North Carolina is the same as it ever was
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
For the third time in eight years, North Carolina voters delivered the state to Republican President Trump — and to a Democratic candidate in the race for governor.
Why it matters: Tuesday night's results were a reminder that despite the state's rapid growth and shifting demographics, North Carolina is the same as it ever was: swingy, unpredictable and reliably purple.
The latest: The race between Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein and embattled Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson was over before 9pm Tuesday, and Robinson conceded shortly thereafter.
- North Carolina was also the first swing state called in the presidential race — the Associated Press declared Trump the winner here at around 11:15pm.
The big picture: The call came much earlier than four years ago, when the AP took 10 days to officially call the state for Trump.
Yes, but: North Carolina Democrats appear to have broken the GOP's supermajority in the state legislature, flipping a key seat an hour east of Raleigh.
Flashback: North Carolina helped send Trump to the White House in 2016, and, that same year, elected Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper over incumbent Republican Gov. Pat McCrory.
- In 2020, the state went for Trump and Cooper again.
Zoom out: Voters seem to have ping-ponged between Democrats and Republicans as they made their way down the ballot this year, electing members of both parties in the statewide council of state races.
- Democratic Congressman Jeff Jackson defeated Republican Congressman Dan Bishop in the race for attorney general. And Democrat Mo Green won a high-profile race for state schools superintendent over Republican Michele Morrow.
- Democrats also led in the races for secretary of state and lieutenant governor.
- In the race for agriculture commissioner, though, Republican incumbent Steve Troxler appears to have held onto his seat, defeating Democrat Sarah Taber. And Republican Luke Farley defeated Charlotte Democrat Braxton Winston for labor commissioner.
- Republicans also claimed insurance commissioner and state treasurer, and led in the state auditor's race.
Between the lines: Robinson is almost certain to have had some impact on Republicans down the ballot.
- Democrats jumped at the opportunity to link their opponents to the lieutenant governor, whose campaign for governor has been in free fall since September, when CNN reported that Robinson allegedly made unsavory comments on a porn site message board.
What's next: North Carolina will continue its era of divided government, with a Democrat in the governor's mansion, Republicans in control of the state legislature and the courts, and both parties well-represented on the council of state.