This is a breaking election update from the Cardinal & Pine team.

For more election night news, follow us here.

In North Carolina, we had a lot to vote for. 

At this hour, many races are still being tabulated. But a clear picture is emerging of how North Carolinians felt. They wanted change. It appears they are turning toward Democrats to bring that.

Democrats are overperforming across the state, in shocking ways.

Many races are still uncalled at this hour, but this graphic from The New York Times, capturing the state of the US House races in NC, is astonishing. Very few people had many of these races on the map. 

Furthermore, at least one chamber of the NC General Assembly appears to be in play. 

Below, take a look at the major races that have already been called. Look for an update Wednesday morning from Cardinal & Pine.

After running for office for 40 years, Roy Cooper remains undefeated as a political candidate in North Carolina. 

In the race for US Senate, Cooper—who was previously governor and attorney general of North Carolina—defeated Michael Whatley, former Chairman of the Republican National Committee. With 94% of the vote in, Cooper led Whatley 59-39%.

Cooper’s victory is critical for Democrats’ hopes of retaking the US Senate. Democrats put forward Cooper, a centrist candidate with a history of strong cross-party appeal. Republicans nominated Whatley, a first-time candidate for office who had President Donald Trump’s backing.

“We have to work to make health care, housing and groceries more affordable,” Cooper said in a statement Tuesday night. “To end this war and stop the pain at the pump. To protect Medicaid expansion that is providing affordable health care to hundreds of thousands of people. To stop the corruption and take on the special interests that get rich while people struggle to get by.”

For more election results and updates throughout the night, follow our live coverage here.

Democratic Justice Anita Earls defeated GOP former state House Rep. Sarah Stevens (R-Surry County). She won it surprisingly easily, claiming nearly 60% of the vote, with 93% of the state reporting.

“It is the honor of my life to be elected to serve another term of the Supreme Court,” Earls said in a statement on X. “I am so grateful to everyone who worked so hard to make this victory possible. Thank you for your trust, North Carolina!”

Earls’ win is critical for Democrats who have saved two incumbent court seats in a row. While Republicans maintain a 5-2 majority on the Court, three seats currently held by Republicans are on the ballot in 2028, giving Democrats an opportunity to flip the Court Blue in two years.

This was one of the most critical races in North Carolina, given the high court’s potential power over gerrymandering, utility rates, and the state’s obligation to fund public education. 

For more election results and updates throughout the night, follow our live coverage here.

Jamie Ager (D), a farmer from Fairview, has defeated state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom (R-Hendersonville) in his first run for office, according to multiple outlets. 

Ager will be sworn into the new Congress on Jan. 3, 2027, representing communities still fighting to recover from Hurricane Helene, two years after the storm inflicted $60 billion in damage across the region.

Ager made securing more federal support for hurricane recovery a core part of his campaign.

He will represent the district four decades after his grandfather Jamie Clarke served in the same seat.

In addition to Helene funding, Ager campaigned against corruption and stock trading in Washington, as well as against President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and war in Iran that have made the cost of living higher for North Carolinians.

Balkcom got a late start in the race, entering in August following Rep. Chuck Edwards’ exit. Edwards was pressured to quit his re-election campaign after he was accused of misconduct toward female staffers.

During her time in the campaign, Balkcom, a state lawmaker in NC, provided few details for voters to learn about her policies, and her website didn’t include plans or policy positions.

For more election results and updates throughout the night, follow our live coverage here.

By late Tuesday evening, incumbent Rep. Don Davis led Republican challenger Laurie Buckhout, a former Army colonel, 49-47% with 94% of the votes in. 

The race between Davis and Buckhout was a rematch of 2024 but with a different map. Republicans redrew the map at President Trump’s behest in order to make it easier for the GOP to win.

At this point, it’s unclear if the GOP gerrymandering was successful in that effort.

Davis is an Air Force veteran, pastor, and the fifth generation of his family to live in eastern North Carolina. Buckhout is a former Army colonel who lives in Edenton.

Davis centered his campaign on delivering for the district and fighting for healthcare and jobs for his constituents.

For more election results and updates throughout the night, follow our live coverage here.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Billy Ball. I’m an NC native and journalist. I tend to lean left on opinion, but I lean no way on facts. This newsletter includes content from Dylan Rhoney. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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