Democrats win additional state Senate seat

Eamon Queeney | The North State Journal
The North Carolina Senate Chamber of the Legislative Building in Raleigh

RALEIGH — A Democratic challenger for North Carolina Senate District 19 has won the seat after the Republican incumbent failed to request a recount. Republican Sen. Wesley Meredith of Fayetteville had until 5 p.m. Monday to request in writing a recount of the vote totals that showed him losing by 433 to Kirk deViere. Democrats will hold 21 Senate seats to Republicans’ 29 in the General Assembly, breaking the supermajorities that overrode 20 of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s 25 vetoes.

In the House, Mecklenburg County GOP incumbent Rep. Bill Brawley has requested a recount in his close race with Democrat Rachel Hunt. If the results stand, Democrats will have 55 seats in the House to 65 for Republicans.