Kay Hagan can thank redistricting for her budget-writing powers.

After a Republican lawsuit made its way to the Supreme Court, a Superior Court judge drew districts more favorable to the GOP that eventually put the Senate's three budget co-chairs out of office:

Sen. Aaron Plyer: After 14 terms in the Senate, the Monroe Democrat, was drawn into a district with just 35 percent Democrats. He chose not to run again and was replaced by then Rep. Fern Shubert.

Sen. Fountain Odom: A seven-term senator, Odom was drawn into a district with 32 percent Democrats. He lost an expensive race against Robert Pittenger, now a candidate for lieutenant governor.

Sen. Howard Lee: The former Chapel Hill mayor was forced to run against fellow Democratic Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, losing by 119 votes. He now heads the state Board of Education.

With the three budget writers gone, Senate leader Marc Basnight tapped three younger legislators: Hagan, Walter Dalton of Rutherfordton and Linda Garrou of Winston-Salem.

"She'll go outside of that box," Basnight said of Hagan. "She'll do a bang-up job."