Democrats flip NC House, Roy Cooper wins Senate, Texas SBOE split

Tight races in Texas districts 7 and 8

At least four new Democrats won seats on the board, which reduces Texas Republicans' dominance over classroom curricula.

Democrats secure control of North Carolina House

Democrats have secured control of the North Carolina House for the first time since 2010, picking up at least 17 seats in the November 5, 2026, election, The Charlotte Ledger reported.

The North Carolina House currently stands at 66-48 in favor of Democrats, with WRAL reporting that six races remain pending.

Shifting political landscape in North Carolina

The political landscape in North Carolina is undergoing a significant transition with the Democratic Party securing control of the House. This shift is expected to influence appointments to state boards and commissions, including the State Board of Education. Robert Reives of Chatham and Randolph counties is the anticipated new Speaker of the North Carolina House.

Democratic Governor Josh Stein is in office, and the combined Democratic control of the House and near-control of the Senate could shift state policy priorities toward urban areas and affect spending and board appointments. In the North Carolina Senate, Democrats came within one vote of taking control, potentially moving the chamber from a 10-4 Republican-Democrat split to a 9-5 Democratic-Republican advantage. Republican Representative Virginia Foxx currently trails Democrat Don Davis by 99 votes in a contest likely to head to a recount, which could alter the current Senate balance.

Former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper won the U.S. Senate seat for North Carolina over Republican Michael Whatley by a 59% to 39% margin, becoming the first Democrat from the state to win a Senate seat in 18 years. Democrats also won an open seat in the North Carolina mountains and handed losses to Republican U.S. Representatives Richard Hudson and Brad Knott. Meanwhile, incumbent Democrat Alma Adams and incumbent Republican Mark Harris both won their respective U.S. House races.

In local contests, the southern Mecklenburg seat held by Tricia Cotham, who switched to the Republican Party in 2023, was won by former Matthews commissioner Ken McCool. Democratic State Senator Woodson Bradley defeated Republican challenger Stacie McGinn in Charlotte. Democrats won all Mecklenburg County commissioner races, maintaining a 9-0 Democratic advantage. Charlotte voters also approved bonds for transportation, housing, and neighborhood improvements.

The North Carolina Supreme Court maintains a 5-2 Republican majority after Democratic incumbent Anita Earls defeated Republican challenger Sarah Stevens. Voters in North Carolina approved three constitutional amendments, which include a photo-ID requirement for voting, a cap on the state’s income-tax rate, and limits on local property-tax increases.

Salt Lake County Council moves toward Democratic majority

The Salt Lake County Council is moving toward a Democratic majority as preliminary results indicate a potential 6-3 shift in power. Republicans currently hold a 5-4 advantage on the nine-member council. If current numbers hold, Democrats would control the council 6-3 beginning next year.

County officials stated they are currently unsure how many ballots remain to be counted. The nine-member council was already set for changes, as two Republican members did not seek reelection and a third was unseated in the party’s nominating convention.

Salt Lake County election results by district

In the At-Large A race, Democrat Zach Robinson leads Republican Kathleen Anderson with 65% of the vote against 33%, based on 262,183 counted ballots. Robinson described the current results as a "win for all of us".

District 1 incumbent Democrat Jiro Johnson leads Libertarian Casey Poe with 86% to 14% from 36,588 ballots.

Democrat Ali Cloward leads County Auditor Chris Harding 63% to 37% in the race for that office.

These results follow the 2024 reelection of Democrat Jenny Wilson as the mayor of Salt Lake County.

Voters approve Salt Lake County recreational bond

A count of over 243,000 votes shows the measure leading 61% to 39%.

The measure will not increase property taxes, as it replaces an expiring bond approved ten years ago. A list of proposed projects for the funding is available on the Salt Lake County website.

Clerk Lannie Chapman said that thousands of ballots remain to be counted, though she was unsure of the exact number. Final election results will not be official until the Salt Lake County certification process concludes later in November.