North Carolina Democrats Flip Five Congressional Seats
A new congressional map drawn by Republicans in 2025 failed to prevent a major shift, as former Governor Roy Cooper wins by nearly 20 points.
By Alina Campbell ·
Democrats flipped five House seats in North Carolina during last week’s midterm elections. This ties California for the most seat changes in any state. Three additional races in the state remain uncalled. Current results show razor-thin margins separating Republican incumbents from their challengers in the 3rd and 5th districts. Rep. David Rouzer leads his opponent in the 7th District by roughly 2,500 votes. These outcomes occurred in a state that has not supported a Democratic presidential candidate since 2008. President Donald Trump carried the state by three points in 2024.
Former Governor Roy Cooper secured a victory over former RNC Chair Michael Whatley by nearly 20 points. This win came despite a new congressional map drawn by Republicans in 2025. The redistricting effort aimed to expand the GOP advantage from 10-4 to 11-3. The mid-decade redistricting, which President Trump spurred, resulted in a Democratic gain rather than a Republican one. All five flipped districts were previously carried by Trump by at least nine points in the 2024 election. Democratic Rep. Don Davis also held his seat in the 1st District by three points. One of the newly Democratic seats was previously held by Rep. Richard Hudson, the chair of House Republicans’ national campaign arm.
Kian Sadjadi, executive director of the North Carolina Democratic Party, attributed the shift to young male voters and unaffiliated voters. He noted that turnout increased across nearly every county in the state. “We had a big increase in our turnout overall. We saw turnout coming from all parts of the state, basically, every single county except for a couple moved toward the Democrats,” Sadjadi said. He added that the state will be a true battleground in the 2028 presidential election. Sadjadi cautioned that the party must continue to fight as if it is behind. “We will be a true battleground. It’ll be one of our most competitive states,” he stated.
North Carolina Democrats will hold a majority of the state’s congressional seats in the new Congress. The state will also elect a newly minted senator. State party Chair Anderson Clayton has been credited by Democrats for building a strong on-the-ground organization. This infrastructure has helped the party flip statewide, judicial, and local seats in recent cycles. The party’s success in North Carolina contrasts with the broader Republican losses seen in other battleground states. The new map failed to protect Republican incumbents in districts that Trump won by double digits.
House Republicans elected Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio as their next minority leader. Jordan defeated Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana in a secret ballot vote. The vote count was 106-73. Jordan, a fervent Trump supporter, said his experience chairing the Oversight Committee prepares him to combat Democratic investigations. “I am battle-tested on the oversight front and I know the Democrats’ playbook,” Jordan wrote to colleagues. His victory marks a clean break from the leadership of outgoing Speaker Mike Johnson. Senate Republicans re-elected Sen. John Thune of South Dakota as minority leader. The leadership election was delayed by a small group of conservatives before proceeding as scheduled.
Senate Democrats are preparing for their leadership elections next month. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont announced he will not support Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York. Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan also called for a change in leadership. “I am not actively seeking this job. I am seeking change,” Slotkin said. Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said he is actively listening to colleagues about a potential challenge. “We should not have a coronation,” Van Hollen told reporters. Schumer remains the clear favorite to remain leader until a challenger gains traction. The party’s leadership elections are slated to take place next month. No other candidates have formally entered the race yet.
The House also narrowly rejected a push to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Justice Department stated its agenda will not change despite incoming Democratic leadership. California voters rejected a ballot measure that sought to impose a one-time tax on billionaires. Prices rose 0.4% from September, driven largely by easing gas prices. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is laying the groundwork for a conservative think tank. This organization would allow him to develop political infrastructure after leaving office.
