North Carolina House delegation flips to Democrats

The Associated Press called nine of North Carolina's 14 U.S. House races for Democrats on Thursday. No Republican candidates had been called by that time. The result reverses the state's congressional delegation, which held a 10-4 Republican majority before Tuesday's election.

Four districts previously held by Republicans shifted to Democratic control. High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson defeated first-term incumbent Rep. Addison McDowell in the 6th District. Richard Ojeda, a former West Virginia state senator, unseated Rep. Richard Hudson in the 9th District. Hudson had served as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. Paul Barringer defeated Rep. Brad Knott in the 13th District, while LaKesha Womack defeated Rep. Tim Moore in the 14th District. Moore previously served as speaker of the North Carolina House.

These districts were drawn in 2023 to favor Republican candidates. In the 2024 election, all four held by Republicans. Rep. Tim Moore won the 14th District by approximately 16% in 2024. Rep. Addison McDowell won the 6th District by more than 38% that same year. The map changes did not prevent the current upsets.

U.S. Rep. Brian Jack of Georgia wrote to fellow House Republicans regarding the losses. Jack is one candidate vying to replace Hudson as NRCC chair. He suggested that Senate Republicans withdrawing support from the state created a cascade effect. Former Gov. Roy Cooper won the open U.S. Senate seat by nearly 20%.

The 1st Congressional District in northeastern North Carolina was called for incumbent Democrat Rep. Don Davis. He leads Republican challenger Laurie Buckhout by more than 10,000 votes. This margin exceeds his 2024 victory. Legislators redrew the district last year to benefit GOP candidates by moving Republican-leaning counties from the 3rd District.

Five seats remain uncalled as of Thursday. In the 3rd District, incumbent Republican Greg Murphy leads Democrat Raymond Smith by 233 votes. Democrats did not field a candidate in that district in 2024. The race is likely to proceed to a recount. In the 5th District, Democratic challenger Chuck Hubbard leads 11-term incumbent Virginia Foxx by 99 votes, also likely heading to a recount.

If the remaining results hold, the state delegation will consist of 10 Democrats and four Republicans. The previous configuration was 10 Republicans and four Democrats.