Democrat Roy Cooper flips Republican-held Senate seat in North Carolina

Democrat Roy Cooper won North Carolina’s US Senate race on Tuesday, according ​to media projections, defeating Trump-backed Republican Michael ‌Whatley and giving Democrats a crucial pickup in their battle for Senate control.

His victory took the party’s total to 45 seats in Tuesday’s midterm election.

Democrats also secured victories in several other states, with incumbents Mark Warner in Virginia, Jon Ossoff in Georgia, Cory Booker in New Jersey, Chris Coons in Delaware, Ed Markey in Massachusetts, Jack Reed in Rhode Island, Ben Ray Lujan in New Mexico and John Hickenlooper in Colorado winning re-election.

In Illinois, Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton won an open Senate seat, while Democratic Representative Chris Pappas secured victory in New Hampshire.

Cooper, a well-known former two-term ​governor, defeated a hand-picked candidate of President ​Donald Trump after campaigning on the high ⁠cost of food and energy as Trump’s approval ​ratings fell.

Republicans held a 53-47 Senate majority going ​into Tuesday’s elections, with Democrats needing a net gain of four seats to take control.

Cooper, 69, will replace ​Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who announced his ​retirement after breaking with Trump over Medicaid cuts in the ‌president’s ⁠signature tax and spending law.

The victory marked an important gain for Democrats as they sought to challenge the Republican majority in the 100-member Senate and improve their chances of regaining control of the chamber.

Addressing supporters after his victory, Cooper pledged to make healthcare, housing and groceries more affordable.

He also vowed to bring an end to the ongoing war in Iran and ease pressure on fuel prices.

Republicans, meanwhile, retained Senate seats in Florida and West Virginia, where Ashley Moody defeated Democrat Angie Nixon and Shelley Moore Capito won re-election against Rachel Fetty Anderson, respectively.

Republican candidate Harriet Hageman also won in Wyoming, while Andy Barr secured victory in Kentucky.

Republicans entered the elections with 53 seats in the Senate, compared with 45 held by Democrats and two independents who caucus with them.

Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take control of the chamber, with several closely contested races still undecided.