Democrats sweep Triangle area legislative races

Strong Democratic turnout turned the Triangle’s legislative delegation solid blue Tuesday night, unseating two Republican House members and a Republican senator in a neighboring county.

N.C. HOUSE 37

Voters in southern Wake County opted to flip House District 37, electing newcomer Winn Decker and sending home Republican Rep. Erin Paré after three terms.

The Associated Press projected Decker as the winner, capturing nearly 55% percent of the vote, according to unofficial election results from the N.C. Board of Elections. Paré won 45% of the vote.

Decker, an education policy expert who formerly worked at The Hunt Institute, ran a campaign centered on affordability. Decker said on his website that as Wake County continues to grow, the district needs leadership committed to strengthening public education, improving infrastructure, and expanding economic opportunity.

Decker said his decision to run was based on his belief that the Republican-controlled legislature was not being responsive to the rising costs of housing, health care, groceries, and taxes.

Paré had hoped to win a fourth term in the House where she serves as a chair of the House Committee on Appropriations and chairs the House Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction and Reform. She advocated higher teacher pay and touted her background as a military spouse and small business owner.

The district covers the towns of Fuquay-Varina and parts of Holly Springs.

N.C. HOUSE 35

In her second attempt to win House District 35 in northern Wake County, Democrat Evonne Hopkins successfully defeated Republican incumbent Rep. Mike Schietzelt.

The Associated Press projected Hopkins as the winner, capturing 56% percent of the vote, according to unofficial election results from the N.C. Board of Elections. Schietzelt earned 44% of Tuesday’s vote.

Hopkins, a family law specialist, focused her campaign on lowering the cost of living, protecting access to Medicaid, and ensuring quality, affordable healthcare. In addition to paying teachers more, Hopkins advocated for more counselors, nurses, and special-education professionals in the state’s public schools. Hopkins was recognized for her work in child custody cases in 2024 with Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Pro Bono Hero Award.

Schietzelt, who came up short on Tuesday amidst very strong Democratic turnout, tried to lean into the affordability message. He called for higher pay for educators and worked to block a plan to turn Capital Boulevard into a toll road. More recently, Schietzelt said he would focus on rising housing and healthcare costs if elected to another term in the legislature.

N.C. SENATE 11

James Gailliard will return to the North Carolina legislature, this time in the state Senate. Gailliard, a Democratic former member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, defeated Republican incumbent Senator Lisa Stone Barnes. Barnes has represented Franklin, Nash and Vance counties in the Senate since 2021.

The Associated Press projected Gailliard as the winner, capturing 51% percent of the vote, according to unofficial election results from the N.C. Board of Elections. Barnes earned 46% of Tuesday’s vote.

Gailliard focused much of his campaign on education funding. Gailliard has been a vocal supporter of providing students with their constitutionally mandated right to a “sound basic education.” He also supports expanding the N.C. Teaching Fellows Program, universal pre-K and wraparound services such as mental health support, nutrition programs and after-school care.

Gailliard also proposes down-payment assistance for first-time home buyers, state funding for community development and affordable housing partnerships, and emergency rental assistance and eviction-prevention programs.

Barnes leaned into reducing taxes and controlling government spending. Senate Leader Phil Berger tapped Barnes to co-chair the new Select Committee on Property Tax Reform in September.

N.C. SENATE 18

Sen. Haseeb Fatmi, D-Wake, who was appointed to the N.C. Senate in May 2026 to replace Sen. Terence Everitt, won the support of voters Tuesday and will continue to represent Senate District 18. The district covers northern Wake County including Wake Forest and Rolesville and all of Granville County.

The Associated Press projected Fatmi as the winner, capturing 56% percent of the vote, according to unofficial election results from the N.C. Board of Elections.  Republican challenger Chris Stock earned more than 41% of Tuesday’s vote.

Fatmi, an attorney and former Wake Forest town commissioner, focused his campaign on tax relief for working families and lowering energy and healthcare costs.

Stock, who worked for state Sen. Brent Jackson, said on his website that he learned how to “craft efficient budgets” through his time at the General Assembly and would use that experience to lower costs for families, seniors, and small businesses.

The race also featured Libertarian Brad Hessel, former executive director of the Libertarian Party of North Carolina, who captured 2% of the vote.