North Carolina's 5th congressional district covers the central western portion of North Carolina from the Appalachian Mountains to the northern suburbs of the Piedmont Triad as well as the bulk of the city of Greensboro. The district borders Tennessee and Virginia, with the bulk of its territory in the mountains; it stretches just far enough to the east to grab most of Greensboro.
The district is overwhelmingly Republican. Large portions were controlled by Republicans even during the "Solid South" era as much of northwestern North Carolina was Quaker or mountaineer and therefore resisted secession. Wilkes County has never voted for the Democratic Party before the Second Party System. For the 2024 election the district has been updated per Senate Bill 757 enacted by the NC General Assembly on October 25, 2023, becoming Session Law 2023âÂÂ145. District boundaries are based on 2020 census tabulation blocks.
The fifth district is currently represented by Virginia Foxx, a Republican.
For the 119th and successive Congresses (based on the districts drawn following a 2023 legislative session), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities.
Alexander County (4)
Alleghany County (1)
Ashe County (3)
Caldwell County (10)
Guilford County (5)
Stokes County (7)
Surry County (8)
Watauga County (7)
Wilkes County (11)
North Carolina's 5th congressional district was created in 1789 as "the Western division; ... which shall be formed by annexing two of the Superior Court districts together, in the following manner: that is ... the districts of Washington and Mero shall form the Western division". The district of Mero consisted of the counties of Davidson, Sumner and Tennessee.