State legislatures › North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate District 1
2026 forecast · Updated October 22, 2026, 09:28 UTC
7% chance of a Democratic win · Melissa Zehner (D), Jerry Tillett (R)
District 1 is likely Republican. Of its 3 neighbouring districts, 1 favours Republicans, 2 have no 2026 forecast. 2 of them are across the state line.
| Status | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Chance of a Democratic win | 7% |
| Likely margin (80% range) | R+24 to R+2, middle R+13 |
| Candidates | Melissa Zehner (D), Jerry Tillett (R) |
| Candidate list from | official |
| Current member | Jerry Tillett |
How it has voted
On its current lines. Legislative contests and the top-of-ticket vote inside the district.
Who lives here
Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023.
| This district | North Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $66,915 | $69,904 | |
| Bachelor's degree or more (25+) | 30% | 35% | |
| Median age | 48 | 39 | |
| White (not Hispanic) | 73% | 61% | |
| Black | 17% | 20% | |
| Hispanic | 5% | 11% | |
| Asian | 1% | 3% | |
| Born abroad | 3% | 9% | |
| Jobs in manufacturing | 7% | 12% | |
| Jobs in farming or mining | 3% | 1% |
Initial version. This model was tested on every state legislative election from 1994 to 2024 before publication, forecasting each as if it had not happened. It beat the simple rule “the party that holds the seat keeps it”, and its chamber seat counts were off by 2.9 seats on average (target: under 3). Districts with no two-party race last time are read from their own presidential vote, a change tested in advance that cut their average error from 17 to 13 points. It missed one of its five accuracy targets: in 2024, the calmest year on record, its ranges were wider than they needed to be (92% of results fell inside its 80% ranges; target: at most 88%). Treat the ranges as cautious. The full test record and code.