RALEIGH, N.C. — Democrats will run the North Carolina House of Representatives for the first time since 2010 after flipping a string of Republican-held seats in Tuesday’s election, a shift that reshapes how the state writes its budget and sets policy starting next year.
Republicans entered Election Day holding 71 of the 120 House seats, meaning Democrats had to pick up 12 to take over. Unofficial returns as of 1 a.m. Wednesday showed Democrats with at least 66 seats, and the final gain could reach as many as 20. In a Lee and Moore county seat, Republican Charles Taylor lost to April Montgomery, who ran unaffiliated.
The state Senate is a different picture. Democrats look positioned to end the 30-seat Republican supermajority there but are not expected to win control. Lumberton Republican Danny Britt may face a recount in his Senate race, with Britt ahead by fewer than 300 votes once all precincts reported. A Britt win would leave the chamber at 26-24 in favor of Republicans; a loss would produce a 25-25 split, with Democratic Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt casting tie-breaking votes.
Several prominent Republicans fell. State Sen. Michael Lee of New Hanover County, considered a possible successor to outgoing Senate leader Phil Berger, lost to Democrat Jessica Bichler. In southern Wake County, Democrat Winn Decker ousted three-term Rep. Erin Paré, one of the House’s lead budget writers, taking close to 55% of the vote. In northern Wake, Democrat Evonne Hopkins beat Rep. Mike Schietzelt with 56%. On the Senate side, former Democratic House member James Gailliard won about 51% against Sen. Lisa Stone Barnes, whose district covers Franklin, Nash and Vance counties. Appointed Sen. Haseeb Fatmi, a Wake County Democrat, kept Senate District 18 with 56% against Republican Chris Stock.
Those Wake County results leave the state’s most populous county with no Republican members in its legislative delegation once the new session begins.
The newly elected lawmakers take their seats in January. Until then, Republicans keep their Senate supermajority, which can override vetoes from Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, and GOP leaders have said they intend to reconvene before the handoff.
House Speaker Destin Hall phoned Minority Leader Robert Reives of Chatham County to congratulate him on the outcome, and Hall released a written statement early Wednesday describing the year as an extremely hostile environment for Republicans nationwide. Republicans had redrawn legislative districts in 2023 in ways expected to favor their candidates.
Earlier this fall, legislators met in a special session and voted with support from both parties to suspend the state’s 41-cent-per-gallon gas tax through the end of November.
All results are unofficial until counties complete canvassing and the State Board of Elections certifies them.
Section: More Raleigh NC politics news
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