NC is known for splitting votes but we didn't see that in this election. It wasn't as close as many recent races here. That doesn't bode well for so many reasons. A friend who is a NC native told me the state would not elect a black female senator, too much racism still here. I'm from NYC originally, here for 20 years, but I really thought we had a shot, especially against a cult 45 member.

Although I am very disappointed that Beasely lost, I am more concerned we also lost our 4/3 majority, now a 2/5 minority in the state supreme court. An incumbent and and open Dem seat both went red!

Gerrymandering, and loss of abortion rights and voting rights are almost guaranteed.
I console myself that our new 14th Congressional district went to a Democrat, so we will have 7/7 in Congress. And in our state house there's no supermajority, but there is in the senate.

I'm only 61, and came here to care for my mom, who passed 6 years ago.
I've thought of leaving the South many times since then, contemplating where I might go, while living my life here and being a blue voice in a red zone. Thought of staying in the area and moving to Buncombe county, the blue oasis in my red region. No place is perfect but some counties and states and countries are better or more appealing than others. I'll be more seriously considering my options. There's a lot I love about where I live, but a lot I don't. The northeast may be calling me home.