North Carolina voters delivered a decisive shift in the state House on Election Night, with Democratic candidates winning 21 seats previously held by Republicans. The new composition gives Democrats 70 seats, just two short of a supermajority, while Republicans will likely keep a one‑seat majority in the Senate.
House results and immediate impact
Democratic House Minority Leader Robert Reives, speaking after the results were tallied, celebrated the victory and pledged to work toward restoring the governor’s veto power. With the House now under Democratic control, Governor Josh Stein’s vetoes on issues such as DEI policy, immigration enforcement, and energy legislation can no longer be overridden without bipartisan support.
The flipped districts include:
- District 7 – Mark Speed defeated Cory Thornton
- District 9 – Claire Kempner defeated Tim Reeder
- District 20 – Tim Merrick defeated Dane Scalise
- District 25 – Lorenza Wilkins defeated Allen Chesser
- District 28 – L’Bertrice Solomon defeated Donna McDowell White
- District 35 – Evonne Hopkins defeated Mike Schietzelt
- District 37 – Winn Decker defeated Erin Paré
- District 43 – Janene Ackles defeated Diane Wheatley
- District 59 – Elma Hairston defeated Alan Branson
- District 62 – Shelly Headen defeated John Blust
- District 63 – Ian Baltutis defeated Ryan Moffitt
- District 64 – LeVon Barnes defeated Dennis Riddell
- District 73 – Thomas Monks defeated Jonathan Almond
- District 74 – Amy Taylor North defeated Jeff Zenger
- District 75 – Jen Wiles defeated Donny Lambeth
- District 82 – Chris Bishopp defeated Brian Echevarria
- District 93 – Charlie Wallin defeated Ray Pickett
- District 105 – Ken McCool defeated Tricia Cotham
- District 109 – Mark Carver defeated Donnie Loftis
- District 117 – Lynne Russo defeated Chelsea Walsh
- District 119 – Mark Burrows defeated Anna Ferguson
If all of these results hold after canvassing, Democrats will control the House with a strong working majority.
Senate outlook
In the Senate, Republicans currently occupy 30 of the 50 seats. The race remains tight in several districts, but the most critical contest is in District 33, where incumbent Republican Danny Earl Britt Jr. leads Democrat Catina Hamm by fewer than 300 votes. Should Britt retain his seat, Republicans will keep a one‑seat edge in the Senate.
Other notable Senate races include:
- District 34 – Democrat April Cook defeated Republican Kevin Crutchfield
- District 36 – Democrat Jessica Bichler leads Republican Michael Lee with 52.6% of the vote
- District 38 – Democrat James Gailliard leads Republican Lisa Barnes by about 5,000 votes
- District 41 – Democrat Jessica Rivera appears to have narrowly defeated Republican Buck Newton
All results remain unofficial until the county canvass, scheduled ten days after the election. Provisional and absentee ballots will continue to be counted, and candidates in close races may request recounts or file election challenges.
What’s next for the General Assembly?
The split legislature will require bipartisan cooperation to pass legislation. Democrats will need to persuade at least one Republican senator to join them on key votes, while Republicans will look to leverage their narrow Senate advantage to shape the agenda.
Both chambers are expected to reconvene in Raleigh later this month. The new balance of power sets the stage for a legislative session focused on education, energy policy, and immigration enforcement, with each party positioning its priorities for the coming two‑year term.
Original reporting: Carolina Public Press — read the source article.
