Thirty-six years have passed since Democrats held both of North Carolina’s U.S. Senate seats.
Since Jesse Helms’ first Senate win, the state’s Senate seats have alternated between Republican dominance (16 years) and a Democratic-Republican split (20 years).
We’ll get two more years of a split before Richard Burr faces re-election. Among those weighing a run against Burr is 11th District U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler.
John Hood discussed the importance of this Senate seat back in 2004.