Free Republic

Newly counted votes widened the gap between Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page and state Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger in the race to earn the Republican nomination for state Senate District 26. Unofficial election results released Tuesday placed Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page two votes ahead of incumbent NC Senate President Pro Tempore Berger with a tally of 13,077 votes to 13,075. On Friday, Rockingham County and Guilford County election officials worked to tabulate cured absentee-by-mail ballots and provisional ballots, adding 59 votes for Page and 38 votes for Berger. The machine reading in Rockingham County listed 56 votes...

By a margin of two votes, North Carolina's most powerful politician is losing a primary election to his home county's sheriff. With all precincts reporting Tuesday night, Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page had recorded 13,077 votes. Senator Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, had recorded 13,075 votes. If the race is within 1% — and this one certainly is — the losing candidate can request a recount. There are also outstanding provisional ballots and military and overseas ballots that could still be added to the total. "Every vote counts," Berger told assembled media after the results came in. "We will continue through the...

Calling the recently passed state budget a “debacle,” Republican leaders kicked-off a statewide “budget tour” in Burlington on Monday as part of their efforts to win back legislative seats and return their party to the majority in the state House and Senate. State GOP Chairman Tom Fetzer, along with Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger and House Minority Leader Paul Stam, joined local GOP leaders and others for lunch at Sal’s Italian Restaurant, where Stam said there were “great questions” and a “great turnout” that included Sheriff Terry Johnson, state Rep. Dan Ingle and school board Chairman Tom Manning. Fetzer, Stam...

Two Republican state senators are challenging their party's Senate leader for his job in a vote next weekend. Sen. Bob Rucho, of Charlotte, and Sen. Pete Brunstetter, of Winston-Salem, both plan to run against Sen. Phil Berger, of Eden, the current Senate Republican leader. Berger is seeking a third term in the post. The GOP caucus is scheduled to meet and vote on their leadership team on Sunday, Dec. 7 in Greensboro. The challenge to Berger comes despite Republicans' gain of one senate seat in this year's election, pushing back against a national Democratic tide that pummeled Republicans elsewhere and...