Mayfield Wins Reelection in Senate District 49
Democrat Julie Mayfield leads Republican CJ Domingo in the Buncombe County race with 33 of 60 precincts reporting.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Democrat Julie Mayfield won reelection to North Carolina Senate District 49, leading Republican challenger CJ Domingo 78.5% to 21.5% with 33 of 60 precincts reporting. Results remain unofficial until Nov. 13.
Why it matters
Mayfield's campaign centered on affordability and housing, issues that remain central to voters in Buncombe County. The race offers a snapshot of how the district's long-standing Democratic lean continues to shape state legislative outcomes in North Carolina.
Unofficial returns from the State Board of Elections show Mayfield ahead 78.5% to 21.5% with 33 of 60 precincts counted, well above the district's 64.8% Democratic average from 2016 through 2022. The remaining precincts and final certification, due Nov. 13, could still shift the margin.
The players
Julie Mayfield
A Democrat who has represented Senate District 49 since 2020, Mayfield previously led the Western North Carolina Alliance, now known as MountainTrue, and served on Asheville City Council.
CJ Domingo
The Republican challenger is an Asheville native and operations manager at Champion, a manufactured housing company, who ran on expanding housing construction.
The details
Mayfield, who was first elected to the state Senate in 2020, is a former Asheville City Council member and led the Western North Carolina Alliance, now MountainTrue. Domingo, an Asheville native and operations manager at manufactured housing company Champion, advocated fewer barriers to housing construction.
Timeline
2015: Mayfield wins a seat on Asheville City Council.
2016 through 2022: District 49 performs at 64.8% for Democrats.
2020: Mayfield is first elected to the North Carolina Senate.
Nov. 3, 2026: Election held and Mayfield wins reelection.
Nov. 13, 2026: Election results become official.
Political Context
Domingo's campaign pushed for fewer barriers to housing construction, a position that contrasts with the affordability-focused approach Mayfield emphasized throughout the race. The contest reflects how housing policy has become a dividing line in Western North Carolina's state legislative races.
Voters in Buncombe County's Senate District 49 will continue to be represented by Mayfield in Raleigh, shaping state decisions on housing and affordability. Residents concerned about housing costs should watch how the state legislature addresses construction rules in the coming session.
The takeaway
Housing affordability is now a central dividing line in Western North Carolina's legislative races, and this result signals voters' continued support for Democratic approaches in District 49. Readers tracking state policy should follow the certified results and the next legislative session.
What happens next
Final results become official on Nov. 13, 2026, when the State Board of Elections certifies the outcome of the race.
Further reading
For context on how state Senate seats are shaping policy debates, explore more Elections coverage across North Carolina.
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