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.[ 2] [ 3]
Committee assignments
edit
[ 4]
State and Local Government (Chair)
Energy and Public Utilities
Agriculture and Environment
Finance
Housing and Development
Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction and Reform
Local Government (Chair)
Local Government - Land Use, Planning and Development
Energy and Public Utilities
Agriculture
Finance
Health
Local Government (Co-Chair)
State Government Committee (Vice Chair)
Energy and Public Utilities (Vice Chair)
Agriculture
Finance
Health
Transportation
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
Appropriations
Appropriations - General Government
Public Utilities (Vice Chair)
Agriculture
Children, Youth and Families
Education - Community Colleges
Local Government
North Carolina House of Representatives 80th district Republican primary election, 2026[ 5]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Sam Watford (incumbent) 5,415 74.38%
Republican Joseph Byrne
1,865
25.62%
Total votes
7,280 100%
North Carolina House of Representatives 80th district general election, 2024[ 7]
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
North Carolina House of Representatives 80th district general election, 2022[ 8]
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
North Carolina House of Representatives 80th district Republican primary election, 2020[ 9]
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[ 10]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Sam Watford 32,611 75.21%
Democratic Wendy Sellars
10,748
24.79%
Total votes
43,359 100%
Republican hold
North Carolina Senate 29th district Republican primary election, 2018[ 11]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Eddie Gallimore 11,775 55.48%
Republican Sam Watford
9,448
44.52%
Total votes
21,223 100%
North Carolina House of Representatives 80th district general election, 2016[ 12]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Sam Watford (incumbent) 31,287 100%
Total votes
31,287 100%
Republican hold
North Carolina House of Representatives 80th district Republican primary election, 2014[ 13]
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[ 14]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Sam Watford 16,459 100%
Total votes
16,459 100%
Republican hold
Davidson County Board of Commissioners Republican primary election, 2010[ 16]
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[ 17]
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%
↑ "Younts vies to hold on to House District 80 seat" .1 2 3 4 "Biography" . Retrieved 17 October 2015 .↑ "Sam Watford's Voting Records" . Retrieved 17 October 2015 .↑ "Sam Watford" . Retrieved May 26, 2026 .↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections .↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections .↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections .↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections .↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections .↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections .↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections .↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections .↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections .↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections .↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections .↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections .↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections .
