RALEIGH — This election cycle, multiple legislative races were competitive, giving Democrats a chance to break Republican supermajorities in the North Carolina General Assembly.
In the House, there were 21 Democrats and three Republicans running unopposed this cycle, while in the Senate, no Republicans were unopposed, but there were five Democrats who had no opponent.
In the North Carolina House, Republicans held 72 seats to the Democrat’s 48 before Tuesday’s election.
When Republican Tricia Cotham (Mecklenburg) left the Democratic Party in April 2023, she gave the House the one seat it needed for a veto-proof supermajority. The Democrats needed just one seat to break that supermajority this election year, and it happened.
The Republicans needed to pick up two seats among districts 24, 98 and 105 but fell short. Democrats won the 24th and 98th districts, but Cotham earned reelection in her District 105 race.
Republicans also picked up Cabarrus County’s seat 73, with Democrat Diamond Staton Williams losing to Republican Jonathan Almond.
The one seat the Republicans need could be recouped in a possible recount of District 32’s race in which Republican Frank Sossamon lost to Democrat Brian Cohn. The margin in that race is only 0.42%, meeting the recount threshold requirement.
Republicans held 30 of the state Senate’s 50 seats, while Democrats controlled 20 until election night. A pickup by any one seat for Democrats would break the supermajority hold in that chamber, which did not happen.
Senate Democrats may have lost two seats, which would bring the Senate tally to 32 Republicans and 18 Democrats. Democrat Sen. Rachel Hunt’s Mecklenburg County seat went to Republican Woodson Bradley, although the vote margin was 0.02%, which triggers a recount. Democrat Sen. Mary Wills Bode’s Wake County seat went to Republican Ashlee Adams, where, again, a recount will happen as the vote margin was 0.03%.
A recount in North Carolina is triggered when a margin between two candidates is 1% or less.
“I can confidently say Republicans will retain a supermajority in the Senate and will hold a strong majority in the House,” said Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) in an election night statement. “I’m thankful for the men and women who put their names forward and ran for office. Senate Republicans had an incredible slate of candidates and they’re going to represent their constituents well. Congratulations are also in order for House Speaker Tim Moore and Rules Chairman Destin Hall on their successes tonight.”
Berger won reelection to his seat, as did Hall (R-Caldwell), who will likely be picked to fill Moore’s role as leader of the House in 2025.
