Democrat Raymond Smith Unseats Republican Greg Murphy in North Carolina

Democratic challenger Raymond Smith took the lead in the race for North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District, overtaking Republican incumbent Greg Murphy. Following the count of provisional and absentee ballots across nine counties, Smith received 118,488 votes to Murphy's 118,195. Murphy had previously led by 233 votes after Election Day, but strong performance in Pitt County—where over 1,100 provisional ballots were counted—moved Smith ahead by 293 votes.

Republican Representative Greg Murphy conceded defeat on November 11, 2026, and congratulated Smith. The result occurred despite Murphy raising over $2.8 million compared to Smith's $366,000. While the margin fell within the 1% threshold that allows for a recount, Murphy acknowledged the victory as election officials prepared to finalize results during the canvass on Friday, November 13.

This shift is part of a broader Democratic surge in North Carolina, where the party flipped at least six of ten Republican-held congressional seats. Analysts suggest a 2025 Republican redistricting effort backfired by moving Democratic voters into Murphy's district. Other state results include Democrat Roy Cooper winning an open U.S. Senate seat and Democrat Chuck Hubbard holding a lead over Republican Representative Virginia Foxx. The state's House delegation is projected to shift from a 10-4 Republican advantage to a Democratic lead of either 8-6 or 9-5.