After primaries, Berger and 5 other Republicans will leave the Legislature at the end of the year

With the unexpected loss of Senate leader Phil Berger in the primary election, whose results were certified this week, a total of six Republican lawmakers will leave their seats in the state’s General Assembly at the end of the year.

Berger, one of the state’s most influential politicians who had the endorsement of President Donald Trump, lost the race for Senate District 26 by just 23 votes after a long and close contest with Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page.

An unexpected result that shakes up the Republican legislative leadership since Berger has led the Senate since 2011, when Republicans took control of both chambers of the General Assembly, and has been crucial in moving his party’s conservative agenda for more than 15 years.

With him will leave at the end of the year five other Republican lawmakers, 4 representatives and 1 senator, who also failed to overcome their challengers in the primaries.

In the House of Representatives, Rep. Reese Pyrtle lost the election for District 65 to Seth Woodall, a lawyer who in 2024 ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor of the state.

In the 79th District, Rep. Keith Kidwell will end his seven years in office after losing the primary to Darren Armstrong, a Beaufort County farmer.

In District 110, veteran Rep. Kelly Hastings will step down after 15 years in the Legislature after losing the primary election to Caroline Eason, a young pharmacist from Cleveland County.

And in District 118, Rep. Mark Pless lost his seat to Jimmy Rogers, a member of the Haywood County School Board in western North Carolina.

In addition, in Senate District 34, Senator Chris Measmer, who in 2025 was appointed to fill the seat of the resigning Paul Newton, lost the primary to former Representative Kevin Crutchfield who in 2024 was unseated by current Rep. Brian Echevarria.

Although all of those who won the primary in these races will face Democratic candidates in November, they are favorites to win the election since their districts are considered safe for Republicans.