Cooper wins Senate seat as Democrats take both chambers of Congress

The 2026 midterm elections produced a decisive shift in congressional power, with Democrats securing majorities in both the House and Senate. This national trend coincided with local efforts at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to maintain voter access despite logistical changes to polling locations.

Democrats won the Senate with a 54 to 44 margin and the House with a 242 to 151 margin. In the race for North Carolina's open Senate seat, former governor Roy Cooper defeated his Republican opponents. Cooper, who served as governor from 2017 to 2025, is the first Democrat to win that state's Senate seat since 2008. He replaces Thom Tillis, a two-term Republican who did not seek reelection. The party also won 22 gubernatorial races against 12 Republican victories in states holding those contests.

At N.C. A&T, the Dudley Hall early voting site was removed from the university campus late in 2025. Consequently, students and eligible community members cast their ballots on Election Day at the Frye Hall precinct. While some students reported waiting only several minutes in line, others cited transportation barriers. Younisa Lee-Marks, a junior public relations student, noted that many students lack personal vehicles and rely on shuttle services that cannot accommodate everyone. She advocated for an on-campus early polling site for future elections, stating that not every student can afford ride-share services or walk long distances to the polls.

Josh Joseph, a junior mechanical engineering student from Dominica, described the process as a way to exercise a right he had researched independently. Although he has not yet voted in a U.S. election, he observed that the outcome affects all residents. He said the experience feels like entrusting decisions to others who may choose what they consider correct or incorrect paths. Joseph participated in the Votecoming March in October alongside other Aggies to support voter accessibility.

Cooper visited the N.C. A&T campus during the centennial homecoming tailgate prior to the election. He spoke with students and alumni, noting that he attempts to attend homecoming festivities almost every year. Cooper has never lost an election and is widely regarded as a respected leader within the state. The results of this cycle mark a major change in the political balance of power in Washington, with the new congressional leadership set to take office after the current term concludes.