The House majority leader won a race that came down to him and Rep. Jim Crawford of Oxford.

Five candidates entered the race. Successive ballots eliminated first Rep. Mickey Michaux, then Rep. Drew Saunders, then Rep. Dan Blue.

Blue says that third ballot was relatively close: Hackney had 24-25 votes, Crawford had 21, and Blue had 19. Once Blue was eliminated, most of his supporters broke to Hackney.

Here’s what Hackney had to say as his colleagues surrounded him (including Speaker Pro Tem candidate Rep. William Wainwright and new House Majority Leader Rep. Hugh Holliman):

My vision for North Carolina is the same as House Democrats all over, and those who elected us to these offices across North Carolina. We want to improve education, create jobs, and get affordable health care to the citizens of North Carolina. I will make the House function fairly, openly, and with deliberation.

?North Carolina is a diverse state. This is a diverse caucus. I will make sure that all parts of the caucus are represented in the appointments that I make. This will not be a caucus that is not active in all its parts throughout the caucus.

?I look forward to a legislative session of great accomplishment. We will be setting out our agenda. We?re ready to get to work. And I want say one other thing about it. I look forward to a session with civility, with openness toward our Republican colleagues, working together for all the people of the state.?

I feel deeply honored as I said to have the support of House Democrats. We stand here united and ready to go to work.