NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Incumbent Republican Michael Lee is expected to retain his seat representing North Carolina’s District 7 Senate seat after defeating Democratic challenger David Hill and Libertarian John Evans in the 2024 general election fought.

As of 1 a.m. Wednesday morning, with all 41 precincts reported and over 72% of ballots cast reported, Lee had received 52.35% of the vote, compared to Hill’s 43.61% and Evans’ 4.04%.

“Based on what we saw in early voting and the precincts that came in, we feel really good about the evening,” Lee said Tuesday night around 11:30 p.m. “We felt good before, so we feel even better now.”

District 7 represents most of New Hanover County in the State Senate, except for a small section of downtown Wilmington, which is part of District 8.

Lee narrowly won the newly filled Senate seat in the 7th District two years ago, beating Democratic opponent Marcia Morgan by less than two percentage points. Lee previously represented the 9th District from 2014-19 and 2021-23. He also had a close race in 2020, leading incumbent Democrat Harper Peterson by less than 1,500 votes.

Lee’s campaign highlighted his work in the state Senate, which he said has fostered economic growth in New Hanover County. He said other priorities in his next term would include protecting the environment, meeting infrastructure needs and reducing the rising cost of living.

Hill, a 56-year-old pediatrician from Wilmington, ran a campaign focused on abortion, affordable housing and public education funding. Hill said he was motivated to run after North Carolina passed a new law last year banning abortions after 12 weeks except in cases of rape, incest or medical emergencies. During a candidate forum hosted by WECT, Hill said it was up to him to do the politicians’ work after they decided it was their turn.

John Evans, a 73-year-old contractor, campaigned as a libertarian and advocated for lower taxes, quality education and replacing the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. During one Candidate Forum Evans said both Republicans and Democrats have “lost their minds” and led to political dysfunction nationwide. Evans previously unsuccessfully ran for Senate in 2000, Wilmington City Council in 2001 and New Hanover County Commissioner in 2002.

Social issues were at the heart of the race, with Hill seeking to take a contrasting stance on abortion and gender-affirming surgery from Lee. lee called The state’s abortion law is “compassionate” and “balanced,” while Hill said He ran to “defend reproductive freedom,” which had been curtailed by the legislature. Hill said Lee cast one of the deciding votes on the abortion law.

Tensions in the race heightened in August when Hill’s lawyers sent Lee Cease and desist declaration Letter alleging defamatory advertising. Hill demanded a retraction and apology after ads claimed he strongly supported “sex reassignment surgery” on children. Hill also expressed concern that Lee called him a “quack” in ads that the Democrat said were reserved for doctors who are ignorant, misinformed or dishonest.

Lee countered the letter by saying his campaign’s ads were “without question” accurate and that “quack” refers to Hill’s ideological focus on various issues.

Lee is now expected to return to Raleigh to represent the district and will run for re-election in November 2026.

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