Political earthquake in N. Carolina. 3 Incumbent Democrats, who vote with GOP, lose their primaries by big margins

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/us/north-carolina-primary-election-legislature.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Q1A.SlaU.aZX-7TphsdVc&smid=url-share

The American flag cake was about half eaten by the time Phil Berger, North Carolina�s most powerful legislator, stepped to the podium on Tuesday at his election night party.

The leader of the State Senate did not appear in a good mood. He and his allies had pumped a staggering $10 million into his surprisingly tight primary race against Sam Page, a popular small-town sheriff. He had enlisted allies from Raleigh to campaign for him. He had even secured a coveted endorsement from President Trump, who is beloved in this rural stretch of northern North Carolina.

But as of Wednesday, his opponent was clinging to a two-vote lead, with provisional, military and overseas ballots still waiting to be counted. The extremely tight margin underscored the main takeaway for state legislative races across politically purple North Carolina on Tuesday night: This was a primary season about punishing incumbents on both sides of the aisle.

Three veteran Democrats in safe seats who tended to vote with the G.O.P. all lost their primaries by as much as 48 points, as their challengers promised to push back harder against Republicans� steamrolling approach to legislating.

Five Republican incumbents, and possibly Mr. Berger, were also swept from the State Legislature.

[riversedge]

1. whow!!

[leftstreet]

2. Well worth the read

Thanks for posting!

[eppur_se_muova]

3. Thanks for the gift article, worth the time to read ! nt

[progressoid]

4. Cunningham voted with the Republican majority 84 percent of the time

[Roy Rolling]

5. What is it they say?

“Elections have consequences”?

MAGAts think the election is bad, wait’ll they taste the consequences.

On edit: I discovered the problem. “coveted endorsement from President Trump“

Coveted by who? The Angel of Death? ETTD

[Phoenix61]

6. Fetterman needs to pay attention. nt

[BComplex]

10. People in his district definitely need to make a new plan next time he's up for a

primary.

[ananda]

16. Somehow I think he's a pig in a poke and doesn't care.

He will hopefully be ousted in his next election.

[JBTaurus83]

17. He knows he's toast

So now he’s going to run for president to either shit on Dems in the primary or run as an independent to screw us in the general.

[617Blue]

22. He's toast. A one termer and he knows it.

[maliaSmith]

29. Fetterman is a GOP in sheep's clothing

Fetterman or Sweatterman as I call him, was the only Democrat to vote Yes giving Trump war powers. The only Democrat who voted that way. He voted to give up Senate's right to their power to be the only ones to have the power to declare war. He's a Republican just like Manchin and Sinema were. Vote him out Pa voters. He supports the Pedo rapist president.

[Emile]

7. So the mythical crossover votes centrists

claim is the only way we can win in red states, didn't materialize.

No surprise there.

[dsc]

11. to be fair those are mostly very Dem districts

and the GOP races are between conservatives.

[Kid Berwyn]

8. Kick for Progress

I don’t like pols, especially Democratic, who “go along to get along.”

[BComplex]

9. Wow! I'm so glad to hear this!!!

It's amazing what the vote counts look like when musk and trump aren't hacking the central tabulators, huh?

[OldBaldy1701E]

12. Well, I would like to read it but it wants me to create an account, so no thanks. (n/t)

[Hassin Bin Sober]

20. It showed as a gifted article for me

[LiberalArkie]

14. Arkansas man awaiting murder trial wins GOP primary for county sheriff

An Arkansas man awaiting trial for charges that he killed his daughter�s accused sexual abuser has won the Republican nomination for county sheriff, in a race that�s garnered national attention.



Opps, Forgot this link. https://www.democraticunderground.com/10395278

https://arkansasadvocate.com/2026/03/04/arkansas-man-awaiting-murder-trial-wins-gop-primary-for-county-sheriff/

[Emile]

15. Wow, Arkansas.

[moonshinegnomie]

24. without knowning anything about the case

if a guys daughter is being abused and he kills her abuser that would make me probably more likely to vote for them. (depending on teh actual details)

[LiberalArkie]

27. I think you are correct.

[niyad]

18. Thank you for the gift article. A very interesting read.

[PatSeg]

19. Perhaps the tides have turned for real this time

This is really impressive. As usual, my optimism is cautious, but it is possible people are finally paying attention.

[Arazi]

21. David Hogg is right. Primary anyone who isn't in the fight

We must replace everyone who isn’t prepared to do everything necessary to save our democracy.

[AllaN01Bear]

23. dixicrats gone bye bye,

[liberalla]

26. I love it! Amazing!

[not fooled]

28. Good 'ol NYT

My takeaway is that voters were punishing ANY pol who stands with krasnov and his party—pukes and puke-supporting Dems, NOT NYT’s spin that voters punished “incumbents “.