North Carolina

North Carolina, one of the original 13 colonies, entered the Union in November 1789. The state did not participate in the 1864 election due to secession. Like many other southern states, North Carolina voted almost exclusively Democratic from 1876 through 1964 and almost exclusively Republican beginning in 1968. The initial shift was largely in response to white conservative voter uneasiness with the civil rights legislation passed in the mid-1960s, which was effectively exploited by the Republicans “southern strategy.”

In 2008, Barack Obama reversed the trend of Republican dominance here (although just barely), defeating John McCain by about 14,000 votes out of 4.3 million cast (49.7% to 49.4%). In percentage terms, it was the 2nd closest race of the 2008 election (behind Missouri). In 2012, North Carolina was again the 2nd closest race (this time behind Florida) as the state flipped Republican. Mitt Romney beat Obama by about 2%. Donald Trump won the state by 3.6% over Hillary Clinton in 2016 and by 1.3% over Joe Biden in 2020.

The state gained an additional electoral vote after the 2020 Census. This surpasses Michigan (which lost one) and ties it with Georgia for the 8th largest electoral prize in the country.

ELECTORAL VOTES

15
2020
16
2024

2024 ELECTION

Leans Republican
2024 North Carolina Polls

Recent Presidential Elections

2020
48.6% 49.9%
2016
46.2% 49.8%
2012
48.4% 50.4%
2008
49.7% 49.4%
2004
43.6% 56.0%
2000
43.2% 56.0%
Show:

Presidential Voting History

State voted with the overall winning candidate

1976
D
1980
R
1984
R
1988
R
1992
R
1996
R
2000
R
2004
R
2008
D
2012
R
2016
R
2020
R

Electoral College Votes

Federalist
Democratic-Republican
Democratic
Whig
Republican
American Independent

Colored bars represent electoral votes by party. Tap or hover to see names.

An empty column indicates the state did not participate in that election.

U.S. Senate Voting History

Class 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
1
2
R
R
R
D
R
R
3
D
R
D
R
R
R
R

Data: MIT Election Data and Science Lab / Harvard Dataverse through 2018; 270toWin research. These are general election results for the years listed. Special elections, if any, are excluded.

There are three classes of Senators; one is up for election every second year. Each state has one Senator in two of the three classes.

U.S. House Voting History

District 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
1
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
2
D
D
D
D
R
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
R
R
R
R
R
D
D
3
D
D
D
D
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
4
D
D
D
D
R
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
5
D
D
D
D
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
6
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
D
D
7
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
R
R
R
R
R
8
D
D
D
D
D
D
R
R
R
R
R
D
D
R
R
R
R
R
R
9
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
10
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
11
D
D
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
D
D
D
R
R
R
R
R
R
12
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
13
D
D
D
D
D
R
R
R
R
R
D
14
D

Data: The Princeton Gerrymandering Project through 2018; 270toWin research. These are general election results for the years listed. Special elections, if any, are excluded.

Vertical lines before 1992, 2002, 2012, and 2022 show Census-related redistricting breakpoints. Geographic borders associated with district numbers may have changed.

The state had an additional redistricting before 1998, 2000, 2016, and 2020. Same caution about borders applies.

Governor Voting History

1976
D
1980
D
1984
R
1988
R
1992
D
1996
D
2000
D
2004
D
2008
D
2012
R
2016
D
2020
D

Data: Wikipedia through 2018; 270toWin research. These are general election results for the years listed. Special elections, if any, are excluded.