North Carolina, State House, District 54

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 54
Current incumbent	Robert Reives
Population	78,734
Race	70.34% White, 17.6% Black, 0.64% Native American, 1.04% Asian/Pacific Islander, 8.34% Single Race Other, 2.04% Multi-Race
Ethnicity	15.67% Hispanic, 84.33% Non-Hispanic
Voting age	77.1% age 18 and over

North Carolina's fifty-fourth state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Robert Reives.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 78,734 civilians reside within North Carolina's fifty-fourth 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 54

Incumbent Robert Reives (D) defeated Jay Stobbs (R) in the general election for North Carolina House of Representatives District 54 on November 6, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Robert Reives (D)	63.3	29,664
	Jay Stobbs (R)	36.7	17,219

The results have been certified.

Total votes: 46,883

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 54

Incumbent Robert Reives advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 54 on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Robert Reives (D)

The results have been certified.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 54

Jay Stobbs advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 54 on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Jay Stobbs (R)

There were no incumbents in this race. 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 Robert Reives defeated Wesley Seawell in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 54 general election.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 54 General Election, 2016

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Robert Reives Incumbent	57.20%	24,773
	Republican	Wesley Seawell	42.80%	18,534
Total Votes			43,307
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections

Incumbent Robert Reives ran unopposed in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 54 Democratic primary.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 54 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Democratic	Robert Reives Incumbent (unopposed)

Wesley Seawell ran unopposed in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 54 Republican primary.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 54 Republican Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Republican	Wesley Seawell (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 Robert Reives defeated Barry Burns in the Democratic primary, while Andy Wilkie was unopposed in the Republican primary. Reives defeated Wilkie in the general election.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 54 General Election, 2014

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Robert Reives Incumbent	56.2%	16,875
	Republican	Andy Wilkie	43.8%	13,156
Total Votes			30,031

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 54 Democratic Primary, 2014

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Robert Reives Incumbent	68.4%	5,739
Barry Burns	31.6%	2,657
Total Votes		8,396

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. Deb McManus (D) defeated Cathy Wright (R) in the general election and Jeff Starkweather in the Democratic primary. Wright was unopposed in the Republican primary.

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 54, General Election, 2012

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Deb McManus	56.1%	22,159
	Republican	Cathy Wright	43.9%	17,339
Total Votes			39,498

North Carolina House of Representatives District 54 Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Deb McManus Incumbent	59.2%	7,447
Jeff Starkweather	40.8%	5,132
Total Votes		12,579

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for North Carolina House of Representatives District 54 raised a total of $3,195,917. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $177,551 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, North Carolina House of Representatives District 54

Year	Amount	Candidates	Average
2016	$110,232	2	$55,116
2014	$108,617	3	$36,206
2012	$343,193	3	$114,398
2010	$1,304,477	2	$652,239
2008	$930,801	1	$930,801
2006	$159,952	2	$79,976
2004	$107,380	1	$107,380
2002	$45,775	2	$22,888
2000	$85,490	2	$42,745
Total	$3,195,917	18	$177,551