11:35 p.m. Final update. It appears that Republicans will have a 31-19 advantage in the state Senate and a net gain of at least 14 seats in the House, putting their advantage at 66-54.

That margin in the House could very well expand a bit depending on how some close races turn out.

My big observation from tonight: Republicans sweep legislative races but make hardly a dent in the congressional delegation (Bob Etheridge being one exception). This election has been a doozie.

10:40 p.m. Three-fourths of counties now fully reporting, and results are largely unchanged.

In the Senate, GOP’ers lead Democratic incumbents in the 5th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 19th, 24th, 43rd, 45th, 47th, and 50th. District 50 continues to be about a 200-vote margin for Republican Jim Davis, with 8 of 8 counties reporting.

In the House: 3rd, 6th, 10th, 25th, 41st, 49th, 51st, 81st, 88th, 93rd, 112th, and 116th. About a half dozen additional districts are too close to call at this point.

10:30 p.m. It’s now safe to assume both the state House and Senate will be controlled by Republicans next year. The only question is how great a majority the GOP will command. First time the Republicans have controlled since the 19th century.

10:10 p.m. A shocker in House District 65. Independent candidate Bert Jones (former GOP’er) beats incumbent Democrat Nelson Cole. Guessing Jones will caucus with Republicans. This race wasn’t on pundits’ radar.

As a reminder, Republicans need a net gain of six seats in the Senate and nine in the House to take control. Given initial results, it’s safe to say the Senate is in the GOP’s corner, and it’s looking positive for Republicans’ chances in the House, too.

10:00 p.m. With 50 out of 100 counties now completely reporting results, here’s the breakdown on our Senate swing districts (Republicans lead Democrats): 5th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 19th, 24th, 43rd, 45th, 47th, and 50th.

One caveat: Jim Davis (R) barely holds a lead over John Snow (D) in Senate 50, so that could definitely switch as the evening progresses.

In the House, Republicans are leading Democrats in the following districts: 3rd, 4th, 6th, 10th, 25th, 41st, 44th, 45th, 49th, 51st, 88th, 93rd, 112th, 116th, and 118th.

No results yet from Hugh Holliman’s district. That’s one of the most closely watched races of this cycle.

9:30 p.m. With one-quarter of counties fully reporting, Republican challengers continue to lead in the following Senate districts: 5th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 24th, 43rd, 45th, 47th, and 50th.

In the House, Republican foes lead in the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 10th, 22nd, 25th, 41st, 44th, 49th, 51st, 88th, 112th, 116th, and 118th.

9:15 p.m. Legislative leaders in both parties look to be safe ? unsurprisingly ? in their re-election bids. Republican House Leader Paul Stam is ahead of his Democratic foe comfortably. His counterpart in the Senate, Phil Berger, is unopposed.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Joe Hackney is ahead 60-40 percent over his GOP opponent. The closest races will be Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight and House Majority Leader Hugh Holliman.

9:00 p.m. Republican challengers are leading in the following House races: 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 9th, 25th, 41st, 49th, 51st, 88th, 112th, 116th, and 119th.

8:55 p.m. Wesley Meredith (R) leads incumbent Margaret Dickson (D) in Senate District 19, Tony Rand’s old seat. The margin is razor thin, though.

GOP’er Kathy Harrington leads Democrat Jim Long by a commanding 70-30 percent in Senate 43, David Hoyle’s old seat.

Looking over the other Senate races, no upsets for incumbent Republicans look in the mix so far.

8:40 p.m. Here’s a rundown of Senate districts with Democratic incumbents where GOP foes are leading so far: 5th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 24th, 25th, 43rd, 45th, 47th, and 50th. If the numbers hold, the GOP would have a 31-19 majority in the Senate.

8:27 Each of the races we’ve looked at below are either open seats with a previous Democratic incumbent, or a seat currently held by a Democrat. So, a win for Republicans would be a pickup for the party.

8:25 p.m. Republicans are faring well in a number of key races in the House:

  • District 3: Alice Graham Underhill (D, 34 percent), Norman Sanderson (R, 65 percent)

  • District 4: Mott Blair (D, 49.39 percent), Jimmy Dixon (R, 50.61 percent)
  • District 6: Arthur Williams (D, 46 percent), Bill Cook (R, 54 percent)
  • District 10: Van Braxton (D, 39 percent), Stephen LaRoque (R, 61 percent)
  • District 22: William Brisson (D, 56 percent), John Szoka (R, 44 percent)

8:15 p.m. With 306,208 total votes in, Democrats barely lead the straight-party ticket, 50.34 percent to 49.06 percent, over Republicans.

8:10 p.m. New results from a handful of competitive Senate races:

  • District 5: Don Davis (D, 49 percent), Louis Pate (R, 51 percent)
  • District 10: Dewey Hudson (D, 50.1 percent), Brent Jackson (R, 49.9 percent)
  • District 11: A.B. Swindell (D, 46 percent), Buck Newton (R, 54 percent)
  • District 45: Steve Goss (D, 41 percent), Dan Soucek (R, 59 percent)

8:00 p.m. Here’s a rundown of the N.C. House so far:

  • District 1: Bill Owens (D, 42 percent), John Woodard (R, 58 percent)
  • District 34: Grier Martin (D, 52 percent), Steve Henion (R, 48 percent)
  • District 41: Chris Heagarty (D, 44 percent), Tom Murry (R, 56 percent)
  • District 112: Jim Proctor (D, 33 percent), Mike Hager (R, 68 percent)
  • District 118: Ray Rapp (D, 41 percent), Sam Edwards (R, 59 percent)

7:45 p.m. With 1,900 votes counted, Hood Richardson (R) leads Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight (D) in the 1st Senate District 55-45 percent. Barring an enormous wave for Republicans, Basnight is expected to win here.

With 6,200 votes in, Bill Rabon (R) leads David Redwine (D) in Senate District 8 by a 53-47 percent margin. In Senate District 24, Rick Gunn (R) is out to an early lead over Tony Foriest (D), 54-42 percent. That race is expected to end up in the GOP’s corner.

Ralph Hise (R) leads Joe Sam Queen (D) in Senate District 47 by a 58-42 percent spread. Meanwhile, Senate District 50 is neck-and-neck between Jim Davis (R) and John Snow (D).

Keep in mind these are very early results.

6:10 p.m. North Carolina polls close at 7:30 p.m., so we’ll get a taste for initial results of state races then. Key among those are contests for the N.C. Senate and House.