North Carolina Republicans were hoping to gain a majority in both houses of the General Assembly that would be strong enough to thwart vetoes by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
North Carolina Republicans were hoping to gain a majority in both houses of the General Assembly that would be strong enough to thwart vetoes by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
North Carolina Senate Republicans won a 30-seat supermajority in the 50-member chamber, which would allow them to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto without any Democratic support. But Republicans fell one seat shy of a supermajority in the House after Tuesday’s elections.
Incumbent Sen. Michael Lee delivered the 30th seat defeating Democratic challenger Marcia Morgan in state Senate District 7.
Republicans entered the night with 28 safe or likely victories, including flipping a seat held by Democrat Toby Fitch. Lee’s win, coupled with a victory by incumbent Sen. Bobby Hanig against Democrat Valerie Jordan in a northeastern North Carolina seat, pushed the Republicans to the magic number.
« This election has been a barometer for where voters want their state and country to go, » said Senate Republican leader Phil Berger in a statement Tuesday night. « The Republican platform of low taxes, job creation, expanded parental choice, and quality education, is one that reflects the needs of all North Carolinians. »
Cooper has vetoed more bills than any governor in North Carolina history since taking office in 2016 with Republicans in control of the state legislature.
However, since Republicans lost their supermajorities in both the House and Senate in the 2018 election, none of Cooper’s vetoes have been overridden.
In the 120-member North Carolina House, Republicans need 72 seats to win a supermajority. They fell tantilizingly close, winning 71 seats.
Democratic wins by Terence Everitt in Wake County, Diamond Stanton-Williams in Cabarrus County and Laura Budd in Mecklenburg were pivotal wins on a night when Republicans knocked off six Democratic incumbents.
