Wake senator, just re-elected, resigning from General Assembly

“It is lower than a cabinet position, but it is serving the state of North Carolina," he said.

Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue tweeted that Searcy "will be sorely missed" in the Senate.

"His pragmatic approach to legislating has produced strong, bipartisan bills that have strengthened our economy and improved the climate for small businesses," Blue, D-Wake, said in a statement.

Cooper will appoint Searcy's replacement off a recommendation from leaders in the Wake County Democratic Party, and that replacement can serve the whole two-year term. Searcy said he's endorsed Rep. Sydney Batch, D-Wake, for the job.

“One hundred percent," he said. "I think she’ll be phenomenal senator.”

Batch is finishing out her first term in the state House and lost her re-election bid last month to Republican Erin Paré.

Searcy, finishing his own first term in the Senate, said he understands if voters are upset that he's resigning so soon after winning re-election.

“This opportunity emerged after the election, and it’s just nothing we could have foreseen," he said.

In a series of tweets Wednesday morning, Batch said she was sorry to see Searcy go and that she'd be honored to join the Senate.

"If appointed to his seat, I will continue Sam’s critical work of supporting our families, schools and small businesses," she said. "We have so much to tackle in the next 2 years, especially in the wake of COVID and the need to revitalize our communities and support our small businesses."