North Carolina, State House, District 3

Note: North Carolina's state legislative district maps are the subject of ongoing legal actions. On June 5, 2017, the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed a federal district court decision finding that 28 state legislative districts had been subject to an illegal racial gerrymander. The district court then ordered state lawmakers to draft remedial maps for use in the 2018 election cycle. The legislature adopted new state House and Senate district maps on August 30, 2017. On October 26, 2017, the district court appointed a special master "to assist the Court in further evaluating and, if necessary, redrawing" the revised district maps. The special master, Nate Persily, issued final recommendations on December 1, 2017. On January 19, 2018, the district court issued an order adopting Persily's recommendations, which incorporated some changes to the maps drawn by the state legislature. However, on February 6, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a partial stay against the district court's order. On June 28, 2018, the high court partially affirmed the district court's decision but returned the case to the lower court for reconsideration regarding its original ruling on districts in Wake and Mecklenburg counties. As a result of these actions, several district numbers and boundaries changed. Consequently, the demographic information in this article might not apply to the newly drawn district boundaries. We will update this information as new developments occur. For more information on redistricting in North Carolina, see this article.

North Carolina House of Representatives District 3
Current incumbent	Michael Speciale
Population	83,172
Race	73.76% White, 19.60% Black, 0.50% Native American, 1.36% Asian/Pacific Islander, 2.41% Single Race Other, 2.37% Multi-Race
Ethnicity	93.99% Non Hispanic, 6.01% Hispanic
Voting age	77.5% age 18 and over

North Carolina's third state house district is represented by Republican Representative Michael Speciale.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 83,172 civilians reside within North Carolina's third state house district. North Carolina state representatives represent an average of 79,462 residents, as of the 2010 Census. After the 2000 Census, each member represented approximately 67,078 residents.

About the office

Members of the North Carolina House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. North Carolina legislators assume office the first day of the new General Assembly in January.

Qualifications

Article 2, Section 7 of the North Carolina Constitution states: "Each Representative, at the time of his election, shall be a qualified voter of the State, and shall have resided in the district for which he is chosen for one year immediately preceding his election."

Salaries

State legislators
Salary	Per diem
$13,951/year	$104/day; set by statute.

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the state House, the governor is responsible for appointing a replacement. The governor must appoint the recommended individual submitted by the political party committee that holds the vacant seat. The appointment must be made by the Governor within seven days of receiving the candidate recommendation. The person selected to the seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of North Carolina House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for March 3, 2020. The filing deadline was December 20, 2019.

2018

General election

General election for North Carolina House of Representatives District 3

Incumbent Michael Speciale (R) defeated Barbara Lee (D) and T. Lee Horne III (L) in the general election for North Carolina House of Representatives District 3 on November 6, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Michael Speciale (R)	54.9	14,068
	Barbara Lee (D)	42.4	10,874
	T. Lee Horne III (L)	2.7	683

The results have been certified.

Total votes: 25,625

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 3

Barbara Lee defeated Charles Dudley in the Democratic primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 3 on May 8, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Barbara Lee (D)	67.7	2,451
	Charles Dudley (D)	32.3	1,172

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 3,623

Republican primary election

Republican primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 3

Incumbent Michael Speciale defeated Eric Queen in the Republican primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 3 on May 8, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Michael Speciale (R)	57.2	2,947
	Eric Queen (R)	42.8	2,201

The results have been certified.

Total votes: 5,148

2016

Elections for the North Carolina House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on March 15, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was December 21, 2015.

Incumbent Michael Speciale defeated Marva Fisher Baldwin in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 3 general election.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 3 General Election, 2016

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Michael Speciale Incumbent	64.81%	23,273
	Democratic	Marva Fisher Baldwin	35.19%	12,638
Total Votes			35,911
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections

Marva Fisher Baldwin ran unopposed in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 3 Democratic primary.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 3 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Democratic	Marva Fisher Baldwin (unopposed)

Incumbent Michael Speciale ran unopposed in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 3 Republican primary.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 3 Republican Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Republican	Michael Speciale Incumbent (unopposed)

2014

Elections for the North Carolina House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 6, 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 28, 2014. Incumbent Michael Speciale was unopposed in the Republican primary, while Whit Whitley was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Speciale defeated Whitley in the general election.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 3 General Election, 2014

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Michael Speciale Incumbent	58.1%	14,584
	Democratic	Whit Whitley	41.9%	10,524
Total Votes			25,108

2012

Elections for the office of North Carolina House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on May 8, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 29, 2012. Michael Speciale (R) defeated Robert B. Cayton (D) in the general election. Speciale defeated Wayne Langston and Clayton Tripp in the Republican primary. Cayton was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 3, General Election, 2012

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Michael Speciale	59.2%	20,811
	Democratic	Robert B. Cayton	40.8%	14,320
Total Votes			35,131

North Carolina House of Representatives District 3 Republican Primary, 2012

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Michael Speciale	58.5%	4,090
Wayne Langston	23.1%	1,613
Clayton Tripp	18.5%	1,294
Total Votes		6,997

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for North Carolina House of Representatives District 3 raised a total of $2,469,941. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $77,186 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, North Carolina House of Representatives District 3

Year	Amount	Candidates	Average
2016	$26,169	2	$13,085
2014	$220,551	2	$110,276
2012	$185,910	5	$37,182
2010	$289,348	3	$96,449
2008	$266,294	4	$66,574
2006	$359,992	3	$119,997
2004	$381,117	6	$63,520
2002	$305,573	4	$76,393
2000	$434,987	3	$144,996
Total	$2,469,941	32	$77,186