Closest U.S. Senate elections in North Carolina
The closest U.S. Senate election in North Carolina history was in 1980, a margin of 0.58 points. John P. East beat Robert Morgan, 898,064 to 887,653. Next closest are 2014 (1.6 points) and 2020 (1.8 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race North Carolina has held, special elections included, see the North Carolina U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in North Carolina history?
The North Carolina Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1980, 0.58 points. John P. East beat Robert Morgan, 898,064 to 887,653. The next closest were 2014 (1.6 points) and 2020 (1.8 points).
How is the margin measured?
As the gap in vote share between the first and second-place finishers, from the certified general-election count. It is not adjusted for recounts, runoffs or later court rulings; the figure is the result as certified.
Does this include special elections?
No. These are the regular general elections for North Carolina’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the North Carolina Senate hub, which lists every race including specials, and in a few states one of those is closer than anything here.
Why does the list start in 1914?
Because senators were chosen by state legislatures before the Seventeenth Amendment. 1914 is the first cycle of the popular-vote era for the Senate, so it is the first North Carolina election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1980 | John P. East R def. Robert Morgan D | 898,064 – 887,653 | 0.58 points |
| 2 | 2014 | Thom Tillis R def. Kay R. Hagan D | 1,423,259 – 1,377,651 | 1.6 points |
| 3 | 2020 | Thom Tillis R def. Cal Cunningham D | 2,665,598 – 2,569,965 | 1.8 points |
| 4 | 2022 | Ted Budd R def. Cheri Beasley D | 1,905,786 – 1,784,049 | 3.2 points |
| 5 | 1984 | Jesse Helms R def. James B. Hunt Jr. D | 1,156,768 – 1,070,488 | 3.8 points |
| 6 | 1992 | Lauch Faircloth R def. Terry Sanford D | 1,297,892 – 1,194,015 | 4.0 points |
| 7 | 1998 | John Edwards D def. Lauch Faircloth R | 1,029,237 – 945,943 | 4.1 points |
| 8 | 2004 | Richard Burr R def. Erskine B. Bowles D | 1,791,450 – 1,632,527 | 4.6 points |
| 9 | 1990 | Jesse Helms R def. Harvey B. Gantt D | 1,087,331 – 981,573 | 5.1 points |
| 10 | 2016 | Richard Burr R def. Deborah K. Ross D | 2,395,376 – 2,128,165 | 5.7 points |
| 11 | 1996 | Jesse Helms R def. Harvey B. Gantt D | 1,345,833 – 1,173,875 | 6.7 points |
| 12 | 1972 | Jesse Helms R def. Nick Galifianakis D | 795,248 – 677,293 | 8.0 points |
| 13 | 2008 | Kay R. Hagan D def. Elizabeth H. Dole R | 2,249,311 – 1,887,510 | 8.5 points |
| 14 | 2002 | Elizabeth H. Dole R def. Erskine B. Bowles D | 1,248,664 – 1,047,983 | 8.6 points |
| 15 | 1978 | Jesse Helms R def. John Randolph Ingram D | 619,151 – 516,663 | 9.0 points |
| 16 | 1966 | B. Everett Jordan D def. John S. Shallcross R | 501,440 – 400,502 | 11.2 points |
| 17 | 2010 | Richard Burr R def. Elaine Marshall D | 1,458,046 – 1,145,074 | 11.8 points |
| 18 | 1920 | Less S. Overman D def. A. E. Holron R | 310,504 – 229,343 | 15.0 points |
| 19 | 1914 | Less S. Overman D def. A. A. Whitener R | 121,342 – 87,101 | 16.4 points |
| 20 | 1962 | Samuel J. Ervin D def. Claude L. Greene R | 491,520 – 321,635 | 20.9 points |
| 21 | 1918 | Furnifold M. Simmons D def. John M. Morehead R | 143,519 – 93,707 | 21.0 points |
| 22 | 1926 | Less S. Overman D def. Johnson J. Hayes R | 218,934 – 142,891 | 21.0 points |
| 23 | 1968 | Samuel J. Ervin D def. Robert Somers V R | 870,406 – 566,934 | 21.1 points |
| 24 | 1930 | Josiah W. Bailey D def. George M. Pritchard R | 324,393 – 210,761 | 21.2 points |
| 25 | 1960 | B. Everett Jordan D def. Johnson J. Hayes R | 793,521 – 497,964 | 22.9 points |