U.S. House, North Carolina - 3rd District
East -- Jacksonville, part of Greenville, Outer Banks
Race Forecast: Safe Republican
Race Information
- Incumbent: Rep. Walter B. Jones, R
- First Elected: 1994 (7th term)
- Last Elected: 2006 (68.64%)
- Incumbent Status: Running for re-election
- Race Forecast: Safe Republican
District Information
Politics in America District Profile
The 3rd runs along the eastern shore from the Virginia border to north of Wilmington, sweeping from the fragile barrier islands of the Outer Banks to the tobacco and peanut fields of the coastal plain. It is a large swath of rural land inlaid with waterways, affluent vacation towns and military facilities; the closest thing to skyscrapers here are historic lighthouses that dot the shoreline.
Many residents earn their living through fishing, farming and tourism. The 3rd’s military bases have a large impact on the economy, particularly Camp Lejeune, which deployed a high percentage of its Marines abroad following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. From the southernmost coast, two fingers of land reach northwest, taking in turkey, hog and wheat farms.
The western leg of the 3rd stretches from Onslow County in the south, where Jacksonville and Camp Lejeune are located, all the way north to Nash County, including western Rocky Mount. Another leg stretches northwest to Greenville in Pitt County, where the main part of the East Carolina University campus is located (shared with the 1st).
Although registered Democrats still outnumber Republicans here, the 3rd has a conservative bent and supports GOP candidates on the federal level. George W. Bush took 68 percent of the 2004 presidential vote here, and the district’s portions of Lenoir and Jones counties were Bush’s second- and third-best counties in the state.
Major Industry
Military, agriculture, tourism
Military Bases
Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base, 43,000 military, 4,861 civilian (2005); New River Marine Corps Air Station, 6,000 military, 600 civilian (2007)
Cities
Jacksonville, 66,715; Greenville (pt.), 38,448; Wilson (pt.), 19,337
Notable
Dare County is named for Virginia Dare, the first child born of English parents in America (1587); Kitty Hawk is where Wilbur and Orville Wright made their first flight; The infamous pirate Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard, lived in Hammock House in Beaufort.
- Demographics (2000 census)
- Population: 619,178
- Under 18: 23.8%
- Over 65: 11.6%
- Married: 58.4%
- Non-Hispanic White: 76%
- Black: 17%
- Hispanic: 4%
- Asian: 1%
- Foreign Born: 3.5%
- Language other than English: 6.7%
- Median Household Income: 37,510
- Owner Occupied Housing: 70.9%
- Income above $200k: 1.3
- Workforce/Education (2000 census)
- White Collar: 55.9%
- Blue Collar: 29.2%
- Services: 14.9%
- Bachelor's Degree: 20%
- Graduate Education: 6.4%
- Civilian Veterans: 74,268
| Year | Election | Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | general | Walter Jones (R) | 199,489 | 65.9% |
| Craig Weber (D) | 103,351 | 34.1% | ||
| 2006 | general | Walter Jones (R) | 99,519 | 68.6% |
| Craig Weber (D) | 45,458 | 31.4% | ||
| 2004 | general | Walter Jones (R) | 171,863 | 70.7% |
| Roger Eaton (D) | 71,227 | 29.3% | ||
| 2002 | general | Walter Jones (R) | 131,448 | 90.7% |
| Gary Goodson (LIBERT) | 13,486 | 9.3% | ||
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Independent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | John Kerry: 32% | George W. Bush: 68% | |
| 2000 | Al Gore: 35% | George W. Bush: 65% |
Campaign Finance Details for the 2008 Race
| Filers | Through | Total Receipts | Total Disbursements | Total From PACs | Total From Individuals | Ending Cash | Debts Owed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEBER, CRAIG PETER (D) | November 30, 2008 | $18,616.00 | $21,761.00 | $16,154.00 | $217.00 | ||
| ADAME', MARHSHALL RICHARD (D) | May 6, 2008 | $15,879.00 | $15,057.00 | $15,356.00 | $819.00 | ||
| JONES, WALTER B (R) | November 24, 2008 | $667,582.00 | $908,460.00 | $29,974.00 | $266,220.00 | $36,846.00 | |
| MCLAUGHLIN, JOSEPH R (R) | September 30, 2008 | $144,123.00 | $144,121.00 | $131,223.00 | |||
