Democrats break GOP supermajority

Democrat Bryan Cohn has narrowly ousted Republican state Rep. Frank Sossamon, based on numbers provided by Granville and Vance county elections boards.

Gov.-elect Josh Stein will enter office with razor-thin margins in the legislature to uphold his vetoes. At a polling site in Raleigh on Tuesday, Nov. 5, he greets a supporter who contributed to his victory.

North Carolina Democrats have broken the GOP supermajority, with Democrat Bryan Cohn narrowly defeating GOP incumbent state Rep. Frank Sossamon.

While the Associated Press has yet to declare a winner and Sossamon is currently within the margin for a recount, Anderson Alerts is calling the race for Cohn based on numbers of outstanding possible votes provided by Vance and Granville counties.

With Cohn’s win, Democrats picked up a 49th seat in the North Carolina House— the bare minimum needed to break the GOP’s veto-proof control of the state. On the Senate side, Republicans will retain their veto-proof control of the chamber.

“It's bittersweet,” Cohn said of his win, acknowledging the hurdles that lie ahead in having 49 Democrats stay together. “We have to roll up our sleeves and go to work now. That's just the reality of the situation.”