Rep. Wil Neumann, a Belmont Republican, plans to run for the Gaston County senate seat currently held by Sen. David Hoyle, a Democrat who lives in Dallas.

The district is Republican, but Hoyle has managed to hold the seat because of his pro-business record and ties to the business community. Neumann said he has worked well with Hoyle for several years and called him a "very good friend."

Hoyle has not said whether he will run for a 10th term.

"I’m not looking at this as a challenge to David but as it’s time for a Republican to be in that seat," Neumann said. "The community has asked me to do this."

Neumann, 47, was first elected to the House in 2006. He owns two small businesses with partners, a renewable energy company and a contractor, but said lately he has been focused on helping Republicans reclaim a majority in the House and, now, the Senate.

Kathy Harrington, the Republican candidate for Hoyle's seat last year, has not announced whether she will run again.

Despite predictions of major rightward movement in the state Senate, legislative contests yielded few upsets.

Incumbent Democrats in districts considered Republican-leaning were reelected, although a few got a scare, Lynn Bonner reports.

Veteran Democrat David Hoyle of Gaston County defeated Republican Kathy Harrington by about three percentage points, according to unofficial returns.

Democrat Julia Boseman of New Hanover, who is the legislature's first openly gay member, won by about 3.3 percentage points. A custody battle with her former partner led to disclosures that Boseman defaulted on a $1.3 million loan on her former home.

Senate Republicans in February targeted nine seats. They lost eight of those yesterday.

Former House member Debbie Clary, a Republican from Cherryville, seems to be the sole pick up. Clary won the race for the seat Walter Dalton left open when he ran for lieutenant governor.

In the House, Republicans beat two incumbent Democrats, lost two seats, and are close in two races.

Republicans have high hopes in nine state Senate races.

Jim Blaine, director of the N.C. Senate Republican Committee, gave Dome a breakdown of the races he thinks the GOP will do well in, based on the filings so far.

Fifth: Rep. Louis Pate Jr., a Republican, faces the winner of a five-way Democratic primary for the open seat of retiring Democratic Sen. John Kerr.

Eighth: Former Wilmington Star-News reporter Bettie Fennell, a Republican, faces Democratic Sen. R.C. Soles Jr. in a district that is changing demographically.

Ninth: Wilmington attorney Michael Lee, a Republican, has filed to run against Democratic Sen. Julia Boseman, who has not yet filed for re-election.

24th: Commercial real estate broker Rick Gunn Jr., a Republican, squares off against Democratic Sen. Tony Foriest.

43rd: Realtor Kathy Harrington, wife of former Rep. Michael Harrington, faces Democratic Sen. David Hoyle in a district that leans Republican.

45th: Boone dentist Jerry Butler has signed up to face Democratic Sen. Steve Goss. Other Republicans may file in this race as well.

46th: State Rep. Debbie Clary, a Republican, faces either Phil Clark or Keith Melton for the seat of Democratic Sen. Walter Dalton, who is running for lieutenant governor.

47th: Former state Sen. Keith Presnell, a Republican, faces Democratic Sen. Joe Sam Queen in a seemingly never-ending grudge match.

50th: Republican Susan C. Pons, who works at a Christian training center, faces Democratic Sen. John Snow.