North Carolina's 5th congressional district covers the central western portion of North Carolina from the Appalachian Mountains to the western suburbs of the Piedmont Triad. 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 its share of Forsyth County, home to most of its population. 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. Two counties in the district – Avery and Yadkin – have never voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since their creation, and Wilkes County has never done so since before the Second Party System. For the 2020 election the district has been updated per House Bill 1029 enacted by the NC General Assembly on November 15, 2019, becoming Session Law 2019–249. District boundaries are based on 2010 census tabulation blocks. On February 23, 2022, the North Carolina Supreme Court approved a new map which changed the 5th district boundaries to include Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Davie, Mitchell, Stokes, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes County and Yadkin Counties, most of Caldwell and part of Forsyth. The fifth district is currently represented by Virginia Foxx, a Republican.

Counties

Counties in the 2023–2025 district map:

List of members representing the district

Past election results

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

2014

2016

2018

2020

2022

Historical district boundaries

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.