Tight North Carolina Supreme Court race forces recount after count remains unchanged

In North Carolina, a closely contested election for a Supreme Court seat has resulted in a significant recount process following a machine recount that concluded recently. The machine recount revealed that Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs held a narrow lead of 734 votes over Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin, who serves as a Court of Appeals judge. This close race marked a remarkable turnaround from the election night when Griffin originally led by approximately 10,000 votes. As additional provisional and absentee ballots were counted, Griffin’s lead dwindled, ultimately flipping into Riggs's favor. This recount process is part of the electoral procedures in North Carolina to ensure accurate vote tallying and voter confidence in the integrity of elections. Riggs, who was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2023 and is now seeking to secure an eight-year term through this election, continues to maintain her stance on winning, urging Griffin to concede the race. In the wake of the recount results, Griffin has raised concerns about the validity of over 60,000 ballots that were counted. He has filed for a partial hand-to-eye recount, which is set to take place over ballots cast at 3% of the voting sites across all 100 counties in North Carolina, with random locations chosen by the state board. Griffin’s legal challenges are part of a broader effort by several Republican candidates who are also contesting the results in their respective races. The Republican Party has emphasized the importance of ensuring that all legal votes are counted and that the public has trust in the electoral process. The state and county election boards are currently reviewing these electoral protests, and the final rulings can be subject to appeals in the state court system. The implications of this close race are significant for North Carolina’s political landscape, especially concerning legislative control. If Riggs’s win is confirmed and another Republican candidate fails to win their contest, it may reshape the power dynamics in the state legislature, which has been characterized by a Republican supermajority. This situation is particularly critical as it comes at a time when the incoming Democratic Governor, Josh Stein, will seek to exert influence over state policies. Among the contentious races, Republican candidate Sossamon has also requested a partial hard recount in his legislative race, intensifying the focus on maintaining or altering the balance of power. Consequently, such tight races and the ensuing recounts could redefine governance strategies and legislative priorities in North Carolina. The political stakes remain high as both parties brace for potential significant shifts following the recount outcomes.