Republicans lose five congressional seats as Virginia Foxx trails by 99 votes. Reporting links Michael Whatley’s Senate collapse to down-ballot damage.
North Carolina Republicans lost five U.S. House seats, with a sixth hanging by 99 votes. NBC News’ results show Democrats winning nine of the state’s 14 seats, Republicans winning two and three races still uncalled.
Democrats flipped the 6th, 9th, 11th, 13th and 14th districts, WRAL reported. Addison McDowell, Richard Hudson, Brad Knott and Tim Moore lost. Jamie Ager defeated Jennifer Balkcom for the open seat Chuck Edwards vacated.
Hudson did not just lose his seat. As National Republican Congressional Committee chairman, he led the operation charged with keeping the House Republican.
In the 5th District, Democrat Chuck Hubbard leads Virginia Foxx by 99 votes. NBC has not called that race. Greg Murphy and David Rouzer also remain in uncalled contests.
Whatley, the former RNC chairman and Trump’s Senate pick, lost to Roy Cooper. The Assembly’s Jeffrey Billman reported a 20-point defeat and linked it to depressed Republican turnout that hurt congressional and legislative candidates.
“Whatley’s ignominious defeat—he lost by 20 points—had major down-ballot consequences,” Billman said in his report.
Billman said Whatley would shoulder the blame, while ultimately assigning responsibility to Trump. The congressional damage is already clear: Republicans entered Election Day holding 10 seats. They have secured only two so far.