Bichler Flips Senate District 7 From Lee
Democrat Jessica Bichler defeated Senate Majority Leader Michael Lee in the New Hanover County-based district, according to unofficial results.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Democrat Jessica Bichler won Senate District 7 over Republican Senate Majority Leader Michael Lee, receiving 48,310 votes (52.64%) to Lee's 43,469 (47.36%), according to unofficial results from the North Carolina State Board of Elections. The result flips the seat from Republican to Democratic control.
Why it matters
Senate District 7 was rated R+1 by the John Locke Foundation's 2026 Civitas Partisan Index and was one of three Senate toss-ups statewide, making the outcome significant for control of the North Carolina Senate. The race also centered on water quality and PFAS contamination from the Chemours facility affecting the Cape Fear River.
Bichler received 48,310 votes (52.64%) to Lee's 43,469 (47.36%), a margin of roughly five points in a district the Civitas Partisan Index rates R+1. Results are unofficial until the New Hanover County canvass on Nov. 13.
The players
Jessica Bichler
Democratic candidate who won Senate District 7 and flipped the seat from Republican control.
Michael Lee
Republican Senate Majority Leader who has served in the North Carolina Senate since 2014 and lost the seat in the 2026 race.
North Carolina State Board of Elections
The state agency that reported the unofficial results and oversees election administration across North Carolina.
The details
Bichler's television advertisements claimed Lee sponsored legislation that rolled back water-contamination testing; Lee's campaign called the claims false and sent a takedown letter to stations. The race was centered in part on PFAS contamination from the Chemours facility affecting the Cape Fear River.
Timeline
2018: Lee lost Senate District 7 to Harper Peterson by 231 votes.
2020: Lee won the seat back.
2024: Lee won reelection over David Hill by nearly nine points.
April 2025: Lee was elected Senate Majority Leader after Paul Newton's departure.
Nov. 13: New Hanover County's Board of Elections is scheduled to conduct its canvass.
Seasonal Patterns
Senate District 7 has swung between parties across recent cycles: Lee lost it by 231 votes in 2018, won it back in 2020, and won reelection by nearly nine points in 2024 before losing it in 2026.
Because the district flipped control, the composition of the North Carolina Senate has shifted, which can affect which bills advance and who leads the chamber's agenda. Voters in the district should watch the Nov. 13 canvass for certified totals.
The takeaway
Narrow, repeated contests in Senate District 7 show how small vote shifts can change control of a chamber, and certified results will confirm the final outcome.
What happens next
New Hanover County's Board of Elections is scheduled to conduct its canvass on Nov. 13 to review and certify the results.
Further reading
For more on how state legislative contests are decided, explore Elections coverage across North Carolina.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Carolina Journal.
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