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

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.