Meeting at the 1767 Chowan County Courthouse on Thursday, a panel of 41 delegates from the 11 county district recommended Hanig to the state Republican Party as the replacement for former Sen. Bob Steinburg (R-Chowan) after he stepped down at the end of July.
“I am grateful for the unanimous support from each county party member,” Hanig said in a statement. “I believe my record of fiscal management, advocating for students and families, and standing up to help families helped secure my recommendation.”
The senator-designate’s nomination will now be forwarded to Governor Roy Cooper who will make Hanig’s appointment official within the next seven days.
A Republican from Powells Point, Hanig has been in the N.C. House of Representatives since 2018. He was elevated last year to Deputy Majority Whip, a key leadership position.
““I am excited about the opportunity to continue to represent Northeastern North Carolina,” Hanig said. “I am focused on fighting inflation to help families who are struggling. I look forward to continuing my public service to a larger audience and continue to make Northeastern North Carolina values a priority in the legislature.”
With the region split into a pair of districts beginning in 2022, Hanig was unopposed in the May primary for the Republican nomination to the Third District Senate seat. That district covers Bertie, Currituck, Camden, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Martin and Warren counties.
Hanig will face Valerie Jordan, a Democrat from Warren County, in the November general election. Earlier this week, Hanig filed a protest of Jordan’s residency, claiming she actually lives in Raleigh. A hearing on that challenge is scheduled for Tuesday in Currituck.
Once Hanig is sworn into the Senate, that will leave open his House seat representing Currituck, Dare, Hyde and Pamlico.
Paul O’Neal, a former Currituck County Commissioner from Waterlily, is the likely candidate to serve out the remainder of the House term ending in January.
The northeast corner of the state has been split into three House districts ahead of the 2022 elections.
Rep. Edward Goodwin (R-Chowan) is unopposed in the First District covering Currituck, Chowan, northern Dare (Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores and Duck), Perquimans, Tyrrell and Washington; counties Rep. Keith Kidwell (R-Beaufort) unopposed in the 79th covering Beaufort, the rest of Dare, Hyde and Pamlico counties; and Rep. Howard Hunter (D-Hertford Co.) faces a challenged from Bill Republican Bill Ward of Elizabeth City in the 5th which includes Camden, Pasquotank, Gates and Hertford counties.
While the legislature wrapped up its work in the short session at the beginning of July, they still have not official adjourned.
Hanig said last month no major votes will be taken, with skeleton sessions taking place about every 30 days.
He said a major reason a full adjournment did not take place is in case a hurricane were to hit the state this season and the General Assembly can approve an emergency relief package without having to be called into special session.
