Cole (incumbent) | 13,890 | 52.65% |
| | Republican | Wayne Sexton (incumbent) | 12,493 | 47.35% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,383 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2002

North Carolina House of Representatives 65th district general election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Nelson Cole (incumbent) | 13,465 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,465 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2000

North Carolina House of Representatives 65th district general election, 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rick Eddins (incumbent) | 23,416 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,416 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |