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:

• Bertie County
• Camden County
• Chowan County
• Currituck County
• Edgecombe County
• Gates County
• Granville County (part)
• Greene County
• Halifax County
• Hertford County
• Lenoir County
• Martin County
• Nash County
• Northampton County
• Pasquotank County
• Perquimans County
• Tyrrell County
• Vance County
• Warren County
• Washington County
• Wayne County
• Wilson County

Recent statewide election results

Year	Office	Results
2000	President	Gore 57–42%
2004	President	Kerry 57–42%
2008	President	Obama 62–37%
2012	President	Obama 68–31%
2016	President	Clinton 68–31%
2020	President	Biden 54–45%

List of members representing the district

Member	Party	Years	Cong ress	Electoral history	District location
District established March 24, 1790
align=left	John B. Ashe		Anti-Administration	nowrap	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-Administration	nowrap	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-Administration	nowrap	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-Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1797		Elected in 1795. Lost re-election.
align=left	Joseph McDowell Jr.		Democratic-Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1797 – March 3, 1799		Elected in 1796. Lost re-election.
align=left	Joseph Dickson		Federalist	nowrap	March 4, 1799 – March 3, 1801		Elected in 1798. Lost re-election.
align=left	James Holland		Democratic-Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1801 – March 3, 1803		Elected in 1800. Redistricted to the .
align=left	Thomas Wynns		Democratic-Republican	nowrap	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-Republican	nowrap	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-Republican	nowrap	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-Republican	nowrap	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-Republican	nowrap	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		Jacksonian	nowrap	March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1829		Elected in 1825. Re-elected in 1827. Lost re-election.
William B. Shepard	Anti-Jacksonian	March 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		Whig	nowrap	March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839		Elected in 1837.
align=left		Kenneth Rayner		Whig	nowrap	March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843		Elected in 1839. Re-elected in 1841. Redistricted to the .
align=left	Thomas L. Clingman		Whig	nowrap	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		Whig	nowrap	March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847		Elected in 1845.
align=left	Thomas L. Clingman		Whig	nowrap	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		Democratic	nowrap	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 Nothing	nowrap	March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1857		Elected in 1855.
align=left	Henry M. Shaw		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1859		Elected in 1857.
align=left	William N. H. Smith		Opposition	nowrap	March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861		Elected in 1859. North Carolina seceded from the Union in May 1861.
Vacant		nowrap	March 4, 1861 – July 6, 1868		Civil War and Reconstruction
align=left	John R. French		Republican	nowrap	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	Republican	March 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		Democratic	nowrap	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		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1879 – January 29, 1881		Elected in 1878.Lost contested election before the end of the term.
align=left		Jesse J. Yeates		Democratic	nowrap	January 29, 1881 – March 3, 1881		Won contested election. Retired.
align=left		Louis C. Latham		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1883		Elected in 1880. Lost re-election.
align=left	Walter F. Pool		Republican	nowrap	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
Vacant		nowrap	August 25, 1883 – November 20, 1883
align=left	Thomas G. Skinner		Democratic	nowrap	November 20, 1883 – March 3, 1887		Elected to finish Pool's term. Re-elected in 1884. Lost renomination.
align=left	Louis C. Latham		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889		Elected again in 1886. Lost renomination.
align=left	Thomas G. Skinner		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1891		Elected in 1888. Lost renomination.
William A. B. Branch	Democratic	March 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		Populist	nowrap	March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1899		Elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Lost re-election.
John H. Small		Democratic	March 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		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1925		Elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Retired.
Lindsay C. Warren		Democratic	March 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
Vacant		nowrap	October 31, 1940 – November 5, 1940
Herbert C. Bonner	Democratic	November 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
Vacant		nowrap	November 7, 1965 – February 5, 1966
Walter B. Jones Sr.	Democratic	February 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
Vacant		nowrap	September 15, 1992 – November 3, 1992
Eva Clayton	Democratic	November 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		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 2003 – June 11, 2004		Elected in 2002. Resigned.	2003–2013
Vacant		nowrap	June 11, 2004 – July 20, 2004
G. K. Butterfield	Democratic	July 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
Vacant		nowrap	December 30, 2022 – January 3, 2023
Don Davis	Democratic	January 3, 2023 – present	118th	Elected in 2022.	2023–2025
2025–present -->

Past election results

2022

See also

• List of United States congressional districts
• North Carolina's congressional districts

References

• Book: Martis, Kenneth C. . The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress . 1989 . Macmillan Publishing Company . New York.
• Book: Martis, Kenneth C. . The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts . 1982 . Macmillan Publishing Company . New York.
• Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present

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.