The number of uncontested state legislative districts in North Carolina grew from 14 in 2020 to 51 this year. Uncontested districts lack major party competition, meaning candidates from only one of the two major parties filed to run.
Democrats are effectively guaranteed to win 10 districts, and Republicans are guaranteed 41. Both major parties will contest the remaining 119 districts.
This year, the increase in uncontested districts was driven by a drop in Democratic challengers. In 2020, Democrats ran in 166 of the state’s 170 districts, and Republicans ran in 160. This year, Republicans are once again contesting 160 districts while Democrats are running in 129.
