Cooper Wins N.C. Senate Seat; Democrats Take State House

Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper defeated Republican candidate Michael Whatley in the U.S. Senate race held Tuesday. Cooper’s victory replaces retiring Senator Thom Tillis and marks a distinct shift in state representation. The result aligns with a national trend where Democrats secured control of both chambers of Congress.

At the state legislative level, Democratic candidates appear to have won a majority in the North Carolina House of Representatives. This outcome would mark the party’s first control of the chamber since 2010. Several Republican incumbents lost their seats during the election cycle. In the North Carolina Senate, Democrats also gained seats, ending the Republican veto-proof majority previously held in that chamber.

One notable upset occurred in Forsyth County, where Democrat Jen Wiles defeated seven-term Republican incumbent Donny Lambeth. Unofficial election results confirmed Wiles’s win in the district. These gains represent a substantial change in the state’s political composition following the midterm vote.

County boards of elections are currently reviewing the numbers. Results remain unofficial until the certification process is complete across the state. County boards are scheduled to finalize and certify the results on Nov. 13. Voters and officials can access complete statewide figures through the North Carolina State Board of Elections website.