Despite breaking the supermajority in the North Carolina House in 2024, Democrats were unable to make gains in the state Senate.
Republicans currently enjoy a 30-20 supermajority in the General Assembly’s upper chamber.
In November’s midterm elections, they need to flip one seat, while holding all of their current seats to prevent the GOP from overriding Democratic Gov. Josh Stein’s vetoes during the final two years of his first term.
Here’s a look at the key seats Democrats would need to hold and flip in order to break the supermajority.
Senate District 11: James Gailliard (D) vs. state Sen. Lisa Barnes (R)
Encompassing part of Vance, Nash, and Franklin counties, this eastern North Carolina district is currently represented by Lisa Barnes, a Republican, and a key race Democrats hope to flip in November.
In 2024, Barnes won by just over 2.5% (2,907 votes).
This year, Democrats have nominated Rev. James Gailliard, the senior pastor at Word Tabernacle Church in Rocky Mount and a former member of the North Carolina House of Representatives.
With a Gailliard victory, Democrats would break the supermajority if all of their incumbent members win reelection.
Senate District 13: state Sen. Lisa Grafstein (D) vs. Robert van Brederode (R)
This district that includes much of southern Wake County, including Fuquay-Varina and part of Holly Springs, is represented by two-term incumbent Lisa Grafstein, a Democrat. If Republicans are going to maintain their supermajority, it’s one of the seats they have to flip.
Grafstein won her 2024 race by 4,245 votes.
This year, she will face Robert van Brederode, a tax attorney and law professor from Fuquay-Varina.
Senate District 18: state Sen. Haseeb Fatmi (D) vs. Chris Stock (R)
This district includes part of northern Wake County, including North Raleigh, Rolesville, Wendell, and Wake Forest, as well as Granville County.
State Sen. Haseeb Fatmi was appointed to the seat on May 21 of this year following the resignation of former state Sen. Terence Everitt.
Fatmi is a Wake County-based attorney, who will now campaign for a full term in what was one of the closest races in the state in 2024, which Everitt won by just 128 votes.
While winning the Wake County portion of the district by nearly 3 points, Everitt lost Granville County, which includes towns like Creedmoor, Butner, and Oxford, by nearly 8 points.
Fatmi will face Wake County-based attorney Chris Stock of Wake Forest.
Senate District 42: state Sen. Woodson Bradley (D) vs. Stacie McGinn (R)
Senate District 42 will be a rematch of 2024 when Bradley defeated McGinn by 209 votes. The Mecklenburg County district includes part of Charlotte neighborhoods like Meyers Park and Barclay Downs, as well as the towns of Matthews and Ballantyne.
Bradley is a small business owner, and as a survivor of domestic violence, she has made helping victims of domestic abuse and violent crime a core part of her legislative work.
McGinn is a corporate attorney, who has worked as a partner at Skadden and for Bank of America as part of their global consumer legal group.
Senate District 34: April Cook (D) vs. state Sen. Chris Measmer (R)
Another district Democrats could flip from the GOP is based in Cabarrus County, and includes the city of Concord.
Republicans won the fast-growing Charlotte suburb district by nearly 9 points in 2024.
April Cook, the Democrat in the race, is a first-time candidate with decades of experience working in healthcare as the co-founder and executive director of Lake Norman Community Health Clinic and is the chief executive officer of the North Carolina Association of Free and Charitable Clinics.
Republican Senator Chris Measmer, a second-generation business owner, will be looking to hold this seat for Republicans after being appointed to the state Senate following the resignation of Republican former state Sen. Paul Newton, who left in early 2025.
