Berger Concedes to Page in NC Senate Race

0:00It's March 24, I'm Cory with the story. This is Durham News Today, driven by AI. North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger has conceded his primary race to Rockingham County Sheriff, Sam Page, after a partial hand recount confirmed. Page is 23 vote victory. This ends Berger's more than 15 years as the top Republican in the state Senate and his 25 years there overall. The race in Senate District 26 was decided by just two votes on election night before provisional ballots widened the margin. Berger helped Republicans seize control of the legislature in 2010, a majority they've hailed ever since. He's pushed key conservative wins like income tax cuts and more school choice options. Despite millions in campaign cash and an endorsement from President Donald Trump, Berger couldn't overcome Page's strong showing, especially in there. Robert Home County of Rockingham, where Page doubled his votes. In his statement, Berger congratulated Page and praised the GOP's transformation of the

1:02state. He plans to serve out the rest of his term, which wraps up in December and keep leading during the short session as Senate President Pro Temporary. Republicans still command a supermajority there, enough to override vetoes from Democratic governor Josh Stein. Election protests from Berger targeted just 13 voters and failed to change the outcome. All machine recounts and a sample hand count backed Page's win, avoiding a potential court fight that could have dragged on like last year's state. Supreme court battle, with the primary settled, attention shifts to the general election and how Page might influence the district's future, while Berger wraps up his long legacy in Raleigh.