North Carolina, State House, District 53

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 53
Current incumbent	David Lewis, Sr.
Population	81,777
Race	66.85% White, 22.22% Black, 1.21% Native American, 1.17% Asian/Pacific Islander, 5.43% Single Race Other, 3.12% Multi-Race
Ethnicity	10.59% Hispanic, 89.41% Non-Hispanic
Voting age	73.3% age 18 and over

North Carolina's fifty-third state house district is represented by Republican Representative David Lewis, Sr.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 81,777 civilians reside within North Carolina's fifty-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 53

Incumbent David Lewis, Sr. (R) defeated Richard Chapman (D) in the general election for North Carolina House of Representatives District 53 on November 6, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	David Lewis, Sr. (R)	63.0	17,201
	Richard Chapman (D)	37.0	10,108

The results have been certified.

Total votes: 27,309

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 53

Richard Chapman defeated Alan Longman in the Democratic primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 53 on May 8, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Richard Chapman (D)	77.8	1,640
	Alan Longman (D)	22.2	467

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

Total votes: 2,107

Republican primary election

Republican primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 53

Incumbent David Lewis, Sr. advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 53 on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		David Lewis, Sr. (R)

The results have been certified.

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 David Lewis, Sr. defeated Jon Blum in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 53 general election.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 53 General Election, 2016

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	David Lewis, Sr. Incumbent	60.66%	19,548
	Democratic	Jon Blum	39.34%	12,678
Total Votes			32,226
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections

Jon Blum ran unopposed in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 53 Democratic primary.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 53 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Democratic	Jon Blum (unopposed)

Incumbent David Lewis, Sr. defeated Chuck Levorse in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 53 Republican primary.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 53 Republican Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	David Lewis, Sr. Incumbent	78.64%	6,007
	Republican	Chuck Levorse	21.36%	1,632
Total Votes			7,639

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 David Lewis, Sr. was unopposed in the Republican primary, while Susan Byerly defeated Thomas Ellis in the Democratic primary. Byerly was defeated by Lewis in the general election.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 53 General Election, 2014

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	David Lewis, Sr. Incumbent	55.7%	10,966
	Democratic	Susan Byerly	44.3%	8,707
Total Votes			19,673

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 53 Democratic Primary, 2014

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Susan Byerly	81.3%	2,356
Thomas Ellis	18.7%	542
Total Votes		2,898

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 David Lewis, Sr. (R) defeated Joseph Langley (D) in the general election and was unopposed in the Republican primary. Langley defeated Thomas Ellis in the Democratic primary.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 53, General Election, 2012

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	David Lewis, Sr. Incumbent	56.5%	17,365
	Democratic	Joseph Langley	43.5%	13,370
Total Votes			30,735

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for North Carolina House of Representatives District 53 raised a total of $2,631,265. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $101,203 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, North Carolina House of Representatives District 53

Year	Amount	Candidates	Average
2016	$595,424	3	$198,475
2014	$496,578	3	$165,526
2012	$254,529	3	$84,843
2010	$163,459	3	$54,486
2008	$456,626	2	$228,313
2006	$226,922	2	$113,461
2004	$139,784	2	$69,892
2002	$233,667	5	$46,733
2000	$64,276	3	$21,425
Total	$2,631,265	26	$101,203