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Hotly contested primary election decided by 2 votes in North Carolina Senate district
WBTV ^ | March 4, 2026 | Luke Tucker

Posted on 03/04/2026 7:57:08 AM PST by Miami Rebel

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV) - A hotly contested primary in North Carolina was decided by just two votes and seems likely to be headed for a recount, based on initial results.

Unofficial results shared by the North Carolina State Board of Elections showed challenger Sam Page held a narrow lead over incumbent Phil Berger in the Republican primary for the state Senate’s 26th District.

District 26 is on the North Carolina-Virginia line and includes all of Rockingham County and a large portion of Guilford County. For the past 28 years, Page has been sheriff of Rockingham County. Meanwhile, Berger is in his 13th term in the state Senate.

The preliminary results showed Page received 13,077 votes in the primary, compared to Berger’s 13,075.

The two-vote margin is well within North Carolina’s legal standard for a recount. Per state law, candidates can demand a recount if non-statewide elections are separated by less than one percent of the total vote.

“Basically the message is ... this is not over,” Berger told media on Tuesday night. “This is something that we’ve got to make sure we get all the legal votes counted and we go through that process.”

Page was a bit more direct in his address to the media and supporters on Tuesday.

“This will be a very short speech, ladies and gentlemen,” Page told his crowd. “The results are in -- we just won.”

President Donald Trump endorsed Berger on social media back in December 2025, and in the same post called Page “GREAT” and said he wanted Page to come to Washington, D.C.

Berger is currently the Senate president pro tempore, which ranks among the highest positions in the state legislature.

North Carolina law says that Berger’s demand for a recount must be submitted in writing to the State Board of Elections by noon on the second business day after votes are canvassed.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: primary

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There must be something more to this story. How'd a Trump-endorsed incumbent come in second (as it seems)?
1 posted on 03/04/2026 7:57:08 AM PST by Miami Rebel
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To: Miami Rebel

2 votes......is that even statistically possible?


2 posted on 03/04/2026 8:22:04 AM PST by V_TWIN (America....so great even the people that hate it won't leave)
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To: V_TWIN

If one of Page’s voters had voted for Berger, it would have been a tie.


3 posted on 03/04/2026 8:24:08 AM PST by Verginius Rufus
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To: Miami Rebel
Probably because people did not show up to vote.

They were to busy doing other things.

4 posted on 03/04/2026 8:25:09 AM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (The tree accused of killed Sonny Bono was planted.)
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To: Verginius Rufus

I find it difficult to believe that after over 26k votes it comes down to 2 votes.

I guarantee the recount will have a way different outcome.

Then what, a 2nd recount?


5 posted on 03/04/2026 8:27:44 AM PST by V_TWIN (America....so great even the people that hate it won't leave)
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To: V_TWIN
.is that even statistically possible?

:)

6 posted on 03/04/2026 8:36:41 AM PST by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
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To: Miami Rebel

In other NC election news,

The life-long Democrat in North Carolina, Kate Barr, who admitted on camera she was running as a FAKE REPUBLICAN…

“I’m not a real Republican… I’m running as a progressive in a Republican primary.”

Has lost her race!


7 posted on 03/04/2026 8:40:43 AM PST by CFW
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To: V_TWIN

Considering its North Carolina, a recount is in order.


8 posted on 03/04/2026 9:36:03 AM PST by chopperk (e)
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To: Miami Rebel

Sometimes, the “trump endorsed” incumbent is a complete piece of dog turd ... see, for example, Tony Gonzales in Texas.


9 posted on 03/04/2026 9:38:06 AM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: Verginius Rufus

Two MAGA voters thought their job was to cheer and not to vote and actually play in the game. This is very common with MAGA voters. They don’t realize that they are needed as players in the game and not cheering (or booing) from the bleachers.


10 posted on 03/04/2026 10:02:21 AM PST by spintreebob
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To: Miami Rebel

“2 votes......is that even statistically possible?”

Yes, it is statistically possible. One candidate got 2 more votes than the other.


11 posted on 03/04/2026 10:32:03 AM PST by Combat_Liberalism
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To: Miami Rebel

I voted in that election.


12 posted on 03/04/2026 12:04:29 PM PST by HIDEK6 (God bless Donald Trump )
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To: spintreebob

Not just MAGA but Republicans in general. Dumblecrats in my county came out 3-1. Royboy Cooper got around 48k votes and Whatley barely managed 15k.

This does not bode well for Nov, folks.


13 posted on 03/04/2026 12:09:22 PM PST by Adder (End fascism...defeat all Democrats.)
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To: Combat_Liberalism

When you explain it that way, it makes sense!


14 posted on 03/04/2026 12:13:17 PM PST by Miami Rebel (RE)
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