List of United States senators from North Carolina

North Carolina ratified the Constitution on November 21, 1789, after the beginning of the 1st Congress. Its current senators are Republicans Thom Tillis and Richard Burr.

Current delegation

List of senators

Class 2

Class 2 U.S. senators belong to the electoral cycle that has recently been contested in 2002, 2008, 2014, and 2020. The next election will be in 2026.

C

Class 3

Class 3 U.S. senators belong to the electoral cycle that has recently been contested in 1998, 2004, 2010, and 2016. The next election will be in 2022.

# Senator Party Dates in office Electoral history T T Electoral history Dates in office Party Senator #
Vacant November 21, 1789 –
November 27, 1789
North Carolina ratified the Constitution November 21, 1789 but didn't elect its senators until November 27, 1789. 1 1st 1 North Carolina ratified the Constitution November 21, 1789 but didn't elect its senators until November 27, 1789. November 21, 1789 –
November 27, 1789
Vacant
1
Samuel Johnston
Pro-
Administration
November 27, 1789 –
March 3, 1793
Elected November 27, 1789.

Lost re-election.
Elected November 27, 1789.

[data unknown/missing]
November 27, 1789 –
March 3, 1795
Pro-
Administration

Benjamin Hawkins
1
2nd
2
Alexander Martin
Anti-
Administration
March 4, 1793 –
March 3, 1799
Elected in 1792.

Lost re-election.
2 3rd Anti-
Administration
Democratic-
Republican
4th 2 Elected in 1795.

[data unknown/missing]
March 4, 1795 –
March 3, 1801
Democratic-
Republican
Timothy Bloodworth 2
5th
3 Jesse Franklin Democratic-
Republican
March 4, 1799 –
March 3, 1805
Elected in 1799.

Lost re-election.
3 6th
7th 3 Elected in 1800.

Resigned to return to the State Superior Court.
March 4, 1801 –
February 17, 1807[1]
Democratic-
Republican

David Stone
3
8th
Vacant March 4, 1805 –
December 22, 1805
Montfort Stokes was elected in 1804 but refused the position. 4 9th
4
James Turner
Democratic-
Republican
December 22, 1805 –
November 21, 1816
Elected to finish the vacant term.
  February 17, 1807[1]
March 3, 1807
Vacant
10th 4 Elected in 1806.

Retired.
March 4, 1807 –
March 3, 1813
Democratic-
Republican
Jesse Franklin 4
11th
Re-elected November 26, 1810.

Resigned due to ill health.
5 12th
13th 5 Elected in 1812.

Resigned.
March 4, 1813 –
December 24, 1814
Democratic-
Republican

David Stone
5
  December 24, 1814 –
December 1814
Vacant
Elected to finish Stone's term.

Resigned without having qualified.
December 1814 –
December 5, 1815
Democratic-
Republican
Francis Locke Jr. 6
14th
  December 5, 1815 –
December 13, 1815
Vacant
Elected to finish Locke's term. December 13, 1815 –
November 14, 1828
Democratic-
Republican

Nathaniel Macon
7
Vacant November 21, 1816 –
December 4, 1816
 
5
Montfort Stokes
Democratic-
Republican
December 4, 1816 –
March 3, 1823
Elected to finish Turner's term.
Elected December 4, 1816.

Lost re-election.
6 15th
16th 6 Re-elected in 1818.
17th
6
John Branch
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1823 –
March 9, 1829
Elected in 1822. 7 18th
Jacksonian 19th 7 Re-elected in 1825.

Resigned.
Jacksonian
20th
  November 14, 1828 –
December 15, 1828
Vacant
Elected to finish Macon's term.

Retired.
December 15, 1828 –
March 3, 1831
Jacksonian James Iredell Jr. 8
Re-elected in 1828.

Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of the Navy.
8 21st
Vacant March 9, 1829 –
December 9, 1829
 
7
Bedford Brown
Jacksonian December 9, 1829 –
November 16, 1840
Elected to finish Branch's term.
22nd 8 Elected in 1830.

Resigned.
March 4, 1831 –
March 19, 1836
Jacksonian
Willie Mangum
9
23rd Anti-Jacksonian
Re-elected in 1835.

Resigned rather than disobey instructions from the N.C. General Assembly.
9 24th
  March 19, 1836 –
December 5, 1836
Vacant
Elected to finish Mangum's term. December 5, 1836 –
November 16, 1840
Jacksonian
Robert Strange
10
Democratic 25th 9 Elected to full term in 1836.

Resigned rather than disobey instructions from the N.C. General Assembly.
Democratic
26th
Vacant November 16, 1840 –
November 25, 1840
    November 16, 1840 –
November 25, 1840
Vacant
8
Willie Mangum
Whig November 25, 1840 –
March 3, 1853
Elected to finish Brown's term. Elected to finish Strange's term.

[data unknown/missing]
November 25, 1840 –
March 3, 1843
Whig
William Alexander Graham
11
Elected in 1841. 10 27th
28th 10 Elected in 1843.

Resigned rather than disobey instructions from the N.C. General Assembly.
March 4, 1843 –
July 25, 1846
Democratic
William H. Haywood Jr.
12
29th
  July 25, 1846 –
November 25, 1846
Vacant
Elected to finish Haywood's term. November 25, 1846 –
March 3, 1855
Whig
George Badger
13
Re-elected in 1847.

Lost re-election.
11 30th
31st 11 Re-elected in 1849.

Retired.
32nd
Vacant March 4, 1853 –
December 6, 1854
Legislature failed to elect 12 33rd
9 David Reid Democratic December 6, 1854 –
March 3, 1859
Elected to finish vacant term.

Lost re-election.
34th 12 Elected in 1855.

Resigned to become U.S. District Court Judge.
March 4, 1855 –
May 5, 1858
Democratic
Asa Biggs
14
35th
  May 5, 1858 –
May 7, 1858
Vacant
Appointed to continue Biggs's term. May 7, 1858 –
March 11, 1861
Democratic
Thomas Clingman
15
Elected November 23, 1858 to finish Biggs's term.
10
Thomas Bragg
Democratic March 4, 1859 –
March 8, 1861
Elected in 1858 or 1859.

Resigned and subsequently expelled for support of the Confederate States.
13 36th
37th 13 Re-elected in 1861.

Resigned and subsequently expelled for support of the Confederate States.
Civil War and Reconstruction March 11, 1861 –
July 14, 1868
Vacant
Vacant July 11, 1861 –
July 14, 1868
Civil War and Reconstruction
38th
14 39th
40th 14
11
Joseph Abbott
Republican July 14, 1868 –
March 3, 1871
Elected in 1868 to finish vacant term.

Lost renomination.
Elected in 1868 to finish vacant term.

Retired.
July 14, 1868 –
March 3, 1873
Republican
John Pool
16
41st
Vacant March 4, 1871 –
January 30, 1872
Legislature failed to elect 15 42nd
12
Matt W. Ransom
Democratic January 30, 1872 –
March 3, 1895
Elected to finish vacant term.
43rd 15 Elected in 1872.

Lost re-election.
March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1879
Democratic
Augustus Merrimon
17
44th
Re-elected in 1876. 16 45th
46th 16 Elected in 1879. March 4, 1879 –
April 14, 1894
Democratic
Zebulon Vance
18
47th
Re-elected in 1883. 17 48th
49th 17 Re-elected in 1884.
50th
Re-elected in 1889.

Lost re-election.
18 51st
52nd 18 Re-elected in 1890.

Died.
53rd
  April 14, 1894 –
April 19, 1894
Vacant
Appointed to continue Vance's term.

Successor qualified.
April 19, 1894 –
January 23, 1895
Democratic
Thomas J. Jarvis
19
Elected November 7, 1894 to finish Vance's term.
Qualified January 23, 1895.
January 23, 1895 –
March 3, 1903
Republican
Jeter Pritchard
20
13
Marion Butler
Populist March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1901
Elected in 1894.

Lost re-election.
19 54th
55th 19 Re-elected January 20, 1897.[2]

Lost re-election.
56th
14
Furnifold M. Simmons
Democratic March 4, 1901 –
March 3, 1931
Elected January 22, 1901.[3] 20 57th
58th 20 Elected in 1903. March 4, 1903 –
December 12, 1930
Democratic
Lee S. Overman
21
59th
Re-elected January 22, 1907.[4] 21 60th
61st 21 Re-elected January 19, 1909
62nd
Re-elected January 21, 1913 22 63rd
64th 22 Re-elected in 1914.
65th
Re-elected in 1918. 23 66th
67th 23 Re-elected in 1920.
68th
Re-elected in 1924.

Lost renomination.
24 69th
70th 24 Re-elected in 1926.

Died.
71st
Appointed to continue Overman's term.

Lost election to finish Overman's term.
December 13, 1930 –
December 4, 1932
Democratic
Cameron A. Morrison
22
15
Josiah Bailey
Democratic March 4, 1931 –
December 15, 1946
Elected in 1930. 25 72nd
Elected to finish Overman's term. December 5, 1932 –
January 3, 1945
Democratic
Robert Reynolds
23
73rd 25 Elected to full term in 1932.
74th
Re-elected in 1936. 26 75th
76th 26 Re-elected in 1938.

Retired.
77th
Re-elected in 1942.

Died.
27 78th
79th 27 Elected in 1944. January 3, 1945 –
May 12, 1954
Democratic
Clyde R. Hoey
24
Vacant December 15, 1946 –
December 18, 1946
 
16
William B. Umstead
Democratic December 18, 1946 –
December 30, 1948
Appointed to continue Bailey's term.

Lost election to finish Bailey's term.
80th
17
J. Melville Broughton
Democratic December 31, 1948 –
March 6, 1949
Elected to finish Bailey's term.
Elected to full term in 1948.

Died.
28 81st
Vacant March 6, 1949 –
March 29, 1949
 
18
Frank Graham
Democratic March 29, 1949 –
November 26, 1950
Appointed to continue Broughton's term.

Lost nomination to finish Broughton's term.
19
Willis Smith
Democratic November 27, 1950 –
June 26, 1953
Elected to finish Broughton's term.

Died.
82nd 28 Re-elected in 1950.

Died.
83rd
  May 12, 1954 –
June 5, 1954
Vacant
Appointed to continue Hoey's term.

Elected November 2, 1954 to finish Hoey's term.
June 5, 1954 –
December 31, 1974
Democratic
Sam Ervin
25
Vacant June 26, 1953 –
July 10, 1953
 
20
Alton A. Lennon
Democratic July 10, 1953 –
November 28, 1954
Appointed to continue Smith's term.

Lost nomination to finish Smith's term.
21
W. Kerr Scott
Democratic November 29, 1954 –
April 16, 1958
Elected November 2, 1954 to finish Smith's term.
Elected to full term in 1954.

Died.
29 84th
85th 29 Re-elected in 1956.
Vacant April 16, 1958 –
April 19, 1958
 
22
B. Everett Jordan
Democratic April 19, 1958 –
January 3, 1973
Appointed to continue Scott's term.

Elected November 4, 1958 to finish Scott's term.
86th
Re-elected in 1960. 30 87th
88th 30 Re-elected in 1962.
89th
Re-elected in 1966.

Lost renomination.
31 90th
91st 31 Re-elected in 1968.

Retired and resigned early.
92nd
23
Jesse Helms
Republican January 3, 1973 –
January 3, 2003
Elected in 1972. 32 93rd
  December 31, 1974 –
January 3, 1975
Vacant
94th 32 Elected in 1974.

Lost re-election.
January 3, 1975 –
January 3, 1981
Democratic
Robert B. Morgan
26
95th
Re-elected in 1978. 33 96th
97th 33 Elected in 1980.

Died.
January 3, 1981 –
June 29, 1986
Republican
John P. East
27
98th
Re-elected in 1984. 34 99th
  June 29, 1986 –
July 14, 1986
Vacant
Appointed to continue East's term.

Lost election to finish East's term.
July 14, 1986 –
November 4, 1986
Republican
James T. Broyhill
28
Elected to finish East's term. November 5, 1986 –
January 3, 1993
Democratic
Terry Sanford
29
100th 34 Elected to full term in 1986.

Lost re-election.
101st
Re-elected in 1990. 35 102nd
103rd 35 Elected in 1992.

Lost re-election.
January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 1999
Republican
Lauch Faircloth
30
104th
Re-elected in 1996.

Retired.
36 105th
106th 36 Elected in 1998.

Retired to run for U.S. President.
January 3, 1999 –
January 3, 2005
Democratic
John Edwards
31
107th
24
Elizabeth Dole
Republican January 3, 2003 –
January 3, 2009
Elected in 2002.

Lost re-election.
37 108th
109th 37 Elected in 2004. January 3, 2005 –
Present
Republican
Richard Burr
32
110th
25
Kay Hagan
Democratic January 3, 2009 –
January 3, 2015
Elected in 2008.

Lost re-election.
38 111th
112th 38 Re-elected in 2010.
113th
26
Thom Tillis
Republican January 3, 2015 –
Present
Elected in 2014. 39 114th
115th 39 Re-elected in 2016.

Retiring at end of term.
116th
Re-elected in 2020. 40 117th
118th 40 To be decided in the 2022 election.
119th
To be determined in the 2026 election. 41 120th
# Senator Party Years in office Electoral history T   T Electoral history Years in office Party Senator #
Class 2 Class 3

Living former senators

As of February 2021, there are four living former senators from North Carolina. The most recent and most recently serving senator to die was Kay Hagan (served 2009–2015) on October 28, 2019.

Senator Years in office Date of birth (and age)
Jim Broyhill July 14, 1986 – November 4, 1986 (1927-08-19) August 19, 1927
Lauch Faircloth January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1999 (1928-01-14) January 14, 1928
John Edwards January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2005 (1953-06-10) June 10, 1953
Elizabeth Dole January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2009 (1936-07-29) July 29, 1936

References

  1. This date is approximate. Stone's resignation letter was read on February 17, but it could have been delivered on as early as February 11, 1807, according to the Annals of Congress (pages 66 to 68).
  2. "PRITCHARD IN PRITCHARD IN NORTH CAROLINA". The New York Times. January 21, 1897. p. 2.
  3. "North Carolina Elects a Democrat". The New York Times. January 23, 1901. p. 5.
  4. The Tribune Almanac and Political Register 1908. New York: The Tribune Association. 1908. p. 259.

See also

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