North Carolina's 97th House district

North Carolina's 97th State House of Representatives district
Representative	Heather Rhyne R – Lincolnton
Demographics	83%  White 6%  Black 8%  Hispanic 1%  Asian 2%  Multiracial
Population (2020)	90,359

North Carolina's 97th House district is one of 120 districts in the North Carolina House of Representatives. It has been represented by Republican Heather Rhyne since 2024. ^[1]

Geography

Since 2003, the district has included all of Lincoln County. The district overlaps with the 44th Senate district.

District officeholders

Representative	Party	Dates	Notes	Counties
District created January 1, 1993.				1993–2003 Parts of Wayne, Sampson, and Duplin counties. [2]
Jerry Braswell ( Goldsboro )	Democratic	January 1, 1993 – February 11, 2000	Resigned.
Vacant		February 11, 2000 – March 21, 2000
Jimmie Ford ( Goldsboro )	Democratic	March 21, 2000 – January 1, 2001	Appointed to finish Braswell's term. Lost re-nomination.
Larry Bell ( Clinton )	Democratic	January 1, 2001 – January 1, 2003	Redistricted to the 21st district.
Joe Kiser ( Vale )	Republican	January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2009	Redistricted from the 45th district. Retired.	2003–Present All of Lincoln County. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
Jonathan Rhyne Jr. ( Lincolnton )	Republican	January 1, 2009 – August 15, 2011	Resigned.
Vacant		August 15, 2011 – August 24, 2011
Jason Saine ( Lincolnton )	Republican	August 24, 2011 – August 12, 2024	Appointed to finish Rhyne's term. Resigned.
Vacant		August 12, 2024 – August 19, 2024
Heather Rhyne ( Lincolnton )	Republican	August 19, 2024 – Present	Appointed to finish Saine's term.

Election results

2024

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2024 ^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Heather Rhyne (incumbent)	43,332	100%
Total votes			43,332	100%
	Republican hold

2022

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2022 ^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jason Saine (incumbent)	28,875	100%
Total votes			28,875	100%
	Republican hold

2020

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2020 ^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jason Saine (incumbent)	35,988	74.13%
	Democratic	Greg McBryde	12,558	25.87%
Total votes			48,546	100%
	Republican hold

2018

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district Republican primary election, 2018 ^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jason Saine (incumbent)	6,927	83.07%
	Republican	Nic Haag	1,412	16.93%
Total votes			8,339	100%

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2018 ^[14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jason Saine (incumbent)	22,122	70.51%
	Democratic	Natalie Robertson	9,252	29.49%
Total votes			31,374	100%
	Republican hold

2016

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2016 ^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jason Saine (incumbent)	31,390	100%
Total votes			31,390	100%
	Republican hold

2014

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2014 ^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jason Saine (incumbent)	16,604	70.65%
	Democratic	Rosemary B. Hubbard	6,898	29.35%
Total votes			23,502	100%
	Republican hold

2012

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district Republican primary election, 2012 ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jason Saine (incumbent)	5,982	51.57%
	Republican	Jim Klein	4,003	34.51%
	Republican	Charles E. Newman	1,615	13.92%
Total votes			11,600	100%

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2012 ^[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jason Saine (incumbent)	26,690	100%
Total votes			26,690	100%
	Republican hold

2010

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2010 ^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jonathan Rhyne Jr. (incumbent)	18,274	100%
Total votes			18,274	100%
	Republican hold

2008

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2008 ^[20]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jonathan Rhyne Jr.	25,765	100%
Total votes			25,765	100%
	Republican hold

2006

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2006 ^[21]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joe Kiser (incumbent)	12,080	100%
Total votes			12,080	100%
	Republican hold

2004

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2004 ^[22]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joe Kiser (incumbent)	17,888	61.13%
	Democratic	Ken H. Fortenberry	11,374	38.87%
Total votes			29,262	100%
	Republican hold

2002

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district Republican primary election, 2002 ^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joe Kiser (incumbent)	4,362	70.30%
	Republican	David J. Noles	1,843	29.70%
Total votes			6,205	100%

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2002 ^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joe Kiser (incumbent)	11,859	58.51%
	Democratic	Floyd E. Mason	7,760	38.29%
	Libertarian	Bryan Edwards	650	3.21%
Total votes			20,269	100%
	Republican hold

2000

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district Democratic primary election, 2000 ^[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Larry Bell	2,822	57.33%
	Democratic	Jimmie Ford (incumbent)	2,100	42.67%
Total votes			4,922	100%

North Carolina House of Representatives 97th district general election, 2000 ^[26]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Larry Bell	9,131	72.63%
	Republican	John Sherman Best	3,441	27.37%
Total votes			12,572	100%
	Democratic hold

References

1. "State House District 97, NC". Census Reporter. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
2. "1992 House Base Plan 5" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
3. "Interim House Redistricting Plan For N.C. 2002 Election" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
4. "House Redistricting Plan" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
5. "Lewis-Dollar-Dockham 4" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
6. "2018 House Election Districts" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
7. "HB 1020, 2nd Edition - 2019 House Remedial Map" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
8. "S.L. 2022-4 House" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
9. "SS.L. 2023-149 House" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
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.
17. North Carolina State Board of Elections.
18. North Carolina State Board of Elections.
19. North Carolina State Board of Elections.
20. North Carolina State Board of Elections.
21. North Carolina State Board of Elections.
22. North Carolina State Board of Elections.
23. North Carolina State Board of Elections.
24. North Carolina State Board of Elections.
25. "NC State House 097". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
26. "NC State House 097". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 23, 2022.