1982Final results
1982 election for North Carolina Senate District 22
North Carolina State Senate · North Carolina
4 seats: Ben Tison (D), Craig Lawing (D), Kenneth R. Harris (R), Cecil R. Jenkins Jr. (D) won.
4 seatsBen TisonDemocrat · winner
18.9%54,570
Craig LawingDemocrat · winner · incumbent
18.8%54,328
Kenneth R. HarrisRepublican · winner
17.7%51,079
Cecil R. Jenkins Jr.Democrat · winner · incumbent
16.2%46,808
James K. PolkDemocrat
15.7%45,449
Thomas Doyle GhentRepublican
12.0%34,817
F. W. PasottoLibertarian
0.7%2,108
289,159 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 1982
Races before and after
Source: Harvard Dataverse / Carl KlarnerUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:29 AM ET
The candidates
Ben Tison (D)Craig Lawing (D)Kenneth R. Harris (R)Cecil R. Jenkins Jr. (D)James K. Polk (D)Thomas Doyle Ghent (R)
Also on the ballot: F. W. Pasotto (Libertarian), 0.7%