Sam Page certified winner of NC senate primary by 23 votes; Berger hints at recount

NORTH CAROLINA, USA — Sam Page has been certified the winner of the Republican primary for North Carolina’s State Senate District 26, holding a 23-vote lead over Sen. Phil Berger, but Berger’s campaign says it may request a recount.

Election officials in Guilford and Rockingham counties completed their canvasses Friday, confirming Page’s narrow victory. During the review, officials removed seven ballots in Guilford County — six early votes and one cast on Election Day — and carefully examined two voter registrations and a ballot tied to a deceased voter in Rockingham County. All other ballots matched county records, leaving the final count largely unchanged.

Page, the Rockingham County sheriff, said his campaign’s focus on community relationships helped secure the win. “I never forget who my bosses are,” he said.

Berger’s campaign issued a statement saying its legal team is monitoring the situation. “While I anticipate we will, at a minimum, request a machine recount, no decision has been made yet,” said Jonathan Felts, a spokesman for the Berger recount team. The campaign has until Tuesday at noon to request a recount and until 5 p.m. to file an election protest.

With the canvass complete, Page is now positioned as the Republican nominee heading into the November election, while Berger has a few days to decide whether to challenge the results.