99chambers

North Carolina House of Representatives seat · lines in effect since 2024

North Carolina House District 23

A district of about 88,000 people, 52% Black, 18% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes D+13.3 relative to the nation for president.

Shelly Willingham (D) · since Jul 15, 2014Next election Nov 7, 2028The 2026 race →

Where it sits among all 120 seats

Every North Carolina House of Representatives seat by partisan lean, from most Democratic to most Republican. Lean is the seat's presidential vote on current lines, relative to the nation.

D+13.341st most
Democratic
Most DemocraticMost Republican61st seat · the majority lineDistrict 23

Source: 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET

Every race on these lines

Results recomputed from precinct returns as if today's boundaries had always existed, so years compare like for like.

20242026
GovernorD+15.1No race
North Carolina House of RepresentativesD+12.9D+22.9

Outlined: the race for this seat itselfBlank: no race that year

Source: 99chambers results archive: precinct results allocated to current lines; 2026: North Carolina State Board of ElectionsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 3:01 PM ET

Who lives here, compared

Grey bars show the spread of all 120 seats. Small marks are other seats in North Carolina. The black marker is District 23.

Adults with a bachelor's degree18% 7th pct · 112th of 120 in NC

Lower than 93% of seats.

White adults without a degree32% 36th pct · 77th of 120 in NC

Lower than 64% of seats.

Hispanic residents5% 4th pct · 115th of 120 in NC

Lower than 96% of seats.

Black residents52% 99th pct · 2nd of 120 in NC

Higher than 99% of seats.

Asian residents0% 6th pct · 113th of 120 in NC

Lower than 94% of seats.

People per square mile51 3rd pct · 116th of 120 in NC

Less dense than 97% of seats.

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current linesUpdated Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM ET

Seats most like this one

Nearest seats on demographics, density and lean. 2 of the 4 flipped this year.

District 27
51% BlackD+18.7Held DDistrict 5
36% Black · 23% college gradsR+4.6Flipped DDistrict 25
39% Black · 23% college gradsD+0.1Flipped DDistrict 32
36% Black · 23% college gradsD+1.8Held D

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current lines; 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET

Who has held it

These lines took effect in 2024.

  1. Patricia Smith (D)
    2027– · Won 2026 by 22.9
  2. Shelly Willingham (D)
    2025–2027 · Won 2024 by 12.9

Source: Past results: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)