1984Final results
1984 election for U.S. Senate in North Carolina
U.S. Senate · North Carolina
Jesse Helms (R) won with 51.7% of the vote, defeating James B. (jim) Hunt Jr. (D) by 3.9 points.
Jesse HelmsRepublican · winner
51.7%1,156,768
James B. (jim) Hunt Jr.Democrat
47.8%1,070,488
Bobby Yates EmoryLibertarian
0.4%9,302
Kate DaherSocialist Workers
0.1%2,493
2,239,051 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1984
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
James B. (jim) Hunt Jr.Jesse Helms
$10.1M
Raised by the campaign
$16.5M
$9.5M
Spent by the campaign
$16.5M
$601.6K
Cash on hand
$22.9K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1984.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1984
The candidates
Jesse Helms (R)James B. (jim) Hunt Jr. (D)
Also on the ballot: Bobby Yates Emory (Libertarian), 0.4%; Kate Daher (Socialist Workers), 0.1%