North Carolina Senate Leader Phil Berger (R), a towering figure in the state’s political arena, is trailing his primary challenger, Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page (R), by just two votes in a tightly contested race that could dramatically alter the power dynamics in the state capital.

Vote Count and Potential Recount

As of Wednesday morning, the North Carolina State Board of Elections reported that Page led Berger 13,077 to 13,075 votes, according to the latest vote count. If the margins remain within 1 percent, the trailing candidate is permitted to request a recount, adding a layer of uncertainty to the race.

Page, a popular Republican sheriff whose name recognition in his district rivals that of the incumbent GOP leader, claimed victory in a speech Tuesday night, stating, “The results are in. We just won. We won this because of relationships … I never forget who I work for, and I’ll be working for the people of the 26th District, covering Guilford and Rockingham County.”

Berger’s Response and Uncertainty

Berger, in his own speech Tuesday night, said he was still awaiting all the results to come in, especially in Guilford County. As of Wednesday morning, more than 95 percent of the votes had been counted, according to Decision Desk HQ.

“I want to thank the people in this room and everyone else who has either supported me, gone out and campaigned, talked to their neighbor, did anything. I appreciate it more than I can adequately express,” Berger told his supporters Tuesday night. “I wish I could tell you that we had some certainty as to what the result is, but we just don’t know that at this point. And it looks like it’s going to be close,” he added, stating he expected to have a statement at some point Wednesday.

Significance of the Race

The race has the potential to dramatically upend politics in the North Carolina state legislature. Berger, first elected in 2001, has led the State Senate since 2011, when he helped overturn 112 years of Democratic control in the legislative chamber. He is widely seen as the most powerful Republican lawmaker in the state.

But Berger faced the toughest primary challenge of his career this year, when the popular Republican sheriff, who’s held the post since 1998, entered the race positioning himself as an alternative to the status quo. Page, on the campaign trail, emphasized his background in law enforcement and discussed concerns about fiscal policy and government services, according to local news outlet WFMY.

Presidential Involvement and Redistricting

The primary race attracted the attention of Raleigh and Washington, where President Trump backed Berger in the state-level race. The Senate leader helped shepherd through the legislature Trump’s redistricting push.

Page, an adamant Trump supporter, told The Washington Post that the president called him late last year to offer him a job in Washington, instead of remaining in the race. Page said he declined the offer. According to Page, Trump said he decided to back the state Senate leader “because he’d helped him with the mapping, the redistricting.” Berger adamantly denied any quid pro quo and said he did not speak to Trump about securing the endorsement.

General Election Implications

The winner of the primary will face Democrat Steve Luking in the general election in November. The outcome of this race could have broader implications for the balance of power in the North Carolina legislature, which has been a battleground for both parties in recent years.

With the results still uncertain and the possibility of a recount looming, the race has captured the attention of political observers across the state and beyond. The stakes are high, not just for Berger and Page, but for the future of Republican governance in North Carolina.