1980Final results
1980 election for North Carolina House District 36
North Carolina House of Representatives · North Carolina
8 seats: Jo Graham Foster (D), Parks Helms (D), J. B. Black (D), Ben Tison (D), Roy Spoon (R), Ruth M. Easterling (D), Louise S. Brennan (D), Gus Economos (D) won.
8 seatsJo Graham FosterDemocrat · winner · incumbent
8.2%72,455
Parks HelmsDemocrat · winner · incumbent
8.0%71,277
J. B. BlackDemocrat · winner
7.6%67,165
Ben TisonDemocrat · winner · incumbent
7.6%67,096
Roy SpoonRepublican · winner · incumbent
7.3%64,789
Ruth M. EasterlingDemocrat · winner · incumbent
7.1%62,541
Louise S. BrennanDemocrat · winner · incumbent
7.0%62,086
Gus EconomosDemocrat · winner · incumbent
6.8%59,988
Bertha L. MaxwellDemocrat
6.5%57,793
Joe BeardRepublican
6.4%56,325
Irvin W. CobbRepublican
5.0%43,976
Bruce LentzRepublican
4.9%43,148
Clay LeflerRepublican
4.7%41,858
Lilian P. McGrathRepublican
4.5%40,299
Hollis M. Forrester Jr.Republican
4.4%39,159
Al HiltonRepublican
4.0%35,874
885,830 votes
Source: Harvard Dataverse / Carl KlarnerUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:29 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1980
Races before and after
Source: Harvard Dataverse / Carl KlarnerUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:29 AM ET
The candidates
Jo Graham Foster (D)Parks Helms (D)J. B. Black (D)Ben Tison (D)Roy Spoon (R)Ruth M. Easterling (D)Louise S. Brennan (D)Gus Economos (D)Bertha L. Maxwell (D)Joe Beard (R)Irvin W. Cobb (R)
Also on the ballot: Bruce Lentz (Republican), 4.9%; Clay Lefler (Republican), 4.7%; Lilian P. McGrath (Republican), 4.5%; Hollis M. Forrester Jr. (Republican), 4.4%; Al Hilton (Republican), 4.0%