(The Center Square) – Democrats have won a majority of seats in the North Carolina House of Representatives for the first time since the landmark 2008 election that sent Barack Obama to the White House.
In unofficial results, with some outlets saying six races are too close to call, Democrats won 70 seats, Republicans 49 and unaffiliated candidate April Montgomery won District 51.
Back then, it was business as usual – 68-52 that year – for 140 years since Reconstruction after the Civil War. Republicans with House maps not in their favor rose up to gain 67 seats and Tuesday it was Democrats doing similarly.
First-term Gov. Josh Stein is a Democrat and Republicans were narrowly awaiting one final call to possibly retain the Senate 26-24.
Going into Tuesday, Republicans’ majority in the House was 71-47 with two independents that had been Democrats voting often with the Grand Old Party. The Senate had been 30-20 Republicans.
Democrats swept seven key races: District 25 (Lorenza Wilkins over Republican incumbent Rep. Allen Chesser) from Nash County; Districts 35 (Evonne Hopkins over incumbent Rep. Mike Schietzelt) and 37 (Winn Decker over incumbent Rep. Erin Pare) from Wake County; District 73 (Thomas Monks over incumbent Rep. Jonathan Almond) from Cabarrus County; Districts 98 (incumbent Rep. Beth Helfrich over Republican challenger John Rhodes) and 105 (Ken McCool over incumbent Rep. Tricia Cotham) from Mecklenburg County; and District 115 (incumbent Rep. Lindsey Prather over Republican challenger Anthony Penland) from Buncombe County.