News -- November 4, 2026:
Democrats won control of the U.S. House and Senate in Tuesday’s midterm elections, shifting Washington’s balance of power for the final two years of President Donald Trump’s term. North Carolina contributed to those gains by electing former Gov. Roy Cooper to the Senate and Democrat Jamie Ager to represent Western North Carolina in Congress.
The victories position Democrats to lead congressional committees and shape negotiations over federal spending and legislation when the new Congress convenes in January. Several individual races remain unresolved, leaving the final size of their majorities undetermined.
National congressional results
Democrats secured majorities in both chambers, although the national count remained incomplete:
U.S. House: The reported tally showed 231 Democratic seats, 141 Republican seats and 63 unresolved contests. A majority requires 218 seats.
U.S. Senate: The Democratic caucus secured 54 seats, including two independents, compared with 44 Republican seats. Two contests remained unresolved.
Senate pickups: Democrats flipped seven Republican-held seats—in North Carolina, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas.
These figures represent an incomplete tally of secured seats, not the final composition of Congress.
Democratic gains also extended to state legislatures. The party gained control of five chambers: the North Carolina House, Wisconsin Senate, Wisconsin Assembly, Pennsylvania Senate and Minnesota House.
Cooper wins North Carolina Senate race
Roy Cooper defeated Republican Michael Whatley for the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis.
Unofficial State Board of Elections returns showed Cooper with 2,467,963 votes, or 58.72%, and Whatley with 1,643,088 votes, or 39.09%. Other candidates received the remaining votes.
Cooper became the first Democrat to win a U.S. Senate election in North Carolina since 2008.
North Carolina’s congressional races
Unofficial returns showed Democrats ahead in nine of North Carolina’s 14 U.S. House districts. Announced victories and remaining leads included:
District 1: Democrat Don Davis won against Republican Laurie Buckhout.
District 2: Democrat Deborah Ross led Republican Eugene Douglass.
District 3: Republican Greg Murphy led Democrat Raymond Smith by 233 votes. The outcome remained unresolved.
District 4: Democrat Valerie Foushee led Republican Mahesh Ganorkar.
District 5: Democrat Chuck Hubbard led Republican Virginia Foxx by 99 votes. The outcome remained unresolved.
District 6: Democrat Cyril Jefferson defeated Republican Addison McDowell.
District 7: Republican David Rouzer led Democrat Kimberly Hardy.
District 8: Republican Mark Harris led Democrat Colby Watson.
District 9: Democrat Richard Ojeda II defeated Republican Richard Hudson.
District 10: Republican Pat Harrigan led Democrat Ashley Bell.
District 11: Democrat Jamie Ager defeated Republican Jennifer Balkcom.
District 12: Democrat Alma Adams won against Republican Jack Codiga.
District 13: Democrat Paul Barringer defeated Republican Brad Knott.
District 14: Democrat Lakesha Womack defeated Republican Tim Moore.
The narrow margins in several contests leave the delegation’s final party breakdown unsettled. A lead in unofficial returns does not by itself establish a declared winner.
State legislature, Supreme Court and amendments
Democrats regained the North Carolina House, while Republicans were positioned to retain a narrower Senate majority.
N.C. House: Unofficial returns showed Democrats leading in 71 districts, Republicans in 48 and an unaffiliated candidate in one.
N.C. Senate: Republicans led in 26 districts and Democrats in 24. That would leave Republicans below the 30 seats needed for a veto-proof supermajority.
N.C. Supreme Court: Justice Anita Earls defeated Sarah Stevens, receiving 58.86% of the unofficial vote.
Constitutional amendments: All three measures received majority support. They addressed photo identification for voting, a maximum income-tax rate of 3.5% and a property-tax levy limit.
Major Western North Carolina results
Jamie Ager won the 11th Congressional District with 195,637 votes, or 57.14%, compared with Jennifer Balkcom’s 141,427 votes, or 41.30%. His victory returns the seat to Democratic representation after more than a decade.
Other major regional results included:
Asheville mayor: Kim Roney defeated Esther Manheimer, 25,676 votes to 18,375.
Buncombe County commissioners: Anna Stearns led Rob Stetson in District 1, and Lonnie Israel led Greg Parks in District 2. Al Whitesides ran unopposed in District 3.
Buncombe County bonds: Voters supported both housing and open-space bonds.
Haywood County sheriff: Mark Mease defeated Tyler Howell, 15,301 votes to 12,732.
Haywood County commissioners: David Burnette, Jeff Stines and Tommy Long were the top three vote-getters for three available seats.
N.C. House District 118: Jimmy Rogers led Danny Davis districtwide, 19,525 votes to 18,920—a margin of 605 votes.
N.C. House District 117: Lynne Russo defeated Chelsea Walsh, 22,710 votes to 21,180.
N.C. Senate District 48: Tim Moffitt defeated Doyle Brown Jr., 49,359 votes to 40,065.
Hendersonville mayor: Jerry Smith Jr. defeated Jennifer Hensley, 3,725 votes to 3,153.
Henderson County open-space preservation bond: The measure received 31,823 votes in favor and 21,697 against.
Results await certification
North Carolina’s vote totals remain unofficial pending ballot reviews, audits and certification. County canvass meetings are scheduled for November 13, followed by the state canvass November 24. Outstanding eligible ballots may change totals, particularly in close races.
This report covers all 14 North Carolina congressional districts and selected major statewide and Western North Carolina contests.
Sources: North Carolina State Board of Elections; Associated Press; Ballotpedia national results tally; Reuters; NC Newsline; The Assembly; Blue Ridge Public Radio; WLOS; Hendersonville Lightning; WFAE.
Election results note: This article reflects reported results available at publication. Vote totals remain unofficial until certified. Outstanding ballots, recounts and updated race calls may affect totals or outcomes in unresolved contests.