Roy Cooper Flips North Carolina Senate Seat for Democrats

Democrat Roy Cooper’s win in North Carolina flipped a Republican-held U.S. Senate seat, giving his party one net gain as it tries to take control of the chamber and moving the midterm contest closer to a decision.

Cooper, a former North Carolina governor, defeated the Republican candidate in the first clear Senate seat flip of the election. With about 10 races decided, Democrats held 43 seats and Republicans 32. Votes were still being counted in Ohio, Texas, South Carolina and Michigan.

Democrats need a net gain of four seats to win a majority because the Republican vice president would break a 50-50 tie. Cooper’s victory leaves the party needing three more net gains.

Democrats were ahead in early returns in some Republican-held seats, but those races had not been called. North Carolina moves the balance by one seat without settling which party will control the Senate. The final balance could shape congressional policy debates, including those involving crypto, but this race alone does not determine control.