© 2025 WFAE

Mailing Address:
WFAE 90.7
P.O. Box 896890
Charlotte, NC 28289-6890
Tax ID: 56-1803808
90.7 Charlotte 93.7 Southern Pines 90.3 Hickory 106.1 Laurinburg
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Republican Jefferson Griffin concedes disputed NC Supreme Court race

Jefferson Griffin (left) and Allison Riggs.
Courtesy
Jefferson Griffin (left) and Allison Riggs.

The Republican challenger in a disputed North Carolina Supreme Court election has conceded, according to multiple media reports, six months after Election Day and following a slew of legal challenges that were seen as a blueprint for other defeated candidates to upend elections.

A federal judge on Friday told the state Board of Elections to certify incumbent Democratic Judge Allison Riggs as the winner. Griffin had sought to have around 65,000 votes tossed out after the race, because he said they didn't have some required information on file with their voter registration. Griffin will not appeal that ruling.

"As a judge, I also have respectful disagreements with my judicial peers. While I do not fully agree with the District Court’s analysis, I respect the court’s holding — just as I have respected every judicial tribunal that has heard this case. I will not appeal the court’s decision," Griffin said in a statement, first reported by the Associated Press.

Attorney General Jeff Jackson said he's concerned the case could inspire others.

"There was no sound legal basis for trying to change the rules after the fact. From the beginning, it was an attempt to twist the law to reverse the outcome of a legitimate election. And it put tens of thousands of lawful votes at risk — including ballots from military servicemembers and long-time North Carolinians who followed the rules and voted lawfully," he said. "This attack didn’t work, but there’s a real risk that other losing candidates might try the same attack in the future. We will always defend your right to vote — and the lawful outcomes of elections."

Riggs said the challenges, which cost millions of dollars in legal fees, should not have happened. She said the fight caused "immeasurable damage to our democracy."

In a statement on social media Wednesday morning, the NC GOP said they also respect the court's decision but remain concerned about issues with voter registration.

Common Cause NC, a left-leaning group, said in a statement that the outcome is a success for democracy.

“This is a victory for North Carolina voters, led by North Carolina voters,” said Bob Phillips, the group's executive director. “Throughout Griffin’s shameful attempt to overturn the election, the people of North Carolina proved that we will not be silent when a politician attacks the voting rights of our family members, friends, and neighbors. We’ve shown the awesome power of everyday people to protect the freedom to vote.”

With Riggs seated, Democrats will still control just two seats on the seven-member state Supreme Court.

Griffin, a justice on the state's appeals court, pressed his appeals in state courts for six months, while Riggs countered in federal court to try and bring the challenges to a close.

The race was narrow from the beginning. After two recounts, Riggs has a 734-vote lead in the race.

But the Republican-majority North Carolina Supreme Court had opened the door for Griffin to win, by requiring roughly 5,500 overseas and military voters to provide photo ID or have their ballots discarded. Under state law, the elections board had said they did not have to do so prior to the election.

On Friday, District Court Judge Richard Myers dismissed Griffin’s efforts to discard ballots. He wrote, "You establish the rules before the game. You don’t change them after the game is done."

He wrote that retroactive invalidation of absentee ballots violates those voters’ due process rights, and that the requirement that overseas and military voters to provide photo ID violates their equal protection rights.

This is a developing story.