This is the 2018 race. The latest: 2026 →

2018Final resultsIncumbent defeated

2018 election for North Carolina Senate District 17

North Carolina State Senate · North Carolina

Sam Searcy (D) won with 50.6% of the vote, defeating Tamara Barringer (R) by 4.2 points.

Sam SearcyDemocrat · winner
50.6%50,040
Tamara BarringerRepublican · incumbent
46.4%45,841
Bruce BassonLibertarian
3.0%3,016
98,897 votes

Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Oct 1, 2026, 6:17 AM ET

The seat over time

D − R margin in this seat's races around 2018

Races before and after

EvenR+7.32012R+16.92014R+0.92016D+4.22018D+6.62020D+5.92022

Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Oct 1, 2026, 6:17 AM ET

The candidates

Sam Searcy (D)Tamara Barringer (R)

Also on the ballot: Bruce Basson (Libertarian), 3.0%