North Carolina's 5th congressional district

Interactive map of district boundaries. Points indicate the major cities of Boone, Gastonia (Only in 2021-3 Map), Morganton (Only in 2021-3 Map), Mount Airy (Only in 2023-5 Map), Shelby (Only in 2021-3 Map), Wilkesboro, and Winston-Salem (Only in 2023-5 Map).

Representative

Virginia Foxx
R–Banner Elk

Distribution

58.99% urban
41.01% rural

Population (2020)

745,670^[1]

Median household
income

$49,376^[2]

Ethnicity

72.7% White
10.2% Black
10.2% Hispanic
2.3% Native American
2.0% Asian
0.1% Pacific Islander Americans
0.1% other

Cook PVI

R+13^[3]

Created

1789

North Carolina's 5th congressional district covers the central western portion of North Carolina from the Appalachian Mountains to the Metrolina western suburbs. the district borders Tennessee, Virginia and South Carolina While the bulk of its territory is in the mountains it stretches south into the Piedmont where its largest city, Gastonia, can be found. The district is overwhelmingly Republican. Large portions were controlled by Republicans even during the “Solid South” era as much of northwestern North Carolina was Quaker^[4] or mountaineer and therefore resisted secession.^[5] Two counties in the district – Avery and Yadkin – have never voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since their creation, and Wilkes County has never done so since before the Second Party System. For the 2020 election the district has been updated per House Bill 1029^[6] enacted by the NC General Assembly on November 15, 2019, becoming Session Law 2019–249. District boundaries are based on 2010 census tabulation blocks.

On February 23, 2022, the North Carolina Supreme Court approved a new map which changed the 5th district boundaries to include Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Davie, Mitchell, Stokes, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes County and Yadkin Counties, most of Caldwell and part of Forsyth.^[7]

The fifth district is currently represented by Virginia Foxx, a Republican.

Static map of 2021-3 congressional district

Counties

Counties in the 2023-2025 district map.

List of members representing the district

Member	Party	Years	Cong ress	Electoral history	District location
John Sevier	Pro-Administration	June 16, 1790 – March 3, 1791	1st	Elected in 1790. District ceded by the state to the Federal government in 1789 but permitted to serve anyway although he wasn't representing any part of a state.	1790–1791 "Western division"
William B. Grove	Pro-Administration	March 4, 1791 – March 3, 1793	2nd	Elected in 1791. Redistricted to the 7th district after original district ceded to federal government to later become Tennessee.	1791–1793 "Cape Fear division"
Nathaniel Macon	Anti-Administration	March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1795	3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th	Redistricted from the 2nd districtand re-elected in 1793. Re-elected in 1795. Re-elected in 1796. Re-elected in 1798. Re-elected in 1800. Redistricted to the 6th district.	1793–1803 [data unknown/missing]
Nathaniel Macon	Democratic-Republican	March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1803	3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th		1793–1803 [data unknown/missing]
James Gillespie	Democratic-Republican	March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1805	8th	Elected in 1803. Re-elected in 1804. Died.	1803–1813 "North Carolina Congressional District Map (1803-13)".^[8]
Thomas Kenan	Democratic-Republican	March 4, 1805 – March 3, 1811	9th 10th 11th	Elected August 8, 1805 to begin Gillespie's term. Re-elected in 1806. Re-elected in 1808. Retired.
William R. King	Democratic-Republican	March 4, 1811 – November 4, 1816	12th 13th 14th	Elected in 1810. Re-elected in 1813. Re-elected in 1815. Resigned.
William R. King	Democratic-Republican	March 4, 1811 – November 4, 1816	12th 13th 14th		1813–1823 "North Carolina Congressional District Map (1813-43)".^[9]
Vacant		November 4, 1816 – December 2, 1816	14th
Charles Hooks	Democratic-Republican	December 2, 1816 – March 3, 1817	14th	Elected to finish King's term. Lost re-election.
James Owen	Democratic-Republican	March 4, 1817 – March 3, 1819	15th	Elected in 1817. Lost re-election.
Charles Hooks	Democratic-Republican	March 4, 1819 – March 3, 1823	16th 17th 18th	Elected in 1819. Re-elected in 1821. Re-elected in 1823. Lost re-election.
Charles Hooks	Democratic-Republican	March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825	16th 17th 18th		1823–1833 "North Carolina Congressional District Map (1813-43)".^[10]
Gabriel Holmes	Jacksonian	March 4, 1825 – September 26, 1829	19th 20th 21st	Elected in 1825. Re-elected in 1827. Re-elected in 1829. Died.
Vacant		September 26, 1829 – November 10, 1829	21st
Edward B. Dudley	Jacksonian	November 10, 1829 – March 3, 1831	21st	Elected November 10, 1829 to finish Holmes's term and seated December 14, 1829. [data unknown/missing]
James I. McKay	Jacksonian	March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1837	22nd 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th	Elected in 1831. Re-elected in 1833. Re-elected in 1835. Re-elected in 1837. Re-elected in 1839. Re-elected in 1841. Redistricted to the 6th district.
	Jacksonian	March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1837			1833–1843 "North Carolina Congressional District Map (1813-43)".^[11]
	Democratic	March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1843
Romulus M. Saunders	Democratic	March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845	28th	Redistricted from the 8th district and re-elected in 1843. [data unknown/missing]	1843–1853 [data unknown/missing]
James C. Dobbin	Democratic	March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847	29th	Elected in 1845. [data unknown/missing]
Abraham W. Venable	Democratic	March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1853	30th 31st 32nd	Elected in 1847. Re-elected in 1849. Re-elected in 1851. [data unknown/missing]
John Kerr Jr.	Whig	March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855	33rd	Elected in 1853. [data unknown/missing]	1853–1863 [data unknown/missing]
Edwin G. Reade	Know Nothing	March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1857	34th	Elected in 1855. [data unknown/missing]
John A. Gilmer	Know Nothing	March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1859	35th 36th	Elected in 1857. Re-elected in 1859. [data unknown/missing]
John A. Gilmer	Opposition	March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861	35th 36th
Vacant		March 3, 1861 – July 20, 1868	36th 37th 38th 39th 40th	Civil War and Reconstruction
Vacant		March 3, 1861 – July 20, 1868	36th 37th 38th 39th 40th	Civil War and Reconstruction	1863–1873 [data unknown/missing]
Israel G. Lash	Republican	July 20, 1868 – March 3, 1871	40th 41st	Elected to finish the short term. Re-elected in 1868. [data unknown/missing]
James M. Leach	Democratic	March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1875	42nd 43rd	Elected in 1870. Re-elected in 1872. [data unknown/missing]
James M. Leach	Democratic	March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1875	42nd 43rd		1873–1883 [data unknown/missing]
Alfred M. Scales	Democratic	March 4, 1875 – December 30, 1884	44th 45th 46th 47th 48th	Elected in 1874. Re-elected in 1876. Re-elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Re-elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884. Resigned when elected Governor of North Carolina.	1873–1883 [data unknown/missing]
Alfred M. Scales	Democratic	March 4, 1875 – December 30, 1884	44th 45th 46th 47th 48th		1883–1893 [data unknown/missing]
Vacant		December 30, 1884 – January 28, 1885	48th
James W. Reid	Democratic	January 28, 1885 – December 31, 1886	48th 49th	Elected to finish Scales's term. Resigned.
Vacant		December 31, 1886 – March 3, 1887	49th
John M. Brower	Republican	March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1891	50th 51st	Elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. [data unknown/missing]
Archibald H. A. Williams	Democratic	March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893	52nd	Elected in 1890. [data unknown/missing]
Thomas Settle III	Republican	March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1897	53rd 54th	Elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. [data unknown/missing]	1893–1903 [data unknown/missing]
William W. Kitchin	Democratic	March 4, 1897 – January 11, 1909	55th 56th 57th 58th 59th 60th	Elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Resigned when elected Governor of North Carolina.	1893–1903 [data unknown/missing]
William W. Kitchin	Democratic	March 4, 1897 – January 11, 1909	55th 56th 57th 58th 59th 60th		1903–1913 [data unknown/missing]
Vacant		January 11, 1909 – March 3, 1909	60th
John M. Morehead	Republican	March 4, 1909 – March 3, 1911	61st	Elected in 1908. [data unknown/missing]
Charles M. Stedman	Democratic	March 4, 1911 – September 23, 1930	62nd 63rd 64th 65th 66th 67th 68th 69th 70th 71st	Elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Died.
Charles M. Stedman	Democratic	March 4, 1911 – September 23, 1930	62nd 63rd 64th 65th 66th 67th 68th 69th 70th 71st		1913–1933 [data unknown/missing]
Vacant		September 23, 1930 – November 4, 1930	71st
Franklin W. Hancock Jr.	Democratic	November 4, 1930 – January 3, 1939	71st 72nd 73rd 74th 75th	Elected to finish Stedman's term. Re-elected in 1930. Re-elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. [data unknown/missing]
Franklin W. Hancock Jr.	Democratic	November 4, 1930 – January 3, 1939	71st 72nd 73rd 74th 75th		1933–1943 [data unknown/missing]
Alonzo D. Folger	Democratic	January 3, 1939 – April 30, 1941	76th 77th	Elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Died.
Vacant		April 30, 1941 – June 14, 1941	77th
John H. Folger	Democratic	June 14, 1941 – January 3, 1949	77th 78th 79th 80th	Elected to finish his brother's term. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. [data unknown/missing]
John H. Folger	Democratic	June 14, 1941 – January 3, 1949	77th 78th 79th 80th		1943–1953 [data unknown/missing]
Richard T. Chatham	Democratic	January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1957	81st 82nd 83rd 84th	Elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. [data unknown/missing]	1943–1953 [data unknown/missing]
Richard T. Chatham	Democratic	January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1957	81st 82nd 83rd 84th		1953–1963 [data unknown/missing]
Ralph J. Scott	Democratic	January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1967	85th 86th 87th 88th 89th	Elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. [data unknown/missing]	1953–1963 [data unknown/missing]
Ralph J. Scott	Democratic	January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1967	85th 86th 87th 88th 89th		1963–1973 [data unknown/missing]
Nick Galifianakis	Democratic	January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1969	90th	Elected in 1966. Redistricted to the 4th district.
Vinegar Bend Mizell	Republican	January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1975	91st 92nd 93rd	Elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. [data unknown/missing]
Vinegar Bend Mizell	Republican	January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1975	91st 92nd 93rd		1973–1983 [data unknown/missing]
Stephen L. Neal	Democratic	January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1995	94th 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd	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. Re-elected in 1992. Retired.	1973–1983 [data unknown/missing]
					1983–1993 [data unknown/missing]
					1993–2003 [data unknown/missing]
Richard Burr	Republican	January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2005	104th 105th 106th 107th 108th	Elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Retired to run for U.S. senator in 2004.	1993–2003 [data unknown/missing]
Richard Burr	Republican	January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2005	104th 105th 106th 107th 108th		2003–2013
Virginia Foxx	Republican	January 3, 2005 – Present	109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th	Elected 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.	2003–2013
					2013–2017
					2017–2021
					2021–2023

Recent election results

2004

US House Election 2004: North Carolina 5th district^[12]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Virginia Foxx	167,546	58.83
	Democratic	Jim A. Harrell Jr.	117,271	41.17
Total votes			284,817	100
	Republican hold

2006

US House Election 2006: North Carolina 5th district^[13]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Virginia Foxx (Incumbent)	96,138	57.16
	Democratic	Roger Sharpe	72,061	42.84
Total votes			168,199	100
	Republican hold

2008

US House Election 2008: North Carolina 5th district^[14]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Virginia Foxx (Incumbent)	190,820	58.37
	Democratic	Roy Carter	136,103	41.63
Total votes			326,923	100
	Republican hold

2010

US House Election 2010: North Carolina 5th district^[15]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Virginia Foxx (Incumbent)	140,525	65.89
	Democratic	Billy Kennedy	72,762	34.11
Total votes			213,287	100
	Republican hold

2012

US House Election 2012: North Carolina 5th district^[16]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Virginia Foxx (Incumbent)	200,945	57.54
	Democratic	Elisabeth Motsinger	148,252	42.46
Total votes			349,197	100
	Republican hold

2014

US House Election 2014: North Carolina 5th district^[17]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Virginia Foxx (incumbent)	139,279	61.0
	Democratic	Joshua Brannon	88,973	39.0
Total votes			228,252	100.0
	Republican hold

2016

US House Election 2016: North Carolina 5th district^[18]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Virginia Foxx (incumbent)	207,625	58.4
	Democratic	Josh Brannon	147,887	41.6
Total votes			355,512	100.0
	Republican hold

2018

US House Election 2018: North Carolina 5th district^[19]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Virginia Foxx (Incumbent)	159,917	57.0
	Democratic	Denise D. Adams	120,468	43.0
Total votes			280,385	100
	Republican hold

2020

US House Election 2020: North Carolina 5th district^[20]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Virginia Foxx (incumbent)	257,843	66.9
	Democratic	David Brown	119,846	31.1
	Constitution	Jeff Gregory	7,555	2.0
Total votes			385,244	100.0
	Republican hold

References

^ "NC 2022 Congressional". davesredistricting.org. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
^ Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov.
^ "Enacted Maps and 2022 Ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
^ Auman, William T. and Scarboro, David D.; ‘The Heroes of America in Civil War North Carolina’, The North Carolina Historical Review, volume. 58, no. 4 (October, 1981), pp. 327-363
^ Auman, William T.; Civil War in the North Carolina Quaker Belt: The Confederate Campaign Against Peace Agitators, Deserters and Draft Dodgers, pp. 11, 66-68 ISBN 078647663X
^ "House Bill 1029 / SL 2019-249 (2019-2020 Session) - North Carolina General Assembly".
^ Doule, Steve (February 23, 2022). "Check out new election maps: NC Supreme Court rejects appeals, approves special masters' districts". WGHP. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
^ "Data Courtesy of Jeffrey B. Lewis, Brandon DeVine, and Lincoln Pritcher with Kenneth C. Martis". United States Congressional District Shapefiles.
^ "Data Courtesy of Jeffrey B. Lewis, Brandon DeVine, and Lincoln Pritcher with Kenneth C. Martis". United States Congressional District Shapefiles.
^ "Data Courtesy of Jeffrey B. Lewis, Brandon DeVine, and Lincoln Pritcher with Kenneth C. Martis". United States Congressional District Shapefiles.
^ "Data Courtesy of Jeffrey B. Lewis, Brandon DeVine, and Lincoln Pritcher with Kenneth C. Martis". United States Congressional District Shapefiles.
^ "2004 General Election Results US House (5th District)". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
^ "2006 General Election Results US House (5th District)". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 11, 2010.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "2008 General Election". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
^ "US House of Representatives district 5". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
^ "North Carolina General Elections Results 2012". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
^ "11/04/2014 OFFICIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS - STATEWIDE". ncsbe.gov/. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
^ "11/08/2016 OFFICIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS - STATEWIDE". ncsbe.gov. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
^ "District 5, North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement". North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
^ "November 03, 2020 General Election Results by Contest" (PDF). amazonaws.com. Retrieved June 29, 2022.

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

North Carolina's congressional districts

All districts: At-large; 1st; 2nd; 3rd; 4th; 5th; 6th; 7th; 8th; 9th; 10th; 11th; 12th; 13th; 14th

The at-large district is obsolete.
The 14th district will be established in 2023.

See also: North Carolina's past and present representatives, senators, and delegations

Recent U.S. House elections in North Carolina: 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022

This page was last edited on 13 July 2022, at 19:39