North Carolina, State House, District 81

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 81
Current incumbent	Larry Potts
Population	81,356
Race	83.56% White, 9.11% Black, 0.48% Native American, 1.64% Asian/Pacific Islander, 3.7% Single Race Other, 1.51% Multi-Race
Ethnicity	6.19% Hispanic, 93.81% Non-Hispanic
Voting age	76.4% age 18 and over

North Carolina's eighty-first state house district is represented by Republican Representative Larry Potts.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 81,356 civilians reside within North Carolina's eighty-first 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 81

Incumbent Larry Potts (R) defeated Edwin Phillips Jr. (D) in the general election for North Carolina House of Representatives District 81 on November 6, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Larry Potts (R)	71.8	20,276
	Edwin Phillips Jr. (D)	28.2	7,946

The results have been certified.

Total votes: 28,222

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 81

Edwin Phillips Jr. advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 81 on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Edwin Phillips Jr. (D)

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

Republican primary election

Republican primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 81

Incumbent Larry Potts defeated Eric Osborne in the Republican primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 81 on May 8, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Larry Potts (R)	73.1	7,697
	Eric Osborne (R)	26.9	2,835

The results have been certified.

Total votes: 10,532

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 Rayne Brown (R) did not seek re-election.

Larry Potts defeated Andy Hedrick in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 81 general election.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 81 General Election, 2016

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Larry Potts	68.07%	24,379
	Democratic	Andy Hedrick	31.93%	11,438
Total Votes			35,817
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections

Andy Hedrick ran unopposed in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 81 Democratic primary.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 81 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Democratic	Andy Hedrick (unopposed)

Larry Potts defeated Sharon Phillips Pearce and Tyler Lohr Forrest in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 81 Republican primary.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 81 Republican Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Larry Potts	52.24%	5,817
	Republican	Sharon Phillips Pearce	20.01%	2,228
	Republican	Tyler Lohr Forrest	27.76%	3,091
Total Votes			11,136

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 Rayne Brown was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.

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. Incumbent Rayne Brown (R) was unopposed in both the general election and Republican primary.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 81, General Election, 2012

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Rayne Brown Incumbent	100%	25,775
Total Votes			25,775

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for North Carolina House of Representatives District 81 raised a total of $1,503,482. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $83,527 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, North Carolina House of Representatives District 81

Year	Amount	Candidates	Average
2016	$146,627	4	$36,657
2014	$24,070	1	$24,070
2012	$29,815	1	$29,815
2010	$583,125	3	$194,375
2008	$360,749	2	$180,375
2006	$89,442	1	$89,442
2004	$30,597	1	$30,597
2002	$117,243	3	$39,081
2000	$121,814	2	$60,907
Total	$1,503,482	18	$83,527