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 Senate there are 50 seats. Republicans held 30 of them while Democrats held 20 up until election night. A pickup by any one seat for Democrats would break the majority 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 .02%, which triggers a recount. Democrat Sen. Mary Wills Bode’s Wake County went to Republican Ashlee Adams, where, again, a recount will happen as the vote margin was .03%.
A recount in North Carolina is triggered when a margin between two candidates is 1% or less.
In the North Carolina House, Republicans held 72 seats to the Democrat’s 48 prior to the November 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 need 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 picked up district 24 and 98, however Republican Tricia Cotham won her district 105 race.
Republicans also picked up Cabarrus County’s seat 73 with Democrat Diamond Staton Williams losing to Republican Jonathan Almond.
That one vote the Republicans need might 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 .42%, meeting the recount threshold requirement.
In the House, there were 21 Democrats and three Republicans running unopposed this cycle. In the Senate, there were no Republicans running unopposed, but there were five Democrats who have no opponent. View the list of unopposed races.
These are the races North State Journal is watching.
HOUSE RACES
District 5 – Camden, Gates, Hertford, Pasquotank
Republican Bill Ward (Incumbent; one term) – WINNER
Democrat Howard Hunter
District 24 – Nash, Wilson
Republican Ken Fontenot (Incumbent; one term)
Democrat Dante Pittman – WINNER
District 25 – Nash
Republican Allen Chesser (Incumbent; one term) – WINNER
Democrat Lorenza Wilkins
Libertarian Nick Taylor
District 32 – Granville, Vance
Republican Frank Sossamon (Incumbent; one term)
Democrat Bryan Cohn – WINNER* – Possible recount in this race.
Libertarian Ryran Brown
District 35 – Wake
Republican Mike Schietzelt – WINNER
Democrat Evonne Hopkins
Libertarian Michael Oakes
District 36 – Wake
Republican Becki Allen
Democrat Julie Von Haefen (Incumbent; three terms) – WINNER
Libertarian Travis Groo
District 37 – Wake
Republican Erin Paré (Incumbent; two terms) – WINNER
Democrat Safiyah Jackson
Libertarian Christopher Robinson
District 48 – Hoke, Scotland
Republican Ralph Carter
Democrat Garland Pierce (Incumbent; ten terms) – WINNER
District 98 – Mecklenburg
Republican Melinda Bales
Democrat Beth Helfrich – WINNER
District 105 – Mecklenburg
Republican Tricia Cotham (Incumbent; five and half terms) – WINNER
Democrat Nicole Sidman
District 115 – Buncombe
Republican Ruth Smith
Democrat Lindsey Prather (Incumbent; one term) – WINNER
OTHER HOUSE RACES OF NOTE
These are races where a Republican has chosen not to seek reelection, has resigned, or retired. It also includes Rep. Destin Hall, who is likely to become the next Speaker of the North Carolina House.
District 59 – Guilford
* This seat was held by Republican Jon Hardister who resigned April 8, 2024. Branson was appointed as his replacement on April 16, 2024.
Republican Alan Branson – WINNER
Democrat Tanneshia Dukes
District 62 – Guilford
* This seat was held by Republican John Faircloth who resigned Sept. 6, 2024.
Republican John Blust – WINNER
Democrat Marjorie Benbow
District 87 – Caldwell, Watauga
Republican Destin Hall (Incumbent; four terms) – WINNER
Democrat Barbara Kirby
District 94 – Alexander, Wilkes
*This seat was held by Republican Jeffrey Elmore who resigned Sept. 13, 2024.
Republican Blair Eddins – WINNER
Democrat Steve Moree
SENATE RACES
District 7 – New Hanover
Republican Michael Lee (Incumbent; four terms spanning the 9th and 7th districts) – WINNER
Democrat David Hill
Libertarian John Evans
District 11 – Franklin, Nash, Vance
Republican Lisa Barnes (Incumbent; two terms in the Senate, one term in the House) – WINNER
Democrat James Mercer
District 18 – Granville, Wake
*This seat is held by Democrat Mary Wills Bode who decided not to run for reelection.
Republican Ashlee Adams – WINNER *There may be a recount in this race as the margin is less than 1%.
Democrat Terence Everitt
Libertarian Brad Hessel
SENATE RACES OF NOTE
These are races where a Republican has chosen not to seek reelection, has resigned, or retired. It also includes Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden), who is seeking a 13th term.
District 3 – Beaufort, Craven, Lenoir
* This seat was held by Republican Jim Perry who resigned July 2, 2024. Brinson was appointed to the seat on July 6, 2024.
Republican Bob Brinson – WINNER
Democrat Charles Dudley
District 26 – Guilford, Rockingham
Republican Senate Leader Phil Berger (Incumbent; 12 terms) – WINNER
Democrat Steve Luking
Constitution Party Alvin Robinson
District 31- Forsyth, Stokes
*This seat is held by Republican Joyce Kraweic, who is not running for reelection.
Republican Dana Caudill Jones – WINNER
Democrat Ronda Mays
This article will be updated throughout the Election night as the unofficial results become available.
