RALEIGH, N.C. (WGHP) — As the final results of the General Election roll in across North Carolina and the country, the state’s future governor, Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein, has found plenty to celebrate along with the Democratic party.
Last year, Republicans gained a supermajority in the North Carolina House of Representatives after Rep. Tricia Cotham (R-District 105) switched parties mid-term, abandoning the Democratic Party in favor of the Republicans.
Cotham was narrowly reelected to her seat, but, in order to hold onto that supermajority, the Republicans needed to maintain 72 seats in the house. However, District 98 went to Democrat Beth Helfrich, a former teacher, and District 24 went to Dante Pittman, taking those seats from the GOP.
Incumbent Rep. Don Davis (R-District 1) won with a narrow lead against Laurie Buckhout, who conceded on Wednesday, writing “While Don and I have different visions, it is obvious to everyone he cares about this district.”
District 1 was largely considered one of the most competitive in the state, even after Republicans redrew maps in a way critics said favored them.
While not all races have been called and several are within the margin of a recount, at the moment it appears that the spread in the house now sits at 71-49. A supermajority is considered to be 72-48 and would give the party in control enough votes to override vetoes from the governor’s office.
Governor-Elect Josh Stein celebrated what these wins meant for the balance of power in North Carolina, saying:
“Yesterday, North Carolinians sent a clear message that they believe we will go further when we go together, not as Democrats, Republicans or Independents, but as North Carolinians. The issues facing our state – rebuilding western North Carolina, creating good jobs, strengthening public schools, ensuring safe neighborhoods, and protecting personal freedoms – are not partisan issues; they are North Carolina issues. To build a brighter future for everyone in our state, we must come together across our differences and get to work. I’m ready to go.”
While North Carolina went to President-Elect Donald Trump in the presidential race, Democrats won prominent state races with Stein taking the governor’s mansion, Rachel Hunt winning lieutenant governor, Jeff Jackson winning attorney general and Mo Green winning state superintendent.