DDHQ projects Trump wins North Carolina

Former President Trump won North Carolina, keeping the state red despite Democrats’ efforts to flip it, according to a projection from Decision Desk HQ.

Trump won North Carolina in 2020, when he became the fourth Republican ever to carry the state without winning the presidency. He also won it in 2016, beating former Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. North Carolina comes with the prize of 16 electoral votes.

Trump faced questions over North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson (R), who was in a closely watched race because of numerous controversies surrounding his candidacy. A wide range of inflammatory comments Robinson had made in the past were revealed in September, but he stayed in the race despite tension between him and fellow North Carolina Republicans.

Trump visited the state in late October for a rally and to visit the destruction in the western part of the state in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The former president had sought to distance himself from Robinson.

The last Democrat to win North Carolina was former President Obama in 2008. President Biden’s former reelection campaign announced in the spring it would set its sights on flipping North Carolina. When Vice President Harris took over the top of the ticket in July, she continued with that goal and visited various parts of the state.