Shelly Willingham
North Carolina State Representative, District 23 since 2014. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027.
- In office
- 12 yrs
- Since 2014
- Bills became law
- 1
- 4 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 8.4%
- Chamber median 3.8%
- With party
- 32%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +12.9
- Won 2024
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Alcoholic Beverage Control · vice chair
- Ethics · chair
- Appropriations
- Appropriations, Transportation
- Election Law
- Energy and Public Utilities
- Federal Relations and American Indian Affairs
- Government Efficiency Select
- Governmental Operations Commission
- Helene Recovery
- Insurance
- Involuntary Commitment and Public Safety Select
- Legislative Economic Development and Global Engagement Oversight
- Legislative Elections Oversight
- Local Government Legislative
- Oversight
- Oversight and Reform Select
- Redistricting Select
- Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House
- Select Committee to Investigate Alleged Misconduct and Other Matters Included in Charges Against Representative Cecil Brockman
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
AGRICULTURE; AGRICULTURE DEPT.; APPROPRIATIONS; BUDGETING; DEBTOR & CREDITOR; FINES & PENALTIES; FUELS; FUNDS & ACCOUNTS; NOTIFICATION; PRESENTED; PUBLIC; PUBLIC OFFICIALS; RATIFIED; REVENUE DEPT.; STATE CONTROLLER; TAXATION; TAXES · Became law Oct 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Willingham sits in the North Carolina House of Representatives
Willingham is closer to the center than 98% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Carla Cunningham, Charles Smith,
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:55 PM ET
With Willingham’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats32%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills96%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Willingham’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Willingham | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 5, 2026 | SJR 1091: Adjournment Resolution. | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 78–28 |
| Aug 5, 2026 | HB 268: 2026 Budget Technical Corrections - II. | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 79–28 |
| Aug 4, 2026 | HB 834: State Board of Elections Administrative Changes. | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 74–35 |
| Aug 4, 2026 | SB 1092: 2026 Senate and House Appointments. | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 71–38 |
| Aug 4, 2026 | SB 445: Regulatory Reform Act of 2026. | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 84–26 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Willingham was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | North Carolina House of Representatives, District 23 | Won | D+12.9 |
| 2022 | North Carolina House of Representatives, District 23 | Won | D+8.8 |
| 2020 | North Carolina House of Representatives, District 23 | Won | D+19.2 |
| 2018 | North Carolina House of Representatives, District 23 | Won | D+21.7 |
| 2016 | North Carolina House of Representatives, District 23 | Won | — |
| 2014 | North Carolina House of Representatives, District 23 | Won | — |
| 2014 | North Carolina House of Representatives, District 23 (runoff) | Won | +4.3 |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Willingham has held
- North Carolina House of Representatives, District 23 · since 2014
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Willingham has run against
- Brent Roberson (R) · 2024 general, won
- James Crowell Proctor (R) · 2022 general, won
- Claiborne Holtzman (R) · 2020 general, won
- Claiborne Holtzman (R) · 2018 general, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Willingham
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/f0d9b7f4-abb7-4111-b640-766a1f81d653
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET