North Carolina's 1st congressional district explained

State:North Carolina
District Number:1
Image Caption:Interactive map of district boundaries
Representative:Don Davis
Party:Democratic
Residence:Snow Hill
Population:753,536
Population Year:2022
Median Income:$53,854[1]
Percent White:47.4
Percent Hispanic:7.2
Percent Black:40.3
Percent Asian:0.9
Percent More Than One Race:3.1
Percent Other Race:0.4
Percent Native American:0.7
Cpvi:D+2[2]

North Carolina's 1st congressional district is located in the northeastern part of the state. It consists of many Black Belt counties that border Virginia and it extends southward into several counties of the Inner Banks and the Research Triangle. It covers many rural areas of northeastern North Carolina, among the state's most economically poor, as well as outer exurbs of urbanized Research Triangle. It contains towns and cities such as Greenville, Rocky Mount, Wilson, Goldsboro, Henderson, and Roanoke Rapids.

The first district is currently represented by Don Davis.

On February 5, 2016, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the 1st district, as well as the 12th, were gerrymandered along racial lines, which was unconstitutional, and must be redrawn by March 15, 2016.[3] It was re-drawn again in 2019 following court-mandated redistricting, which removed portions of the Research Triangle from the district and changed it to D+3 from a D+17 on the Cook Partisan Voting Index.[4]

Besides a brief period from 1895 until 1899 when the district was held by a Populist, the 1st district has been consistently Democratic since 1883.

On February 23, 2022, the North Carolina Supreme Court approved a new map which changed the 1st district boundaries to add Chowan, Franklin, Greene, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell counties and the remainder of Vance County while removing Wayne County.[5]

Counties

Counties in the 2023–2025 district map:

Recent statewide election results

YearOfficeResults
2000PresidentGore 57–42%
2004PresidentKerry 57–42%
2008PresidentObama 62–37%
2012PresidentObama 68–31%
2016PresidentClinton 68–31%
2020PresidentBiden 54–45%

List of members representing the district

Member
PartyYearsCong
ress
Electoral historyDistrict location
District established March 24, 1790
align=left
John B. Ashe
Anti-Administrationnowrap March 24, 1790 –
March 3, 1791
Elected in 1790.
Redistricted to the and re-elected there.
1790–1791
Anson, Burke, Guilford, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, Rowan, Rutherford, and Wilkes counties
align=left
John Steele
Pro-Administrationnowrap March 4, 1791 –
March 3, 1793
Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1791.
1791–1793
Burke, Guilford, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, Rowan, Rutherford, and Wilkes counties
align=left Joseph McDowell
Anti-Administrationnowrap March 4, 1793 –
March 3, 1795
Elected in 1793.
Lost re-election.
1793–1803
Ashe, Buncombe, Burke, Lincoln, Rutherford, and Wilkes counties
align=left James Holland
Democratic-Republicannowrap March 4, 1795 –
March 3, 1797
Elected in 1795.
Lost re-election.
align=left
Joseph McDowell Jr.
Democratic-Republicannowrap March 4, 1797 –
March 3, 1799
Elected in 1796.
Lost re-election.
align=left Joseph Dickson
Federalistnowrap March 4, 1799 –
March 3, 1801
Elected in 1798.
Lost re-election.
align=left James Holland
Democratic-Republicannowrap March 4, 1801 –
March 3, 1803
Elected in 1800.
Redistricted to the .
align=left Thomas Wynns
Democratic-Republicannowrap March 4, 1803 –
March 3, 1807
Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1803.
Re-elected in 1804.
Retired.
1803–1813
Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Gates, Hertford, Pasquotank, and Perquimans counties
align=left Lemuel Sawyer
Democratic-Republicannowrap March 4, 1807 –
March 3, 1813
Elected in 1806.
Re-elected in 1808.
Re-elected in 1810.
Lost re-election.
align=left William H. Murfree
Democratic-Republicannowrap March 4, 1813 –
March 3, 1817
Elected in 1813.
Re-elected in 1815.
Retired.
1813–1823
Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Gates, Hertford, Pasquotank, and Perquimans counties
align=left Lemuel Sawyer
Democratic-Republicannowrap March 4, 1817 –
March 3, 1823
Elected in 1817.
Re-elected in 1819.
Re-elected in 1821.
Lost re-election.
align=left Alfred M. Gatlin
Democratic-Republicannowrap March 4, 1823 –
March 3, 1825
Elected in 1823.
Lost re-election.
1823–1833
Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Gates, Hertford, Pasquotank, and Perquimans counties
align=left Lemuel Sawyer
Jacksoniannowrap March 4, 1825 –
March 3, 1829
Elected in 1825.
Re-elected in 1827.
Lost re-election.

William B. Shepard
Anti-JacksonianMarch 4, 1829 –
March 3, 1837
Elected in 1829.
Re-elected in 1831.
Re-elected in 1833.
Re-elected in 1835.
1833–1843
Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Gates, Hertford, Pasquotank, and Perquimans counties
align=left Samuel T. Sawyer
Whignowrap March 4, 1837 –
March 3, 1839
Elected in 1837.
align=left
Kenneth Rayner
Whignowrap March 4, 1839 –
March 3, 1843
Elected in 1839.
Re-elected in 1841.
Redistricted to the .
align=left
Thomas L. Clingman
Whignowrap March 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1845
Elected in 1843.
1843–1853
Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Cleveland, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Rutherford, and Yancey counties
align=left
James Graham
Whignowrap March 4, 1845 –
March 3, 1847
Elected in 1845.
align=left
Thomas L. Clingman
Whignowrap March 4, 1847 –
March 3, 1853
Elected in 1847.
Re-elected in 1849.
Re-elected in 1851.
Redistricted to the .
align=left
Henry M. Shaw
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1855
Elected in 1853.
1853–1861
Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Martin, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington counties
align=left Robert T. Paine
Know Nothingnowrap March 4, 1855 –
March 3, 1857
Elected in 1855.
align=left
Henry M. Shaw
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1857 –
March 3, 1859
Elected in 1857.
align=left
William N. H. Smith
Oppositionnowrap March 4, 1859 –
March 3, 1861
Elected in 1859.
North Carolina seceded from the Union in May 1861.
Vacantnowrap March 4, 1861 –
July 6, 1868
Civil War and Reconstruction
align=left
John R. French
Republicannowrap July 6, 1868 –
March 3, 1869
Elected to finish the shorter term.
Lost renomination.
1868–1873
Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington counties

Clinton L. Cobb
RepublicanMarch 4, 1869 –
March 3, 1875
Elected in 1868.
Re-elected in 1870.
Re-elected in 1872.
Lost re-election.
1873–1883
Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, and Washington counties
align=left
Jesse J. Yeates
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1879
Elected in 1874.
Re-elected in 1876.
Lost re-election, but contested the result.
align=left
Joseph J. Martin
Republicannowrap March 4, 1879 –
January 29, 1881
Elected in 1878.Lost contested election before the end of the term.
align=left
Jesse J. Yeates
Democraticnowrap January 29, 1881 –
March 3, 1881
Won contested election.
Retired.
align=left
Louis C. Latham
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1881 –
March 3, 1883
Elected in 1880.
Lost re-election.
align=left
Walter F. Pool
Republicannowrap March 4, 1883 –
August 25, 1883
Elected in 1882.
Died.
1883–1893
Beaufort, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, and Washington counties
Vacantnowrap August 25, 1883 –
November 20, 1883
align=left
Thomas G. Skinner
Democraticnowrap November 20, 1883 –
March 3, 1887
Elected to finish Pool's term.
Re-elected in 1884.
Lost renomination.
align=left
Louis C. Latham
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1887 –
March 3, 1889
Elected again in 1886.
Lost renomination.
align=left
Thomas G. Skinner
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1889 –
March 3, 1891
Elected in 1888.
Lost renomination.

William A. B. Branch
DemocraticMarch 4, 1891 –
March 3, 1895
Elected in 1890.
Re-elected in 1892.
Lost re-election.
1893–1903
Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, and Washington counties
align=left
Harry Skinner
Populistnowrap March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1899
Elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Lost re-election.

John H. Small
DemocraticMarch 4, 1899 –
March 3, 1921
Elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Retired.
1903–1913
Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, and Washington counties
1913–1933
Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, and Washington counties
align=left
Hallett S. Ward
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1921 –
March 3, 1925
Elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Retired.

Lindsay C. Warren
DemocraticMarch 4, 1925 –
October 31, 1940
Elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Re-elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Resigned to become U.S. Comptroller General.
1933–1943
Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, and Washington counties
Vacantnowrap October 31, 1940 –
November 5, 1940

Herbert C. Bonner
DemocraticNovember 5, 1940 –
November 7, 1965
Elected to finish Warren's term.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Died.
1943–1953
Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, and Washington counties
1953–1963
Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, and Washington counties
1963–1973
Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, and Washington counties
Vacantnowrap November 7, 1965 –
February 5, 1966

Walter B. Jones Sr.
DemocraticFebruary 5, 1966 –
September 15, 1992
Elected to finish Bonner's term.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Died.
1973–1983
1983–1993
Vacantnowrap September 15, 1992 –
November 3, 1992

Eva Clayton
DemocraticNovember 3, 1992 –
January 3, 2003
Elected to finish Jones's term.
Re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Retired.
1993–2003
align=left
Frank Ballance
Democraticnowrap January 3, 2003 –
June 11, 2004
Elected in 2002.
Resigned.
2003–2013
Vacantnowrap June 11, 2004 –
July 20, 2004

G. K. Butterfield
DemocraticJuly 20, 2004 –
December 30, 2022
Elected to finish Ballance's term.
Re-elected later in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Resigned.
2013–2017
2017–2021
2021–2023
Vacantnowrap December 30, 2022 –
January 3, 2023

Don Davis
DemocraticJanuary 3, 2023 –
present
118thElected in 2022.2023–2025
2025–present
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Past election results

2022

See also

References

36.05°N -77.29°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: My Congressional District . U.S. Census Bureau Center for New Media and Promotion (CNMP) . census.gov.
  2. Web site: 2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List . 2023-01-10 . Cook Political Report . July 12, 2022 . en.
  3. Web site: Judges find two N. Carolina congressional districts racially gerrymandered . Simpson . Ian . February 8, 2016 . Reuters . February 8, 2016.
  4. Web site: LEGISLATIVE AND CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING . January 5, 2021 . North Carolina General Assembly.
  5. News: Check out new election maps: NC Supreme Court rejects appeals, approves special masters' districts . Doule . Steve . . February 23, 2022 . March 21, 2022.