Will NC Republicans keep control of the state legislature? Follow live results here.
Lawmakers shape daily life and the state's future through their policies, so shifts in the makeup and control of the state's General Assembly can lead to significant change.
And in North Carolina, all the state's legislative seats are up for grabs this year, though most are fairly safe seats for Republicans, who led the redrawing of House and Senate district maps in 2023.
One key question in the state is whether the GOP will be able to maintain its supermajority, which it gained last year when Rep. Tricia Cotham switched parties to become a Republican. That veto-proof control has allowed Republicans to push through significant legislation without needing support from the opposing party. This included a two-year budget reflecting Republican priorities, changes to the state's abortion laws, and funding for private school vouchers, among many other laws.
Currently, Republicans hold 72 seats and Democrats hold 48 seats in the state House. In the Senate, Republicans have 30 seats compared to 20 for Democrats.
A supermajority consists of three-fifths of lawmakers and allows the ruling party to override the governor's veto of a bill. Currently, for the GOP to override Gov. Roy Cooper's vetoes, most, if not all, members need to be present to vote, unless Democrats choose to side with the GOP or do not attend a voting session.
There are over a dozen legislative races across the state that are not guaranteed for either party (though not all are particularly competitive), meaning who wins or loses could determine the makeup of the legislature going into 2025. Democrats would need to gain just one seat to break the supermajority.
Wake County's competitive races
There are a few competitive races in Wake County:
House District 35: This race in northeast Wake County is between Republican Mike Schietzelt, Libertarian Michael Oakes and Democrat Evonne Hopkins. The seat is currently held by Democratic Rep. Terence Everitt, who decided to run for Senate rather than for reelection after the district was redrawn during GOP-led redistricting.
House District 37: In this southwest Wake County race, Democrat Safiyah Jackson faces off against Libertarian Christopher Robinson and Republican Rep. Erin Paré, who has represented this district for two terms.
Senate District 13: This southern Wake County race is between Democratic Sen. Lisa Grafstein, Libertarian Susan Hogarth and Republican Scott Lassiter. Grafstein, a first-term lawmaker, relocated to run in this newly redrawn district. Lassiter attracted notice after suing House Speaker Tim Moore alleging that Moore had a relationship with his then-wife, a state employee. Lassiter later dropped the lawsuit.
ate District 18: This Granville and Wake County race is between Republican Ashlee Adams, Libertarian Brad Hessel and Democratic Rep. Terence Everitt. This seat was previously held by Democratic Sen. Mary Wills Bode, who is not seeking reelection.
The other House and Senate races on the ballot in Wake County lean Democratic and are considered safe seats for the party. Similarly, races in Durham County are largely secure for Democrats, with some being guaranteed, as no candidates from other parties are running.
Other competitive House races
There are other races across the state with no guaranteed winner.
Here are some key House races:
use District 5: This district includes portions of Camden, Gates, Hertford and Pasquotank counties. Republican Rep. Bill Ward, a first-term lawmaker, and Democrat Howard Hunter, a former House member defeated by Ward in 2022, are vying for it.
use District 24: This race in Nash and Wilson counties features Democrat Dante Pittman and Republican Rep. Ken Fontenot, a first-term lawmaker.
use District 25: This Nash County race includes Democrat Lorenza Wilkins, Libertarian Nick Taylor, and Republican Rep. Allen Chesser, a first-term lawmaker.
use District 47: This Robeson County race is between Democrat Eshonda Hooper and Republican Rep. Jarrod Lowery, a first-term lawmaker.
use District 98: Former Huntersville Mayor Melinda Bales, a Republican, and Democrat Beth Helfrich are competing for this northern Mecklenburg district. The seat is held by Rep. John Bradford, a four-term lawmaker who ran for a congressional seat but lost. This district is one of the tightest, typically voting 49.95% Republican and 47.96% Democratic, according to the website Dave's Redistricting.
use District 105: This southeast Mecklenburg County race is between Nicole Sidman and Republican Rep. Tricia Cotham, who switched parties last year, giving the GOP a veto-proof supermajority in the legislature.
Other key Senate races
Here are some other key Senate races:
ate District 4: This race includes parts of Greene, Wayne, and Wilson counties, featuring Republican Sen. Buck Newton, who has served four terms in two different stints in the Senate, and Democrat Raymond Smith, a former House member. The district leans slightly Republican.
ate District 7: This New Hanover County race is between Democrat David Hill, Libertarian John Evans, and Republican Sen. Michael Lee, who has held this seat for four terms. The district leans slightly Democratic.
ate District 24: This district, which includes Hoke, Robeson, and Scotland counties, is contested by Republican Sen. Danny Britt, who has held the seat for four terms, and Democrat Kathy Batt. The district leans slightly Republican.
ate District 42: The race for this southeast Mecklenburg County district is between Democrat Woodson Bradley and Republican Stacie McGinn. The seat, which leans Republican, is currently held by Sen. Rachel Hunt, who is running for lieutenant governor against GOP candidate Hal Weatherman.
Other incumbents facing challenges
In the House, multiple Democratic incumbents are vying to hold onto their seats in districts that slightly favor Republicans, including Rep. Lindsey Prather in Buncombe County and Rep. Diamond Staton-Williams in Cabarrus County.
The district represented by Staton-Williams leans Republican by a margin of about 53% to 44.6%, according to Dave's Redistricting.
Several Republican incumbents in the House and Senate are also facing challenges. Most of these districts slightly favor the GOP, but there are exceptions, including the districts held by Rep. Frank Sossamon in Granville and Vance counties and Sen. Lisa Barnes in Franklin, Nash and Vance counties.
The district represented by Barnes favors Democrats by a 53.2% to 45.1% margin, according to Dave's Redistricting.
