RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s top elections administrator told county officials Friday to stop guessing about unfinished races, a reminder aimed at the still-open state Senate contest that could decide who runs the chamber in 2027.
State Board of Elections executive director Sam Hayes said election workers are hired to administer the count, not shape public expectations about who is winning. With county canvasses set for Nov. 13, he said results remain unofficial and every eligible ballot must be handled under the law.
The warning lands on Senate District 24, where Republican Sen. Danny Britt led Democrat Catina Hamm by 268 votes after Election Day — about half a percentage point — across Robeson, Hoke and Scotland counties. More than 800 provisional ballots in the district still need review.
A Britt hold would leave Republicans at 26-24 in the state Senate. A Hamm win would create a 25-25 split broken by Democratic Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt, giving Democrats an effective path through the General Assembly with Gov. Josh Stein after they already flipped the House.
Hayes said the agency contacted a newsroom about remarks attributed to a county director and was not given a chance to respond before those comments aired. He said the statement puts the board’s impartiality standard on the record for every county.
County boards must finish eligible provisional and cured absentee ballots next week. Overseas and military envelopes may still land through Nov. 12, and the State Board has the Senate race on its Nov. 24 certification calendar. A recount remains possible if the final margin stays at 1 percent or less.
Section: More Raleigh NC politics news
Filed under: Raleigh NC Politics News
