The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina were held on November 8, 2016, to elect the 13 U.S. representatives from the state of North Carolina, one from each of the state's 13 congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections.
Primary elections were originally scheduled for March 15, but were moved to June 7, due to successful challenges to the 1st and 12th congressional districts in federal court and the drawing of new maps affecting almost all of the state's districts.
Long before the court had ruled, candidates had filed for the March 15 party primaries for each district under the old maps in December 2015, per the North Carolina State Board of Elections. After the court ruled and the North Carolina General Assembly passed new district maps, the State Board established a filing period for the new primary date for candidates of major parties, March 16–25. Candidates had to refile for the June 7 primary, if they still chose to run, in any district they chose. The results of the March 15 primary, which went ahead because ballots had already been printed and mailed to absentee voters by the time of the ruling, were not counted.
2016 North Carolina redistricting
The North Carolina Legislature's 2012 redistricting was found unconstitutional by the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina and replaced on February 19, 2016.
Overview
Statewide
By district
Results of the 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina by district:
District 1
The 1st district is located in Northeastern North Carolina. The new map made the 1st district somewhat more compact. Incumbent Democrat G. K. Butterfield, who had represented the district since 2004, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 73% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D+15.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
G. K. Butterfield, incumbent U.S. Representative
Republican primary
Candidates
No candidates filed for the Republican primary for this seat under the old map, but Powell Dew Jr filed under the new map and was unopposed for his party's nomination.
Nominee
H. Powell Dew Jr., member of the Stantonsburg Town Council
Libertarian primary
C. L. Cooke was running unopposed for the Libertarian nomination under the old map. J. J. Summerell was the only Libertarian candidate to file under the new map.
General election
Endorsements
Results
District 2
The 2nd district is located in central North Carolina. The new map moved the 2nd district to the east and the north. Incumbent Republican Renee Ellmers, who had represented the district since 2011, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 59% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+8.
Republican primary
Campaign
Ellmers had faced a primary challenge from radio host Frank Roche in 2014. Despite Roche's weak fundraising, she only won the primary 59% to 41%. Her role in a 20-week abortion ban bill being pulled intensified calls from the conservative wing to challenge her in 2016.
Jim Duncan, the former chair of the Chatham County Republican Party and co-founder of the grassroots organization The Coalition for American Principles, challenged Ellmers for the Republican nomination at first but dropped out after the district lines changed. 2014 candidate Frank Roche also ran again at first but likewise did not file in the new 2nd district. Businessman Tim D'Annunzio and former North Carolina Republican Party communications director Kay Daly also ran before the district map changed and then switched to other districts.
The new district incorporated much of what had been the 13th district, leading that district's representative, George Holding, to file as a candidate in the 2nd, although his home was now in the 4th district. Meanwhile, Greg Brannon entered the 2nd district GOP primary as well, after losing the primary for U.S. Senate to incumbent Richard Burr.
Ellmers was subject to a high level of campaign spending by outside groups aligning themselves with the Tea Party movement, including Americans for Prosperity, which spent in the "low six figures" to defeat her. They opposed Ellmers for her votes on a bill related to abortion as well as votes on spending and budget bills, and to support the continuation of the Export-Import Bank.