Saturday, September 5, 2026
By Outer Banks Voice on August 29, 2026
On Monday, Aug. 24, outgoing State Senator Bobby Hanig announced he was resigning his District 1 seat early, several months before his term expired on Jan. 1, 2027. The Outer Banks Voice – Outgoing NC State Senator Bobby Hanig resigns from post
On Saturday, Aug. 29, the NC First Congressional District Republican Party announced that it had selected retired Superior Court Judge Jerry Tillett—who is running to succeed Hanig in November—to temporarily fill the vacancy created by his exit. Tillett’s selection came during an Aug. 29 meeting of Republican representatives from District 1 held at the Currituck County Courthouse.
Tillett will face Democrat Melissa Zehner, a Southern Shores resident in the November election. In March, he emerged victorious from a four-way GOP primary field in the contest for that seat.
A Facebook post from the District Republican Party, referring to Tillett’s appointment, stated that “We were given 30 days to complete a task. We completed the task in 6 days. This ensures the constituents in NC Senate District 1 will continue to have representation.” The district includes Dare, Currituck, Bertie, Camden, Gates, Hertford, Northampton, Pasquotank Perquimans and Tyrrell counties.
In his resignation announcement Hanig, who was defeated in the 2026 Republican primary for the First District U.S. Congressional seat, did not indicate why he had made the decision to depart early.
Comments
Re-Tired
Man, I can’t wait until I’m late 60’s and I can enjoy retirement and be a wonderful grandfather and involved in the lives of my grandchildren.
Tap Out
Sometimes you gotta just
” Tap Out”..hands down or dancing away.
Good Luck
Thank You
for Your Service!
OBX Resident
What is interesting is that with all of the baggage and the FBI and SBI investigations, Jordan Hennessy was right beside Mr. Tillett at the Republican ceremony where Mr. Tillett was selected. Based on Campaign finance reports Mr. Hennessy is one of Mr. Tillett’s greatest financial supporters. You are known by the company that you keep. Other than financial support how is this relationship advantageous for Mr. Tillett?
charlie
I wonder if Jerry was wearing the same hat when he was chief of staff and chief legal counsel to our much beloved Mark Basnight when he was President Pro Tem of the Senate…Oh..Basnight was a Democrat….Hmm?
Charlie II
Charlie:
That would be Marc with a “C”
Currituck
Politics is the art of creative cheating.