Control of Chambers Up For Grabs After Legislators Win

Democrats entered the election with a 62-58 advantage in theHouse and 35-15 lead in the Senate.

New court-imposed district mapswere expected to narrow the margin in the Senate and possiblycause a change in power in the House.

As of late Tuesday, unofficial returns showed Democrats winning53 seats and Republicans 51 seats, with 16 races undecided.Sixty-one seats are needed for a majority.

In the Senate, Democrats had 22 seats, Republicans 20 seats andeight were undecided. Democrats would need 25 seats to retaincontrol, since the lieutenant governor, the Senate president, is aDemocrat. Republicans need 26 seats.

Rep. Marge Carpenter, R-Haywood, lost to Democrat Ray Rapp,while Rep. Alice Underhill, D-Craven, was 172 votes behind GOPchallenger Michael Gorman with all precincts reporting, accordingto unofficial returns. Rapp defeated Carpenter 53 percent to 45percent.

GOP Rep. Mia Morris of Cumberland County trailed Democraticopponent Margaret Dickson by 199 votes with all precinctsreporting.

Three other House members - Reps. Jeff Barnhart,R-Cabarrus; Leslie Cox, D-Lee; Edgar Starnes, R-Caldwell - alltrailed with some precincts yet to be counted in each of theirraces.

A Democrat, Rep. David Redwine, was trailing slightly in hisrace against GOP challenger Bonner Stiller with all but oneprecinct reporting. Redwine, of Brunswick County, is a co-chairmanof the House Appropriations Committee.

A Senate Appropriations Committee co-chairman, Fountain Odom ofMecklenburg County, trailed Republican Robert Pittenger. With 72percent of the precincts reporting, Pittenger had 54 percent of thevote to Odom's 44 percent, according to unofficial returns.

Unofficial winners included Senate leader Marc Basnight, D-Dare,and Senate Minority Leader Patrick Ballantine, R-New Hanover.

Amongthe House victors were Speaker Pro Tem Joe Hackney, D-Orange, andMajority Leader Phil Baddour, D-Wayne. House Speaker Jim Black,D-Mecklenburg, led in his district race.

House member Fern Shubert, who decided to run for a Senate seat,was defeated by Union County Sheriff Frank McGuirt by a 2-1margin.

Reps. Gregg Thompson, R-Mitchell, and Michael Harrington,R-Gaston, were in tight races with Democrats for Senate seats.

Republicans sought to defeat two Senate Democrats: Allen Wellonsof Johnston County, who was trailing Tuesday night, and ScottThomas of Craven County, who led his race. Sen. Charlie Albertson,D-Duplin, trailed Republican George Wilson with about two-thirds ofthe precincts reporting.

In the House, two longtime incumbents - Democrat Ronnie Smithand Republican Jean Preston - faced each other in District 13 inCarteret and Onslow counties.

Sen. Bob Carpenter, R-Macon, led Sen. Dan Robinson, D-Jackson,53 percent to 47 percent, with 58 percent of the precinctsreporting. The two western senators were drawn into the samedistrict.