The appointed ones

It's not only possible to become a state legislator without getting elected, but 31 of the 170 members of the legislature have done it.

Those lawmakers first took office after being selected by a small group of their party's leaders and then being appointed by the governor.

Since the current legislative term began in January, six lawmakers have taken office after their predecessor resigned or, in one case, died. A seventh new legislator will be selected soon to replace Sen. David Weinstein, D-Lumberton, who resigned in September. When a lawmaker leaves office early, his or her party leaders select a replacement who is appointed by the governor.

The other appointed senator is Dan Blue, D-Raleigh, though Blue was elected 13 times to the House of Representatives and served two terms as speaker. He did not run in 2002 but returned by appointment in 2006 and was elected twice more to the House.

The House members appointed this term are: Democrats Rosa Gill, D-Raleigh; Chris Heagarty, D-Raleigh; Darren Jackson, D-Raleigh; Frank Iler, R-Oak Island and Dan Ingle, R-Burlington.

Current senators who were appointed during previous terms and stayed in office by winning the next election(s) are: Charlie Dannelly, D-Charlotte; Floyd McKissick, D-Durham; Martin Nesbitt, D-Asheville, Ed Jones, D-Enfield; Pete Brunstetter, R-Lewisville; Bill Purcell, D-Laurinburg; Bob Rucho, R-Charlotte and Tony Rand, D-Fayetteville.

Nesbitt was appointed to a House seat in 1979, then elected 11 times, appointed to the Senate in 2004 and then elected three times. Rucho was elected to the senate four times, left and was appointed in 2008 and later won election that year.

House members appointed during previous terms who won the next election(s) are: Kelly Alexander, D-Charlotte; Tricia Cotham, D-Charlotte; Sandra Spaulding Hughes, D-Wilmington; Alma Adams, D-Greensboro; Angela Bryant, D-Rocky Mount; Jerry Dockham, R-Denton; Susan Fisher, D-Asheville; Larry Hall, D-Durham; Carolyn Justus, R-Hendersonville; Annie Mobley, D-Ahoskie; Timothy Spear, D-Creswell; Fred Steen, R-Landis; Joe Tolson, D-Pinetops; Jennifer Weiss, D-Cary; Roger West, R-Marble and Douglas Yongue, D-Laurinburg.

North Carolina is one of 11 states that fill vacant seats by the governor's appointment, though they vary in how the appointees are first selected before their names are sent to the governor. Here's how the states do it, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures:

Special election - 26 states

Governor appoints - 11 states (including North Carolina)

County commissioners appoint - 7 states

Political parties appoint - 4 states

Members of same house and party appoint - 1 state

Legislature appoints - 1 state

Click the link to see the lists from NCSL.