Penny Wins Fourth Term In NC House, Defeats Two Challengers

Republican State Rep. Howard Penny Jr. won a fourth term in the North Carolina House of Representatives Tuesday, defeating two challengers in District 53, which includes portions of Johnston and Harnett counties.

Penny received 17,570 votes, or 51.56 percent, compared to 15,787 votes, or 46.32 percent, for Democrat Kevin Thurman. Libertarian Christopher Sessions finished third with 722 votes, or 2.12 percent.

Penny defeated Thurman by 1,783 votes, a margin of 5.24 percentage points, according to final unofficial election returns.

The race was particularly close in Johnston County, where Thurman received 8,718 votes compared to 8,639 for Penny, a difference of just 79 votes.

Penny carried Harnett County with 8,931 votes compared to 7,069 for Thurman, giving the incumbent enough votes to secure another term.

Penny was first appointed to the North Carolina House in 2020 and has won every election since then.

The Coats resident previously served on the Harnett County Board of Commissioners and Board of Education and has an extensive background in agriculture.

Penny currently chairs the House Agriculture and Environment Committee. During the 2025-2026 legislative session, he also served on committees overseeing appropriations, higher education, housing and development, state and local government, and Hurricane Helene recovery.

Thurman previously challenged Penny for the House seat in 2022 and 2024. Sessions, the Libertarian candidate, is a retired Army sergeant major who previously ran for the state Senate.