Batch will replace Dan Blue, a veteran legislator who has had a lengthy tenure serving in both the House and Senate, and has led the Senate Democratic Caucus since 2014.

North Carolina Democrats ousted a political giant from Senate leadership ranks Monday night, electing a rising star in the party, Sydney Batch, to replace Dan Blue as the minority leader.

Minority in both chambers again for the next two-year session of the North Carolina General Assembly, Democrats have chosen as chamber leaders Sen. Sydney Batch to succeed Sen. Dan Blue and Rep. Robert Reives for another term.

Senate Democrats announced the change in leadership in a statement to the media. Batch, who last month won a second term representing southern Wake County, Batch thanked Blue for his leadership. "It is an honor to be chosen by my colleagues to lead the Senate Democratic Caucus during such a pivotal time for our state,” Batch said in the statement.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Dan Blue, a groundbreaking figure in North Carolina politics across more than 40 years, will no longer serve as leader of state Senate Democrats after over a decade and is being replaced by another Raleigh-area lawmaker.

North Carolina Democrats ousted a political giant from their leadership ranks Monday night, electing a rising star in the party, Sen. Sydney Batch, to replace Sen. Dan Blue as Senate minority leader.