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Harnett County: Sen. Jim Burgin seeks GOP nod for N.C. Senate leader

WRAL and The Charlotte Observer reported Wednesday that the District 12 Republican asked colleagues to back him for president pro tempore. An unofficial State Board file listed him ahead in his own re-election. Not certified.

UpdatedThis story has changed since it was first published.

By Alexandru Stanciu · Published

What we know

Confirmed

  • WRAL reported Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, that Sen. Jim Burgin, a Harnett County Republican, said he is seeking the Republican nomination to become leader of the N.C. Senate and asked for support in a letter to the Senate Republican caucus that day.Confirmed by WRAL, Nov. 4, 2026
  • The Charlotte Observer independently reported the same day that Burgin told The News & Observer he is running for Senate president pro tempore on a platform of civility, statesmanship and getting a state budget done on time, and that he told his caucus Wednesday morning of his plans.Confirmed by The Charlotte Observer, Nov. 4, 2026
  • An unofficial statewide results file from the North Carolina State Board of Elections for N.C. Senate District 12, with all 26 of 26 precincts reporting, listed Burgin with 34,783 votes (51.81%) and Democrat Tanya White Anderson with 32,358 votes (48.19%).Confirmed by North Carolina State Board of Elections unofficial statewide results file, accessed Nov. 4, 2026
  • WRAL wrote that Burgin's letter came a day after Republicans lost control of the N.C. House for the first time since 2010, and that the change, with a Democratic governor, means Republicans will need to compromise to advance their agenda.Confirmed by WRAL, Nov. 4, 2026
  • WRAL and The Charlotte Observer each reported that longtime Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, lost his Republican primary in March and will leave at the end of the year.Confirmed by WRAL; The Charlotte Observer, Nov. 4, 2026
  • WRAL wrote that New Hanover County Republican Michael Lee, who had been viewed as a possible Berger replacement, lost his re-election bid Tuesday, and that people familiar with the leadership race have named Todd Johnson, R-Union, Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell, and Brent Jackson, R-Sampson, among other senators being considered.Confirmed by WRAL, Nov. 4, 2026
  • The Charlotte Observer wrote that Burgin joins previous announcements by Johnson, Hise and Jackson, and that Michael Lee also had been in the field before losing Tuesday.Confirmed by The Charlotte Observer, Nov. 4, 2026
  • WRAL wrote that Republicans led in 26 of the chamber's 50 districts as of Wednesday morning and that Sen. Danny Britt, R-Robeson, held a narrow edge that could head to a recount; a 25-25 tie would leave Democratic Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt with the tiebreaking vote.Confirmed by WRAL, Nov. 4, 2026
  • The Charlotte Observer independently wrote that if current results hold, Republicans would keep a slim 26-24 Senate majority, and that Britt's race sits inside the 1% recount threshold.Confirmed by The Charlotte Observer, Nov. 4, 2026

Still unknown

  • Which senator the Republican caucus will elect as president pro tempore
  • Final certified Senate District 12 and statewide Senate seat totals after provisional ballots and the county canvasses
  • Whether Britt or Hamm will request a recount in Senate District 24

What this means for you

Instructions from North Carolina State Board of Elections

This site is not an elections office or a legislative chamber. Unofficial results are on the State Board's election-results site. Certified results come later from the county canvasses. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

What happened

In Harnett County, Sen. Jim Burgin is seeking the Republican nomination to lead the N.C. Senate after Tuesday's election reshaped power in Raleigh.

WRAL reported Wednesday that the District 12 Republican said he is asking colleagues for the GOP nod as president pro tempore and put that request in a letter to the Senate Republican caucus the same day. The Charlotte Observer independently reported that Burgin told The News & Observer he is running on civility, statesmanship and getting a state budget done on time, and that he told his caucus Wednesday morning.

An unofficial statewide State Board of Elections file listed Burgin with 34,783 votes (51.81%) and Democrat Tanya White Anderson with 32,358 (48.19%) in Senate District 12, with all 26 precincts reporting. Those figures are not certified. The district covers Harnett County, Lee County and part of Sampson County.

According to WRAL, Burgin's letter came a day after Republicans lost the state House for the first time since 2010. Both outlets reported that longtime Senate leader Phil Berger lost his March primary and will leave at year's end. WRAL said Michael Lee, a New Hanover County Republican once viewed as a possible successor, lost Tuesday, and that people familiar with the race have named Todd Johnson, Ralph Hise and Brent Jackson among other senators under consideration. The Observer said Johnson, Hise and Jackson had already announced before Burgin entered.

Chamber control still turns on close races. WRAL said Republicans led in 26 of 50 Senate districts Wednesday morning and that Sen. Danny Britt of Robeson County held a narrow edge that could go to a recount; a 25-25 tie would give Democratic Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt the tiebreaking vote. The Observer separately reported that a held Britt lead would leave Republicans at 26-24, with Britt's margin inside the 1% recount threshold.

Certification follows the county canvasses. This site is not an elections office. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Related coverage

Why it matters

Burgin represents Harnett, Lee and part of Sampson counties. Who leads the N.C. Senate after Phil Berger will shape budgets and bills that affect Triangle and Lee County readers under divided state government.

Updates

  1. Nov 4, 2026, 12:18 PM

    First file from WRAL and The Charlotte Observer on Burgin's Senate-leader bid, plus the unofficial NCSBE Senate District 12 tally with all 26 precincts in.

Sources

  1. Statewide unofficial results file (NCSBE enr/20261103/data/results_0.txt: NC STATE SENATE DISTRICT 12; Jim Burgin REP 34,783 / 51.81%; Tanya White Anderson DEM 32,358 / 48.19%; 26 of 26 precincts)

    Official sourcePublished by North Carolina State Board of Elections · Checked Nov 4, 2026, 12:18 PM

  2. Offering bipartisanship, Republican Burgin angles to become Senate leader in newly split legislature (WRAL / Jack Hagel, updated Nov. 4, 2026: Burgin seeking GOP nomination for chamber leader; letter to Senate Republican caucus Wednesday; House lost GOP control; Berger primary loss; Michael Lee defeat; Johnson, Hise, Jackson among others considered; Britt narrow edge / possible recount; 26 of 50 GOP district leads Wednesday morning. Text-only; no WRAL photos used.)

    Published by WRAL · Checked Nov 4, 2026, 12:18 PM

  3. NC Senate Republican enters race for leader. What he wants GOP to do after losses (The Charlotte Observer / Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan, Nov. 4, 2026, 11:28 a.m.: Burgin told The News & Observer he is running for president pro tempore on civility, statesmanship and an on-time budget; told caucus Wednesday morning; if results hold GOP 26-24; Berger leaving; Johnson, Hise, Jackson previously announced; Michael Lee lost; Britt inside 1% recount threshold. Text-only; no outlet photos used.)

    Published by The Charlotte Observer · Checked Nov 4, 2026, 12:18 PM

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