Flipped from RepublicanCalledUnofficial resultsIncumbent defeated
North Carolina Senate District 4
North Carolina State Senate · North Carolina
Jess Rivera flipped the seat for Democrats, winning by 2.1 points over Buck Newton.
Jess RiveraDemocrat · winner
51.1%37,539
Buck NewtonRepublican · incumbent
48.9%35,962
73,501 votes
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections unofficial resultsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 1:22 PM ET
Where the race moved
Against the 2024 presidential vote
The seat's recent races
Source: Past results: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Jess RiveraBuck Newton
$31.5K
Raised by the campaign
$124.5K
$13.5K
Spent by the campaign
$7.7K
$27.3K
Cash on hand
$126.2K
Campaign money: North Carolina State Board of Elections, through Jun 30, 2026.
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections campaign filingsUpdated Jun 30, 2026
Pre-election forecast (final, Nov 3)
Our model's last run before Election Day, Nov 3, 2026. It no longer updates.
- Jess Rivera
- 25%
- Buck Newton
- 75%
- Projected margin
- R+4.9