Phil Berger

Phil Berger has conceded. The most powerful politician in North Carolina, after several recounts and election protests, has admitted defeat to his primary challenger, Sheriff Sam Page. Berger has dominated state politics for well over a decade, shaping both policy and power. Now, there’s a political power vacuum.

The recount involved ballots from three precincts across the district. Berger needed to gain two votes to trigger a full recount. He did not.

Berger says there are several "overvotes" and hundreds of "undervotes" in Senate District 26 election, asks elections board members to visually check those ballots.

Berger, North Carolina's longtime state Senate leader, trails by 23 votes after the county canvass. His campaign says some voters in Guilford County who should have had that senate district on their ballots swear they did not.

A study reveals several parks and greenways would be impacted by the proposed I-77 toll lanes, the former EpiCentre uptown is set to go up for sale, Sam Page widens his lead over North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger, and Queens University Men’s basketball is going to the Big Dance.

More than a year into his term, North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek says he’s working to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in state government. New laws have expanded the auditor’s investigative powers and even given the office a role in shaping election oversight. Boliek joins to discuss his approach to accountability, his growing authority and what it could mean for transparency and governance in North Carolina.

It’s time for a fact check of North Carolina politics. One of the races in Tuesday’s primary getting a lot of attention is in the 26th Senate District near Greensboro. That’s where Senate leader Phil Berger is facing a challenge from Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page. An ad attacking Berger accuses him of killing a bill that would have banned gender-related surgeries for minors. For more, Paul Specht of WRAL joined WFAE’s Marshall Terry.

State elections officials say the main issue involves the retention of public documents by a local government unit.

In politically divided North Carolina, hostilities between Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and majority-Republican lawmakers have eased somewhat as 2021 nears its end. But their relationship is still far from harmonious.

Lawmakers are scheduled to return in late December, but only for limited purposes such as veto overrides and redistricting changes. This year's work session began in January and is among the longest dating back to the 1960s.