Nov 6, 2024 - News

NC Democrats break GOP legislative supermajority

Lucille Sherman

Photo illustration of the North Carolina State Capitol over a divided red and blue background with elements of ballots. — Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photo: Rolf Schulten/Getty Images

North Carolina Democrats appear to have broken the GOP's supermajority in the state legislature, flipping a key seat an hour east of Raleigh.

Why it matters: Come January Republicans will no longer hold the power to override gubernatorial vetoes, which could force them to negotiate with Governor-elect Josh Stein in order to pass their biggest priorities.

Driving the news: Democrat Dante Pittman unseated Republican Rep. Ken Fontenot in House District 24, which includes Wilson County and a small portion of Nash County.

The GOP seems to have maintained its supermajority of 30 seats in the state Senate, though two races — one in Mecklenburg County and one in Wake County — were extremely close as of 1am Wednesday morning.

Context: Republicans didn't have a supermajority during the pandemic to override Gov. Roy Cooper's executive orders.

Flashback: Republicans were in the same position just two years ago, when they fell one seat short of a supermajority in the state House.

That changed in the spring of 2023, when state Rep. Tricia Cotham changed her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, handing the GOP a supermajority and the votes to pass legislation further restricting abortions in the state.

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NC Democrats break GOP legislative supermajority

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