Democrats flip 16 House seats but miss Senate majority in NC election

Democrats won at least 16 seats in the North Carolina House of Representatives on Tuesday, securing a majority for the first time since 2010. The party failed to take control of the state Senate, falling one seat short of the majority needed to lead that chamber.

The shift in power follows a cycle in which Republicans held legislative majorities for 16 years. That streak began in 2010 when a conservative wave helped the party gain power. Republicans subsequently used redistricting to protect their seats even in years when Democrats won statewide races.

In the state House, Democratic candidates defeated numerous Republican incumbents. Among those losing their reelection bids are Rep. Allen Chesser of Nash County and Rep. Mike Schietzelt of Wake County. Rep. Erin Paré of Wake County and Rep. Donna White of Johnston County also lost. Rep. Brian Echevarria of Cabarrus County and Rep. Donny Lambeth of Forsyth County joined the list of defeated Republicans. Lambeth served as a lead budget writer for the party.

Additional Republican House members losing their seats include Rep. Jeff Zenger of Forsyth County and Rep. Tricia Cotham of Mecklenburg County. Rep. Jonathan Almond of Cabarrus County and Rep. Anna Ferguson of Swain County also lost. Rep. Dennis Riddell of Alamance County and Rep. Diane Wheatley of Cumberland County were defeated in their reelection bids.

In the state Senate, Democrats captured four seats but needed five to reach a majority. Sen. Lisa Barnes of Nash County and Sen. Buck Newton of Wilson County lost their reelection bids. Sen. Michael Lee of New Hanover County also lost his seat. Sen. Danny Britt of Robeson County retained a narrow lead over his challenger in preliminary returns.

Democrat April Cook won a Republican-held open seat in Cabarrus County. The loss of Sen. Lee will influence the race to replace Phil Berger as Senate leader, as Lee had been a contender for the role. A divided legislature is expected to create gridlock in state politics for the coming year. Democrats previously struggled to uphold Governor Josh Stein’s vetoes because Republicans could override them with a few cross-party votes.

Several races remain uncertain due to narrow margins that may trigger recounts. In Pitt County, Democrat Claire Kempner leads Republican Rep. Tim Reeder in unofficial returns. Close races also exist in New Hanover, Alamance, and Watauga counties. In Guilford County, Democrat Shelly Headen leads Republican Rep. John Blust by 233 votes. Party leaders recently criticized Headen for social media posts.

House Democratic Leader Robert Reives is positioned to become the next House speaker. He reacted to the preliminary results with surprise at a campaign event. “Oh my God, I don’t know what to say,” Reives said after being introduced as the next speaker. Around 1 a.m., current House Speaker Destin Hall sent a news release congratulating Reives on the victory.

Hall stated that Republicans faced a difficult political environment across the country. “I’m proud of the hard work of House Republican members and candidates all across our state who fought against insurmountable odds,” Hall said. He noted that the results were disappointing for many but urged the party to continue working for conservative policies.

Democrats viewed the election as their best chance in years to reclaim control of a chamber. They cited high early voting turnout and a polling lead for former Governor Roy Cooper in the U.S. Senate race as indicators that Republican-leaning districts might flip. For the past two years, House Republicans were one seat short of a supermajority but relied on three legislators who often crossed party lines to override vetoes. Those three legislators were defeated in March primaries and will leave office at the end of the year.