North Carolina's 46th Senate district

North Carolina's 46th
State Senate district
North Carolina's 46th; State Senate district
Senator
	Warren Daniel; R–Morganton
Demographics	84% White; 4% Black; 7% Hispanic; 2% Asian; 2% Multiracial
Population (2023)	198,878

North Carolina's 46th Senate district is one of 50 districts in the North Carolina Senate. It has been represented by Republican Warren Daniel since 2013.^[1]

Geography

Since 2023, the district has covered all of Burke and McDowell counties, as well as part of Buncombe County. The district overlaps with the 85th, 86th, 113th, 114th, 115th, and 116th state house districts.

District officeholders since 2003

Senator	Party	Dates	Notes	Counties
District created January 1, 2003.				2003–2013 All of Rutherford and Cleveland counties.^[2]^[3]
Walter Dalton	Democratic	January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2009	Redistricted from the 37th district. Retired to run for Lieutenant Governor.
Debbie Clary	Republican	January 1, 2009 – January 10, 2012	Resigned.
Vacant		January 10, 2012 - January 27, 2012
Wes Westmoreland	Republican	January 27, 2012 – January 1, 2013	Appointed to finish Clary's term. Retired.
Warren Daniel	Republican	January 1, 2013 – Present	Redistricted from the 44th district.	2013–2019 All of Burke and Cleveland counties.^[4]
				2019–2023 All of Burke, Caldwell, and Avery counties.^[5]^[6]
				2023–Present All of Burke and McDowell counties. Part of Buncombe County.^[7]^[8]

Election results

2024

North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2024^[9]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Warren Daniel (incumbent)	68,675	65.23%
	Democratic	John Ager	36,604	34.77%
Total votes			105,279	100%
	Republican hold

2022

North Carolina Senate 46th district Republican primary election, 2022^[10]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Warren Daniel (incumbent)	12,395	61.28%
	Republican	Mark Crawford	7,831	38.72%
Total votes			20,226	100%

North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2022^[11]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Warren Daniel (incumbent)	47,709	60.25%
	Democratic	Billy Martin	31,478	39.75%
Total votes			79,187	100%
	Republican hold

2020

North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2020^[12]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Warren Daniel (incumbent)	67,919	72.28%
	Democratic	Edward Phifer	26,045	27.72%
Total votes			93,964	100%
	Republican hold

2018

North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2018^[13]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Warren Daniel (incumbent)	42,445	69.97%
	Democratic	Art Sherwood	18,218	30.03%
Total votes			60,663	100%
	Republican hold

2016

North Carolina Senate 46th district Democratic primary election, 2016^[14]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Anne Fischer	7,527	53.77%
	Democratic	Jim Cates	6,471	46.23%
Total votes			13,998	100%

North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2016^[15]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Warren Daniel (incumbent)	52,997	66.16%
	Democratic	Anne Fischer	27,106	33.84%
Total votes			80,103	100%
	Republican hold

2014

North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2014^[16]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Warren Daniel (incumbent)	30,373	58.71%
	Democratic	Emily B. Church	21,363	41.29%
Total votes			51,736	100%
	Republican hold

2012

North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2012^[17]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Warren Daniel (incumbent)	43,904	55.96%
	Democratic	John T. McDevitt	32,409	41.31%
	Libertarian	Richard C. Evey	2,144	2.73%
Total votes			78,457	100%
	Republican hold

2010

North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2010^[18]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Debbie Clary (incumbent)	32,007	100%
Total votes			32,007	100%
	Republican hold

2008

North Carolina Senate 46th district Democratic primary election, 2008^[19]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Keith H. Melton	13,522	64.55%
	Democratic	Phil D. Clark	7,425	35.45%
Total votes			20,947	100%

North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2008^[20]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Debbie Clary	36,059	50.50%
	Democratic	Keith H. Melton	35,338	49.50%
Total votes			71,397	100%
	Republican gain from Democratic

2006

North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2006^[21]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Walter Dalton (incumbent)	22,557	54.42%
	Republican	Wes Westmoreland	18,890	45.58%
Total votes			41,447	100%
	Democratic hold

2004

North Carolina Senate 46th district Democratic primary election, 2004^[22]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Walter Dalton (incumbent)	6,042	83.41%
	Democratic	James W. "Buck" Carr	1,202	16.59%
Total votes			7,244	100%

North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2004^[23]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Walter Dalton (incumbent)	32,595	53.43%
	Republican	James "Jim" Testa	28,409	46.57%
Total votes			61,004	100%
	Democratic hold

2002

North Carolina Senate 46th district general election, 2002^[24]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Walter Dalton (incumbent)	22,251	52.43%
	Republican	John Weatherly	19,118	45.05%
	Libertarian	Tony Brown	1,072	2.53%
Total votes			42,441	100%
	Democratic hold

References

^ "State Senate District 46, NC". Census Reporter. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
^ "2003 Senate Redistricting Plan" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
^ "Interim Senate Redistricting Plan For N.C. 2002 Elections" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
^ "Rucho Senate 2" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
^ "2018 Senate Election Districts" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
^ "2019 Senate Consensus Nonpartisan Map" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
^ "S.L. 2022-2 Senate" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
^ "S.L. 2023-146 Senate" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
^ [1] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
^ [2] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
^ [3] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
^ [4] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
^ [5] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
^ [6] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
^ [7] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
^ [8] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
^ [9] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
^ [10] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
^ [11] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
^ [12] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
^ [13] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
^ [14] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
^ [15] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
^ [16] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

[1] "State Senate District 46, NC". Census Reporter. Retrieved January 18, 2025.

[2] "2003 Senate Redistricting Plan" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved May 22, 2022.

[3] "Interim Senate Redistricting Plan For N.C. 2002 Elections" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved May 22, 2022.

[4] "Rucho Senate 2" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved May 22, 2022.

[5] "2018 Senate Election Districts" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved May 22, 2022.

[6] "2019 Senate Consensus Nonpartisan Map" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved May 22, 2022.

[7] "S.L. 2022-2 Senate" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved December 16, 2022.

[8] "S.L. 2023-146 Senate" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved January 18, 2025.

[9] [1] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

[10] [2] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

[11] [3] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

[12] [4] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

[13] [5] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

[14] [6] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

[15] [7] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

[16] [8] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

[17] [9] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

[18] [10] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

[19] [11] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

[20] [12] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

[21] [13] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

[22] [14] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

[23] [15] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

[24] [16] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

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