Sam Watford

Sam Watford
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 80th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2021
Preceded bySteve Jarvis
In office
January 1, 2015 – January 1, 2019
Preceded byRoger Younts
Succeeded bySteve Jarvis
Personal details
BornSamuel Lee Watford
1954 or 1955 (age 71–72)
PartyRepublican
SpouseKaren Hege Watford
EducationWestern Carolina University, Guilford Technical Institute
OccupationContractor
WebsiteOfficial Website

Sam Watford was a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's 80th House district, including part in Davidson county (Thomasville). He served three terms as Davidson County Commissioner and has served on Davidson County Planning and Zoning Board. Watford is married to Karen Hege Watford, a retired teacher, and has two daughters, Morgan and Jordan. Watford supported, and voted for, the HB 465 - Amending Regulations Regarding Abortion, in 2015.

Committee assignments

2025–2026 Session

  • State and Local Government (Chair)
  • Energy and Public Utilities
  • Agriculture and Environment
  • Finance
  • Housing and Development
  • Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction and Reform

2023–2024 Session

  • Local Government (Chair)
  • Local Government - Land Use, Planning and Development
  • Energy and Public Utilities
  • Agriculture
  • Finance
  • Health

2021–2022 Session

  • Local Government (Co-Chair)
  • State Government Committee (Vice Chair)
  • Energy and Public Utilities (Vice Chair)
  • Agriculture
  • Finance
  • Health
  • Transportation

2017–2018 Session

  • Appropriations
  • Appropriations - Transportation
  • Energy and Public Utilities (Chair)
  • Regulatory Reform (Vice chair)
  • Education - Community Colleges
  • State and Local Government II
  • Elections and Ethics Law
  • Homelessness, Foster Care, and Dependency
  • University Board of Governors Nominating

2015–2016 Session

  • Appropriations
  • Appropriations - General Government
  • Public Utilities (Vice Chair)
  • Agriculture
  • Children, Youth and Families
  • Education - Community Colleges
  • Local Government

Electoral history

2026

North Carolina House of Representatives 80th district Republican primary election, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Watford (incumbent) 5,415 74.38%
Republican Joseph Byrne 1,865 25.62%
Total votes 7,280 100%

2024

North Carolina House of Representatives 80th district Republican primary election, 2024
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Watford (incumbent) 5,931 50.32%
Republican Eddie Gallimore 5,855 49.68%
Total votes 11,786 100%
North Carolina House of Representatives 80th district general election, 2024
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Watford (incumbent) 33,897 75.70%
Democratic Kimberly Titlebaum 10,884 24.30%
Total votes 44,781 100%
Republican hold

2022

North Carolina House of Representatives 80th district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Watford (incumbent) 23,182 78.46%
Democratic Dennis S. Miller 6,365 21.54%
Total votes 29,547 100%
Republican hold

2020

North Carolina House of Representatives 80th district Republican primary election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Watford 4,170 43.65%
Republican Roger Younts 3,214 33.64%
Republican Haley Sink 2,170 22.71%
Total votes 9,554 100%
North Carolina House of Representatives 80th district general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Watford 32,611 75.21%
Democratic Wendy Sellars 10,748 24.79%
Total votes 43,359 100%
Republican hold

2018

North Carolina Senate 29th district Republican primary election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Eddie Gallimore 11,775 55.48%
Republican Sam Watford 9,448 44.52%
Total votes 21,223 100%

2016

North Carolina House of Representatives 80th district general election, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Watford (incumbent) 31,287 100%
Total votes 31,287 100%
Republican hold

2014

North Carolina House of Representatives 80th district Republican primary election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Watford 3,203 54.45%
Republican Roger Younts (incumbent) 2,679 45.55%
Total votes 5,882 100%
North Carolina House of Representatives 80th district general election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Watford 16,459 100%
Total votes 16,459 100%
Republican hold

2012

North Carolina Senate 33rd district Republican primary election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stan Bingham (incumbent) 9,135 40.44%
Republican Eddie Gallimore 8,630 38.21%
Republican Sam Watford 4,823 21.35%
Total votes 22,588 100%

2010

Davidson County Board of Commissioners Republican primary election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Billy Joe Kepley 8,217 15.80%
Republican Don W. Truell 6,941 13.35%
Republican Sam Watford 6,811 13.10%
Republican Todd Yates 5,359 10.31%
Republican Larry Allen 5,253 10.10%
Republican Eddie Gallimore 4,525 8.70%
Republican Dwight D. Cornelison 3,995 7.68%
Republican Kenneth "Stump" Cavender 3,273 6.29%
Republican Owen Moore 3,267 6.28%
Republican Joseph Lee Byerly 2,276 4.38%
Republican Eric Osborne 2,077 3.99%
Total votes 51,994 100%
Davidson County Board of Commissioners general election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Billy Joe Kepley 28,111 18.01%
Republican Todd Yates 27,950 17.91%
Republican Sam Watford 27,445 17.59%
Republican Don W. Truell 27,407 17.56%
Democratic Jason Hedrick 14,835 9.51%
Democratic Ronald Swicegood 10,578 6.78%
Democratic Jeff Switzer 10,163 6.51%
Democratic Kevin Williams 9,571 6.13%
Total votes 156,060 100%

References

  1. ↑ "Younts vies to hold on to House District 80 seat".
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Biography". Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  3. ↑ "Sam Watford's Voting Records". Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  4. ↑ "Sam Watford". Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  5. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  6. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  7. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  8. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  9. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  10. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  11. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  12. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  13. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  14. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  15. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  16. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  17. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections.