A hotly contested North Carolina Supreme Court seat hangs in the balance as Democrat Allison Riggs maintains a slim lead over Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin.
According to Axios, the race is now heading to a recount after Riggs emerged victorious by just 625 votes, prompting Griffin to officially request a vote verification process.
The outcome of this race carries significant weight for the state's judicial landscape, as it would maintain the current 5-2 Republican majority on North Carolina's highest court if Riggs retains her lead.
This partisan composition will remain secure until at least 2028 when three incumbent justices face re-election.
Griffin's campaign has taken multiple actions to contest the results, including filing a lawsuit against the State Board of Elections and submitting 300 pages of protest documents questioning the validity of approximately 60,000 votes.
The lawsuit, joined by the state Republican Party, seeks various voter lists, including those suspected of duplicate voting and voters with felony convictions.
State law permits candidates to request a recount when the vote difference is 10,000 or fewer. The process, which began Wednesday, must conclude by November 27, though an additional hand count could extend into the week of December 2 if requested.
Historical data suggests that recounts rarely alter election outcomes. Research from FairVote indicates that only three out of 36 statewide recounts conducted in the past 23 years resulted in different winners.
Griffin released a statement explaining his position on the recount and protests, saying:
These protests are about one fundamental principle: ensuring every legal vote is counted.
In response, Riggs took to social media to address the situation. While acknowledging recounts as a normal electoral procedure, she criticized her opponent's additional protests:
My opponent is taking a tired page from the playbook of previous failed candidates ... in an attempt to disenfranchise voters. I look forward to continuing to defend my lead in this race with integrity.
The North Carolina Supreme Court race between Riggs and Griffin exemplifies the intense scrutiny and close margins that have characterized recent state judicial elections. With Riggs leading by just 625 votes out of millions cast, this contest will undergo a comprehensive recount process to verify the results.
The final outcome will determine whether Democrat Riggs, who was appointed to the court by Governor Roy Cooper in 2023, will retain her seat and maintain the current partisan balance of the state's highest judicial body.
As the recount proceeds and legal challenges unfold, both candidates and their supporters await a conclusive resolution that will shape North Carolina's judicial landscape for years to come.
