North Carolina voters shift state House control to Democrats after major election night
Unofficial results show Democrats winning 71 seats in the state House and narrowing the Senate gap, ending 15 years of Republican dominance in the lower chamber.
By Lina Lewis ·
North Carolina residents saw a sharp change in their state government on Tuesday as Democrats secured control of the state House. Unofficial results indicate the party won 71 seats, a number that grants them a supermajority. This shift reverses the balance of power from the previous cycle, when Republicans held that advantage.
The party also reduced the Republican lead in the state Senate. The GOP appears set to hold a 26-24 majority. Michele Woodhouse, who previously served as District 11 Chair for the NCGOP, described the night as worse than expected. She noted that she anticipated a bad outcome but did not expect the extent of the defeat.
Governor Josh Stein expressed surprise at the magnitude of the Democratic gain. He said he thought Democrats had a slightly better than even chance of controlling the House but never imagined they would capture 71 or 72 seats. Stein attributed the voter mood to economic frustrations, specifically high costs for gas and groceries.
Rep. Phil Rubin, a Democrat from Wake County, said voters prioritized the cost of living above all else. He argued that policies from Washington and Raleigh contributed to rising prices. Rubin highlighted affordable housing as an area where the new legislature might find bipartisan agreement, noting that it lacks a clear left-right divide.
Redistricting emerged as another focal point for the new assembly. Rubin, a co-sponsor of the Fair Maps Act, said the current system of gerrymandering has been damaging for both parties. Stein agreed, calling for an independent commission to draw political maps to reduce partisan focus.
House Speaker Destin Hall acknowledged the disappointing results for Republicans but praised his members for fighting against difficult odds. He congratulated Robert Reives, the Democratic leader, on his caucus's victory. Hall expressed a desire to work with Reives over the next two years.
Reives stated that North Carolinians voted for change, ending more than 15 years of Republican control in the House. He announced he will run for Speaker and seek the support of his caucus at the organizational meeting. The new assembly is set to begin its work in January.
