North Carolina Primary Shakes Up State Legislature

Voters punish incumbents on both sides of the aisle, signaling broader anti-establishment mood

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Voters across politically purple North Carolina made it clear in Tuesday's primary elections that they wanted to punish the powerful on both sides of the aisle. Three veteran Democratic state legislators who tended to vote with Republicans lost their primaries by wide margins, while five Republican incumbents were also swept from the state legislature. The results were a political earthquake that shook the North Carolina statehouse and could be an early sign of a broader anti-incumbent mood taking hold across the country as the midterms begin.

Why it matters

The primary results in North Carolina could have significant implications for the balance of power in the state legislature, potentially strengthening the hand of Democratic Governor Josh Stein whose vetoes have been repeatedly overridden by a Republican supermajority. The ousting of several moderate Democrats who had sided with Republicans on key issues also signals a shift in the party's base toward more progressive candidates.

The details

In one of the most closely watched races, in northeast Charlotte, progressive challenger Rev. Dr. Rodney S. Sadler Jr. trounced Democratic incumbent Carla Cunningham, who had voted with Republicans 84% of the time. Cunningham faced fierce backlash for an anti-immigrant speech she delivered before voting to support an immigration bill. Meanwhile, Republican Senate leader Phil Berger narrowly clung to a two-vote lead against his challenger, Sheriff Sam Page, in a race that remained too close to call as of Wednesday.

  • The primary elections took place on Tuesday, March 5, 2026.
  • As of Wednesday, March 6, 2026, Phil Berger's race remained too close to call with provisional, military and overseas ballots still waiting to be counted.

The players

Phil Berger

The leader of the North Carolina State Senate and the state's most powerful legislator.

Sam Page

A popular small-town sheriff who mounted a surprisingly tight primary challenge against Berger.

Josh Stein

The Democratic governor of North Carolina whose power has been undermined by fellow Democrats who have helped Republicans override some of his vetoes.

Carla Cunningham

A Democratic state legislator who lost her primary after facing backlash for an anti-immigrant speech and voting to support an immigration bill.

Rev. Dr. Rodney S. Sadler Jr.

A progressive challenger who defeated Cunningham in the Democratic primary.

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What they’re saying

“We've known that voters have sorted themselves into partisan camps, but what they're doing now is enforcing that partisan loyalty on elected officials. When those elected officials decide to buck the party, the party is going to kick back pretty hard.”

— Michael Bitzer, Scholar of North Carolina politics at Catawba College

“North Carolinians want representatives who champion the issues that matter to them — from bringing costs down and supporting public schools to keeping communities safe and protecting people's fundamental freedoms.”

— Josh Stein, Governor of North Carolina

“This is a massive first step toward ensuring our representatives in state houses actually answer to the people who elected them, not special interests. These results signal voters in November are prepared to place a powerful, long-overdue check on right-wing overreach in state capitals from coast to coast.”

— Mandara Meyers, Executive director of The States Project

What’s next

The judge in Phil Berger's race will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Sheriff Sam Page out on bail as the final votes are tallied.

The takeaway

The primary results in North Carolina suggest a broader anti-incumbent sentiment among voters, with both Democratic and Republican incumbents facing tough challenges from more progressive or conservative challengers. This could signal a shift in the political landscape heading into the midterm elections, with voters demanding more ideological purity from their representatives.