North Carolina’s most powerful Republican, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, has gotten his way countless times since he became his party’s leader 16 years ago.
But this time, he fell 23 votes short. After narrowly losing to Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page, Berger did what most would do: he called for a recount.
The first machine recount didn’t change the 23-vote margin. And neither did the second, sample hand-to-eye recount, conducted by the Guilford and Rockingham county election boards Tuesday morning.
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Berger also filed four election protests alleging various forms of election misconduct that implicated 13 voters. Without gaining any votes in the recounts, the math simply didn’t add up.
Tuesday, Berger faced the facts. He could have pressed on. Berger could have tried to convince the State Board of Elections to go ahead with a full hand-to-eye recount, argued that the election misconduct outlined in his protest actually implicated more than 13 voters or taken the issue to court. Success would have been unlikely, but not completely impossible.
Instead, he exercised restraint.
In a statement, Berger said the voters have spoken.
“Republicans in the General Assembly have fundamentally redefined our state’s outlook and reputation,” he said. “It has been an honor to play a role in that transformation.”
Already, several state senators have begun vying for the leadership seat, including Sens. Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell, Amy Galey, R-Alamance, Todd Johnson, R-Union, Brent Jackson, R-Sampson, and Michael Lee, R-New Hanover.
In the meantime, Berger vowed to serve out his final session in office. His continued leadership may spell trouble for hopes of a budget in the short session. The budget has largely been held up by disagreement between Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, over tax policy and funding for a children’s hospital. Now, with nothing to lose, it’s less likely Berger will moderate on his stances.
The race between Page and Berger was expensive. Not including outside groups, Page spent $51,000 while campaigning, and Berger spent $2.27 million. Both had significant support from third parties campaigning with digital ads and mailers.
Page previously told Carolina Public Press that the race would not be won on money alone.
“I’m not going to be able to match the corporate, dark money interests supporting Phil Berger,” he said. “What I’m going to be able to do is I’m going to win this because I’ve built relationships with citizens that I serve, building that trust. People know Sam Page.”
Berger caught flak from some voters for losing touch with his local community. One of the most significant disagreements came when Berger fought for legalization of casinos and video lottery terminals, and planned to place one in his home county. Many Rockingham County residents did not like that, and even when Berger lost that battle, they didn’t forget.
At the time, Page said his election would spur a new era of leadership in the legislature.
“What I hear from the inside, it’s kind of like my way or the highway,” Page said. “You have to listen to one person. And I think me running for Senate, when I win this election, it will actually have an opportunity to reboot the Senate and give an opportunity for these senators … to stand on their own two feet and represent their citizens as they were elected to do.”
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