North Carolina Senate leader, conservative architect Phil Berger concedes primary loss

AP News ^ | Updated 5:17 PM CDT, March 24, 2026 | GARY D. ROBERTSON

[E. Pluribus Unum]

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina government’s most influential politician, Republican state Senate leader Phil Berger, conceded the primary race for his seat to Sam Page on Tuesday, shaking the power structure in the ninth-largest state and likely soon ending Berger’s preeminence as the state’s top conservative architect.

Berger trailed Page, the Rockingham County sheriff, in their March 3 primary by only 23 votes. He has been Senate leader since 2011 when Republicans took full control over the General Assembly for the first time in 140 years. President Donald Trump had endorsed Berger for reelection, praising him for his policy accomplishments.

Trump’s endorsement came several weeks after the legislature redrew the state’s U.S. House district map in an attempt to flip a Democratic seat as part of the president’s redistricting campaign to retain GOP control of the U.S. House in this year’s midterm elections.

“While this was a close race, the voters have spoken, and I congratulate Sheriff Page on his victory,” Berger said in a news release. “Over the past 15 years, Republicans in the General Assembly have fundamentally redefined our state’s outlook and reputation. It has been an honor.”

A razor-thin outcome after millions spent in race

Unofficial results on primary election night showed Page leading Berger by just two votes out of more than 26,000 counted in the 26th Senate District that includes part of Greensboro and neighboring areas.

Page’s lead expanded as elections boards in the two counties within the district reviewed provisional, absentee and other ballots. Later recounts were conducted and Berger’s campaign filed formal protests. But Berger gave up after a hand recount of a small portion of the ballots Tuesday morning showed no change in Page’s razor-thin lead.

Page will now advance to the November general election in the GOP-leaning district against...

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[ComputerGuy]

23 votes. That could have been just one church bus.

[MMusson]

The NCGOP has spoken. They want new blood.

[ducttape45]

Let’s hope the same thing happens to Graham in SC

[T. Rustin Noone]

Sheeesh!

Who writes these headlines?

Is he an architect or not?

[daler]

I was concerned he was a real conservative until I realized that’s what the AP called him.

[Presbyterian Reporter]

“”” President Donald Trump had endorsed Berger for reelection, praising him for his policy accomplishments.”””

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Hopefully some NC Freepers will weigh in on the merits of Berger and Page.

[Ciaphas Cain]

I've met both Berger and Page, though it's been several years since I lived in their district. Berger definitely brought the goodies but he had become too attached to his power. He'd come to forget that he was sent to Raleigh to serve his constituents, not to be the most powerful man in the state. He spent several millions of dollars on this race, while Page paid relatively little.

Sam Page is a good man. He will serve the district well, assuming he wins in the general election.

[Adder]

He [Berger] figured into every conservative policy prescription since, including income tax reductions, private-school vouchers for any family, restrictions on abortion and looser regulations on gun access. Berger’s allies say he’s chartered fueled economic success in the state of 11 million.

Current GOP House Speaker Destin Hall, who has grappled with the Senate recently over an unresolved budget, praised Berger late Tuesday as “a true titan of conservative leadership in North Carolina.”

And that’s gonna be a problem. I do not think Page has anywhere near the clout to keep us right leaning...