Berger files protests, requests recount in race with Page

(The Center Square) – North Carolina state Sen. Phil Berger, the Rockingham County Republican leading his chamber since 2011, kept alive hopes for a 14th term by filing at least four protests and requesting a recount in his District 26 race with Sam Page.

At time of publication, the exact nature of the protests was unclear. The Rockingham County sheriff had a two-vote lead on primary Election Night, and it grew to 23 through the official canvass on Friday.

In a statement, Berger’s team confirmed the recount request and said it would not comment further. Page’s statement said in part, “Phil Berger has the right to request a recount, and I’m confident it will confirm the outcome. We won.”

Berger, in his request to the State Board of Elections, requested any machine identifying an overvote or undervote be counted by hand during the initial recount. He wrote, “By counting the overvotes and undervotes by hand during the first machine recount process, the candidates and the public can have confidence in ...