Hand-to-eye recounts today in Guilford and Rockingham counties showed no change to Page’s 23-vote lead.
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, N.C. โ Phil Berger conceded the North Carolina Senate District 26 Republican primary on Tuesday, congratulating challenger Sam Page after a hand-to-eye recount showed no change in vote totals for the second time.
“While this was a close race, the voters have spoken, and I congratulate Sheriff Page on his victory,” Berger said in a statement.
The concession comes after weeks of post-election proceedings. Berger had requested both machine and hand-to-eye recounts and filed formal protests in Rockingham and Guilford counties.
Tuesday morning’s hand-to-eye recount results showed no change from previously counted ballots. Guilford County’s Board of Elections reported no changes at Oak Ridge Town Hall or McLeansville Baptist Church. Rockingham County’s Board of Elections reported identical results to last week’s machine recount.
Page released the following statement after Berger’s concession:
โI appreciate Senator Bergerโs call earlier today and his concession. Iโm grateful for his years of service to our state, and I thank him for wishing me the best moving forward. This was a hard-fought campaign, and Iโm honored that the voters of Guilford and Rockingham counties placed their trust in me. Now itโs time for our community to come together and focus on winning in November.โ
In his statement, Berger reflected on his 15 years in the General Assembly and said he remains committed to working with colleagues and supporting Republican Senate candidates to protect the party’s supermajority.
“Looking ahead, I remain committed to working with my colleagues in the short session to ensure North Carolina continues to be the best state in the nation in which to live, work, raise a family, and retire.”
Berger has long been considered one of the most powerful politicians in North Carolina history. As Senate President Pro Tempore since 2011, he has wielded enormous influence over state policy for more than a decade, shepherding legislation on taxes, education, elections and redistricting through a Republican-controlled General Assembly.
Berger’s exit reshapes the landscape of North Carolina Republican politics. His departure creates a leadership vacuum in the state Senate at a moment when the GOP holds a supermajority. Who fills that void, and whether the party can maintain its current strength, will be among the defining questions of the next legislative session.
