(The Center Square) – Majority power in the House of Representatives, possessed by North Carolina Republicans since the 2010 midterms, arguably rides with 26 of the 120 seats up for grabs in the 2026 midterms.
All 120 seats in the chamber are on the ballot this fall. Republicans have 71 seats, Democrats 47 and two former Democrats are now unaffiliated. Key numbers are 61 for majority and 72 for three-fifths majority, meaning the ability to override vetoes without help if all are present and voting party line.
Early voting began with absentee requests put in the mail on Sept. 4. Early voting in person is Oct. 15-31, and Election Day is Nov. 3.
Seven districts among the pivotal 26 potentially will be under closer watch than the others. They include District 25 from Nash County, Districts 35 and 37 from Wake County, District 73 from Cabarrus County, Districts 98 and 105 from Mecklenburg County, and District 115 from Buncombe County.
Others where wins by either party would not be a major upset are District 5 in the northeastern part of the state; District 7 in Franklin and Vance counties; District 9 in Pitt County; District 12 in Greene, Jones and Lenoir counties; District 20 in New Hanover County; District 24 in Nash and Wilson counties; District 26 in Johnston County; District 32 in Granville and Vance counties; District 43 in Cumberland County; District 48 in Hoke and Scotland counties; District 54 in Chatham and Randolph counties; Districts 59 and 62 in Guilford County; Districts 63 and 64 in Alamance County; Districts 74 and 75 in Forsyth County; District 82 in Cabarrus County; and District 119 in Jackson, Swain and Transylvania counties.
Some are more in play than others. For example, Democratic Rep. Robert Reives is the incumbent in District 54, minority leader of the chamber and aiming to win a seventh election after originally being appointed in January 2014. In District 48, Democratic Rep. Garland Pierce is seeking a 12th term yet he’s also among those multiple times helping Republicans with a needed vote or more to override vetoes.
On the other hand, two years ago Democratic Rep. Dante Pittman, in District 24, unseated Republican Rep. Ken Fontenot by 871 votes of more than 41,000 cast. In District 32 two years ago, Democrat Bryan Cohn unseated Republican Rep. Frank Sossamon and cleared a protest to win by 228 votes of more than 42,000 cast.
District 25
District 25 has voters in Nash County. Republican Rep. Allen Chesser, of Middlesex and seeking a third term, is challenged by Democrat Lorenza Wilkins of Battleboro and Libertarian Nick Taylor of Battleboro.
Chesser is campaigning on empowering parents and improving education; boosting the economy and creating jobs; says the first right granted by the Declaration of Independence and God is life; public safety; championing efforts for Nash County; and improving healthcare. Wilkins says “improving affordability and shared prosperity for the working class” anchors his platform, with emphasis on education, small businesses and mental health.
District 35
District 35, one of 13 in Wake County, is northeast of the capitol and includes Falls Lake, Rolesville and part of Wake Forest addresses. Republican Rep. Mike Schietzelt, of Wake Forest and seeking a second term, is challenged by Democrat Evonne Hopkins of Raleigh.
Schietzelt is campaigning on lowering property taxes he says have displaced long-term residents and veterans; rising housing and healthcare costs; and affordability for families. Hopkins is stumping on lowering the cost of living; strong public schools; affordable and reliable healthcare; responsible growth; safer communities; and protecting the state’s environment.
District 37
District 37, another of the 13 in Wake County, is south of the capitol and has voters in Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs and Willow Spring. Republican Rep. Erin Paré, of Holly Springs and seeking a fourth term, is challenged by Democrat Winn Decker of Fuquay-Varina.
Paré says the top issues are affordability; education; property taxes; the Division of Motor Vehicles; fairness in women’s sports; public safety; infrastructure; farmland preservation; and healthcare. Decker is campaigning on support for public schools with raised teacher pay; reduced property taxes; taking a stand against utility hikes; smart infrastructure growth; protection of access and affordable healthcare; and funding lawmen and first responders.
District 73
District 73 has voters in Cabarrus County. Republican Rep. Jonathan Almond, of Concord and seeking a second term, is challenged by Democrat Thomas Monks of Concord.
Almond, in his platform, champions his conservative principles on the issues of government overreach; the Second Amendment; lowering taxes; fiscal responsibility; backing the military and law enforcement; anti-abortion policies; election integrity; immigration and border policies; special education; term limits; parental choice on medical intervention; school curriculum; and the protection of minors. Monks says the “issues that matter” are public education, election integrity, healthcare, senior care, disaster preparedness, civic engagement, taxes, term limits and minimum wage.
District 98
District 98, one of 13 in Mecklenburg County, is north of Charlotte around the communities of Davidson, Cornelius and Hopewell. Democratic Rep. Beth Helfrich, from Davidson and seeking a second term, is challenged by Republican John Rhodes of Cornelius.
Helfrich stumps on her record advocating for local zoning control, the right to IVF and public safety needs; helping constituents with issues like Division of Motor Vehicles appointments, Department of Transportation questions and Medicaid coverage; showing up to vote; and attending more than 200 community meetings. Rhodes, a former member of the House, campaigns on being a constitutional conservative and patriot; seeking review and reassessment of the tolling on Interstate 77; protection of women’s spaces; fiscal conservative approach to government and taxes; supportive of lawmen and border security; defender of the Second Amendment; and anti-abortion policies.
IVF is the acronym for in vitro fertilization, the medical process where an egg and sperm are combined outside the body in a laboratory dish to create an embryo.
District 105
District 105, another of the 13 in Mecklenburg County, is southeast of Charlotte and winds from north of Mint Hill to the communities of Tuckaway Park and Olde Providence. Republican Rep. Tricia Cotham, from Charlotte and seeking to win a seventh election over two stints, is challenged by Democrat Ken McCool of Matthews.
The race may be as watched as any in the General Assembly, similar to two years ago. Cotham switched parties in April 2023, saying Democrats left her rather than the other way around. She won by 213 votes of more than 54,000 cast two years ago over Democrat Nicole Sidman.
Cotham runs on a record for fighting inflation, protecting the community, and “putting kids first.” McCool’s priorities are to fully fund public schools, lower the cost of living, strengthening public safety, and to “hold our leaders accountable.”
District 115
District 115 has voters in Buncombe County. Democratic Rep. Lindsey Prather, of Candler and seeking her third term, is challenged by Republican Anthony Penland of Swannanoa.
Prather’s platform is led by better education; good government, meaning no gerrymandered maps, no voter suppression and no politicians who only care about getting reelected; affordable healthcare; a clean environment; and equality for all, meaning education, equal access to ballots and polling places, and rural healthcare access.
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