Democrats were called winners in four Republican-held U.S. House districts in North Carolina after Tuesday’s election, deepening their gains as five races statewide remained unresolved.
By Thursday, AP had called nine of North Carolina’s 14 House races for Democrats and none for Republicans, NPR reported. Four of those wins were Republican-held seats; Democrat Don Davis retained the 1st District. AP calls covered nine Democratic wins and no Republican wins; five races had not been called. North Carolina entered the election with 10 Republicans and four Democrats in its delegation.
Democrat LaKesha Womack defeated Rep. Tim Moore in the 14th District. Before joining Congress, Moore was speaker of the North Carolina House. Paul Barringer won the 13th District against Rep. Brad Knott. In the 9th, former West Virginia state Sen. Richard Ojeda defeated Rep. Richard Hudson, who was chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson defeated Rep. Addison McDowell in the 6th District.
NPR reported that the four districts changing party hands were redrawn in 2023 in a way that gave Republicans an advantage. In 2024, Moore won the 14th by about 16%, while McDowell’s margin in the 6th exceeded 38%. The North Carolina results add to Democrats’ wider midterm gains.
AP also called the 1st District for incumbent Democrat Rep. Don Davis. He led Republican Laurie Buckhout by more than 10,000 votes on Thursday, NPR reported, a larger margin than his 2024 win. The district’s boundaries had been redrawn in 2025 to improve Republican candidates’ chances, according to NPR.
Two of the five remaining uncalled races were especially close, NPR reported. Republican Rep. Greg Murphy led Democrat Raymond Smith by 233 votes in the 3rd District, which NPR said was likely headed for a recount. In the 5th District, Democrat Chuck Hubbard led 11-term Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx by 99 votes; that race could also face a recount.
NPR said the delegation would shift to 10 Democrats and four Republicans if all five remaining results stood as reported.
