RepublicanIn office since Nov 2020

Howard L. Penny Jr.

North Carolina State Representative, District 53 since 2020. Ran in 3 elections between 2020 and 2024, winning 3. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.

North Carolina State Representative, District 53Born 1947

Official website Wikipedia

In office: 6 yrs; Since 2020
Bills became law: 2; 19 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed: 5.4%; Chamber median 3.8%
With party: 98%; On votes splitting the parties
Last margin: +5.2; Won 2026
Next election: 2028; Nov 7, 2028

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

Agriculture and Environment · chair
Environmental Review Commission · ex officio
Local Government Legislative · co-chair
Appropriations
Appropriations, Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources
General Government Legislative Oversight
Helene Recovery
Higher Education
Housing and Development
Insurance
State and Local Government

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 19 sponsored · 2 became law

BillIntroCmteHouseSenateLaw

HB 3 Relief at the Pump.
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

HB 210 Perpetual Care of Certain Cemeteries.
CEMETERIES; CEMETERY COMN.; COMMISSIONS; FINES & PENALTIES; LICENSES & PERMITS; PRESENTED; PUBLIC; RATIFIED; REPORTING; CHAPTERED · Became law Jul 2025

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Penny sits in the North Carolina House of Representatives

Jr. is closer to the center than 71% of the chamber's Republicans.

Closest: Keith Kidwell, Alan Branson, Grant Campbell

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:55 PM ET

With Penny’s party

Votes with the chamber's Republicans98%
Cosponsorships of the other party's bills8%

Black tick: the average of Republicans 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: Penny’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.

Date	Bill	Penny	Rep. majority	Dem. majority	Result
Aug 5, 2026	SJR 1091: Adjournment Resolution.	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 78–28
Aug 5, 2026	HB 268: 2026 Budget Technical Corrections - II.	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 79–28
Aug 4, 2026	HB 834: State Board of Elections Administrative Changes.	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 74–35
Aug 4, 2026	SB 1092: 2026 Senate and House Appointments.	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 71–38
Aug 4, 2026	SB 445: Regulatory Reform Act of 2026.	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 84–26

Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls

Career

Offices held, and every time Penny was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

202020212022202320242025202620272028North Carolina House of Representatives, District 53

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	Seat	+/−
2026	North Carolina House of Representatives, District 53	Won	R+5.2	R+26.0	−20.8
2024	North Carolina House of Representatives, District 53	Won	R+25.9	R+26.0	−0.1
2022	North Carolina House of Representatives, District 53	Won	R+34.3	—	—
2020	North Carolina House of Representatives, District 53	Won	R+25.8	—	—