The North Carolina Beat

BREAKING: Jeanetta and Ashley Brantley have filed a defamation lawsuit against Sarah J. Fields in Harris County, Texas District Court over alleged false statements connected to the Nolan Wells Sea Tow audio. The October 29 petition claims the posts damaged their reputations and businesses. Read the LAWSUIT HERE: thencbeat.com/houston-couple…

Yes. We need better days!

JUST IN: CBS News reports that President Trump has been calling advisers (in person and on the phone) to ask whether Hegseth should remain in his job following Republicans’ heavy losses Tuesday night. Multiple sources familiar with the conversations confirmed the outreach to CBS.

This morning after a MAJOR Republicans loss, Vice President JD Vance went on X and named the reason: “The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night.” He didn’t stop there. He said a lot of Trump/Vance 2024 voters showed up and voted for Democrats. Then he dared anyone who thinks the war was worth “losing the Senate for the next 6 years” to say it out loud. So who exactly was he talking to? 🤔 That’s an interesting to hear from the No. 2 in the administration that’s running the war.

HISTORY MADE! Retired lieutenant Dennis Allen ousted Sheriff Jason Wilborn by nearly 1,500 votes. He becomes Person County's first Black sheriff. Read: thencbeat.com/dennis-allen-p…

It's a NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN: Unaffiliated candidate Shannon Long defeated longtime Alamance County Sheriff Terry S. Johnson on Tuesday, 34,633 votes to 31,452. Long, a first-time candidate, won by 3,181 votes with all 39 precincts reporting. The win came on a night when Democrats also flipped the DA’s office and the Board of Commissioners. Story: thencbeat.com/jamie-ager-fli…

🚨🚨BREAKING: The Democrats will TAKE control of the United States House & Senate, CNN Projects!

KNOCK KNOCK DONALD TRUMP! Open UP, It's the NEW FBI, the DEMOCRATS😂😂 #Midterms2026

Tonight, the lights are brighter on the path ahead of our younger generation. And for once, that is enough to make a grown person cry. #Midterms2026

President Donald Trump responds to tonight’s Republican midterms slaughter. But hasn’t he been telling the Republicans to act like he was on the ballot? 😂

WOW! Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms wins Georgia’s race for governor, defeating Republican Rick Jackson, NBC News projects. The former Atlanta mayor becomes the first woman and first Black person elected governor of Georgia, and is set to become the first Black woman ever elected governor of a U.S. state. She also flips the office for Democrats for the first time in 24 years, succeeding term-limited Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. With about 75% of the expected vote counted, Bottoms leads 55.4% to 44.6%. Jackson, a billionaire healthcare executive, put more than $100 million of his own money into the race. Results are unofficial until certified.

Republican Sen. Ashley Moody defeats Democrat Angie Nixon in Florida’s special U.S. Senate election, according to the Associated Press. With about 98% of the expected vote counted, Moody leads 50.9% to 47.9%, roughly 4.16 million votes to 3.92 million. Nixon led early in the night before Moody pulled ahead as more ballots were counted. Nixon, a Jacksonville state representative, won the Democratic nomination in an upset over Alex Vindman. Moody, appointed in 2025 when Marco Rubio became secretary of state, will serve the rest of Rubio’s term through January 2029. Results are unofficial until certified.

BREAKING: Democrat Jamie Ager wins North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, defeating Republican Jennifer Balkcom, according to the Associated Press. The win flips the western NC mountain seat held by retiring Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards, who carried the district by 13.5 points in 2024. With about 83% of the expected vote counted, Ager leads 60.1% to 38.5%. Results are unofficial until certified.

BREAKING: Roy Cooper wins North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race, defeating Republican Michael Whatley, according to the Associated Press. The former two-term governor flips the seat held by retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis and becomes the first Democrat to win a U.S. Senate race in North Carolina since 2008. With about 56% of the expected vote counted, Cooper leads 66.8% to 31.6%. Results are unofficial until certified.