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.

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

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.