Column: The Democrats lost the presidential election, but here's where we won in N.C.

Constantly refreshing my page up until the morning after the election, I couldn't believe what I was seeing, clinging to the hope that America felt the same way I did in my liberal Chapel Hill bubble. 

“We are not going back.” Over, and over again, Kamala Harris's words rang so true for me.

I thought the majority of this country wouldn't stand for another 4 years of bigotry and fear for the state of public education, human rights and racial justice among many other things. It hurts that we didn't win. 

It's okay to process that hurt and acknowledge what the Harris campaign should've done differently. But, it's also important to recognize how hard we worked and celebrate what the Democratic Party did win, especially in North Carolina.

N.C. House of Representatives

Out of the state's 14 congressional districts, Democrats, including Don Davis and Valerie Foushee, won four.

As senator for six terms, Don Davis raised teacher pay, expanded access to quality healthcare, increased high-speed internet and more for rural North Carolina communities. Representing the 1st Congressional District, Davis will continue fighting for these issues as well as quality education and human rights, pushing for equity and justice and creating a cleaner environment for eastern North Carolinians. 

Valerie Foushee served in the North Carolina General Assembly as a state representative and later as a senator. For nearly a decade, she advocated for women’s rights, racial equality, voting rights, environmental protection, clean water initiatives and more. Since 2022, Foushee has represented the 4th Congressional District, which includes Orange County, with tremendous care. She will keep fighting for gun violence prevention, Medicaid, fixing health disparities, raising the minimum wage and creating a fair immigration system. 

N.C. Governor

Democrat Josh Stein, former state senator and N.C. attorney general, won the gubernatorial race against Republican Mark Robinson. 

Stein will prioritize improving the economy by raising the minimum wage, cutting taxes and lowering costs. He will push for quality education beginning with early childhood, lower tuition costs, increase pay for educators and distribute more funds to HBCUs. To give North Carolinians better access to health care, Stein will expand Medicaid and address high drug and hospital costs. A champion for human rights, Stein will protect women's reproductive healthcare and fight against discrimination. 

N.C. Lieutenant Governor

Democratic candidate Rachel Hunt defeated Republican Hal Weatherman. Hunt supports public education and wants to redirect state money from private schools to public ones to increase teacher pay and fund school lunches. 

Her stance on commonsense gun laws will also make schools safer by ensuring guns only fall into responsible hands — keeping guns out of schools in the first place. With growing fears of the Trump Administration and Project 2025 dismantling the Department of Education and decreasing funding for public schools, we need someone like Hunt who will put students and educators first. 

N.C. Attorney General

The North Carolina attorney general went to Democratic candidate Jeff Jackson, beating Dan Bishop.

Jackson offered a transparent approach to public service with clear policies as a former prosecutor and congressional representative. As he continues to be an independent voice for North Carolinians, he will defend issues from constitutional rights to saving taxpayer money, making him more than equipped to protect North Carolina. 

N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction

Democrat Maurice “Mo” Green won superintendent of public instruction against Michele Morrow.

Green has experience in the North Carolina school system working as a superintendent for Guilford County Schools. He knows firsthand what teachers, staff and students face daily and what needs should be met. 

In his six-pillar strategic plan, Green aims to improve state standards, increase funding, create more access to mental health resources, implement support programs and increase teacher pay. His experience and concrete ideas give us hope for the future of public education in North Carolina. 

Whether a canvasser, social media activist or passionate voter, we should all be proud of the good that came out of this election. The impact of local political decisions can be felt more abruptly in our everyday lives. 

Therefore, it's encouraging to see so many positions filled by Democrats who stand behind us. There is always more work to be done, but there's still so much to look forward to.

@dthopinion | opinion@dailytarheel.com