In a closely watched North Carolina Supreme Court contest, incumbent Justice Allison Riggs narrowly leads her opponent.
All counties have now reported their results, showing Democrat Justice Allison Riggs leading Republican Judge Jefferson Griffin by a mere 623 votes, NC Newsline reported.
In the aftermath of the election, the slender margin, which falls below 1 percent of the roughly 5.5 million votes cast, qualifies Judge Griffin to petition for a recount. He has until November 19 to formalize his request. Given this tight outcome, a recount could play a pivotal role in determining the final winner.
Some counties delayed the results slightly, counting votes until Monday night, despite the previous expectation to finish by last Friday. Notably, Duplin and Northampton counties were among the last to confirm their results, with all provisional ballots counted by Tuesday morning.
Initially trailing by about 10,000 votes on election night, Riggs managed a remarkable comeback once provisional and absentee ballots were integrated into the totals.
This race is crucial as the Democratic party seeks to decrease the Republican majority on the court, which currently stands at five out of seven seats. The Democrats are aiming to gain influence on the court ahead of the redistricting in 2031 by defending Riggs' seat.
On Monday, amidst the vote tallying, a legal dispute surfaced. Judge Jefferson Griffin and the state Republican Party filed a lawsuit against the state Board of Elections. The suit alleged that vital voter data necessary for challenging the votes was withheld.
Regarding the lawsuit, Pat Gannon remarked to WRAL that Griffin's campaign requested the data over the weekend and learned it would be delivered on Monday. Despite the campaign receiving the data, it pursued the lawsuit, which Gannon described as "thoroughly unnecessary."
Riggs commented on the potential for a recount, noting its importance for electoral transparency and public confidence. Justice Allison Riggs addressed her supporters on X, expressing gratitude and highlighting the democratic process at work: "I’m grateful for your continued support and for the time and dedication of our election workers across the state. This is what democracy looks like."
In her statement, she elaborated further on the importance of recount processes:
“Recounts are a normal electoral process that allows for transparency and promotes public confidence in our electoral systems.”
Griffin has geared up to challenge the initial results, a reflection perhaps of the competitive nature of judicial elections in North Carolina. The scrutiny and subsequent recount demand echoed the 2020 judicial contest where Republican Paul Newby triumphed over Democrat Cheri Beasley by a similarly narrow margin of 401 votes.
Griffin's legal challenge emphasizes his campaign’s insistence on thorough scrutiny of the voting records. Specifically, the voter data requested by Griffin's campaign included records of dual absentee/in-person voters, curbside voters, voters with felony convictions, and those who died post-voting. This requested information was, according to the campaign, part of an effort to ensure that all votes counted were legitimate. Furthermore, the lawsuit underscores the heightened stakes and tensions often associated with such closely contested elections.
The conclusion of this election, whether through a recount or potential legal decisions, will likely have significant implications for the balance and future rulings of the North Carolina Supreme Court. As it stands, both candidates are awaiting further developments, with the state and its voters poised for a resolution that upholds democratic integrity and transparent judicial processes.
