Cape Fear Voters Shape Tight General Assembly and Congressional Margins
The ballots cast across the southeastern corner of North Carolina have left several key legislative races teetering on the edge of recounts, even as statewide tallies and local bond measures found firmer footing. According to preliminary election results reported by the North Carolina State Board of Elections, margins in certain contests sit within the threshold required to allow recounts.
Vote totals remain uncertified pending county canvasses scheduled for Friday, November 13. Under state rules, candidates trailing in non-statewide ballot items can request a recount if the difference between them falls within 1 percent of the total votes cast.
Congressional District 7 Sits in Recount Range
In North Carolina’s seventh Congressional district, which covers the southeastern coastline up toward the Fayetteville area, Republican incumbent David Rouzer holds a paper-thin lead over Democrat Dr. Kim Hardy with 165 of 183 precincts reporting. Rouzer secured 153,766 votes, or 49.79 percent, while Hardy pulled in 152,116 votes, representing 49.25 percent. Libertarian candidate Maad Abu-Ghazalah lagged far behind with 2,964 votes, or 0.96 percent. The razor-thin gap places the race squarely within the recount window.
Further down the ballot, statewide constitutional amendments experienced a smoother path to approval. With nearly 95 percent of precincts reporting statewide, all three constitutional measures passed with roughly 60 percent of the vote. Two of the amendments place caps on income and property taxes, while the third institutes a mandatory photo identification requirement for all voters, including absentee ballots.
Legislative Shifts in New Hanover and Brunswick
The Cape Fear region’s General Assembly matchups brought distinct shifts in legislative representation. In state Senate District 7, which encompasses most of New Hanover County save for a downtown Wilmington carve-out known as “the notch,” Democratic challenger Jessica Bichler unseated Republican incumbent Michael Lee. Bichler captured 52.64 percent of the vote with 48,310 ballots, outpacing Lee’s 43,469 votes, which amounted to 47.36 percent.
Neighboring Senate District 8, covering Brunswick and Columbus counties alongside a small slice of New Hanover County, stayed firmly in Republican hands. Incumbent Bill Rabon fended off Democratic challenger Richard Combes and Libertarian Tim White, pulling in 52.35 percent of the vote with all but one precinct reporting.
House District 20 saw another nail-biter as voters weighed in on the seat vacated by retiring Republican incumbent Ted Davis, Jr. Democrat Dr. Tim Merrick edged ahead of Republican Dane Scalise by a mere 101 votes. Merrick took 22,054 votes to Scalise’s 21,953, pushing that contest well into recount territory.
Other legislative races saw clearer margins. In House District 17, Republican incumbent Frank Iler defeated Democrat Dennis Breen. In House District 18, Democrat Deb Butler secured 70.27 percent of the vote against Republican challenger Latisha Grady. House District 19 went to Republican incumbent Charlie Miller over Democratic challenger Scott Nasiff.
Local Bonds and County Boards
Voters in New Hanover County overwhelmingly approved a $320.5 million school bond to fund significant deferred maintenance, including vital renovations at New Hanover High School. The measure passed with 67.81 percent of the vote. Brunswick County voters similarly greenlit a $349.6 million school bond designed to address growth and overcrowding, with 54.95 percent approval.
Control of local governance also shifted. In the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners race, Democratic incumbent Rob Zapple and Democratic challenger Dr. LeShonda Wallace captured the two available seats, outpolling Republican incumbent LeAnn Pierce, Republican challenger Richard Collier, and Libertarian Bob Drach.
Meanwhile, the New Hanover County Board of Education saw four Democratic challengers—Jerry Jones, Jr., Brittnei LaRue, Margie Gewirtzman, and Wendy Dale—defeat two Republican incumbents, Pat Bradford and Josie Barnhart, alongside two Republican challengers.
