(The Center Square) – Two votes are the difference for an unofficial Republican primary Election Day win in North Carolina by Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page over 13-term state Sen. Phil Berger.
Berger, endorsed in the race by second-term Republican President Donald Trump, was one of nine incumbents falling in the primaries in a trend that included both major parties. One other Republican senator was ousted, and the House of Representatives had four Republicans and three Democrats fail to advance.
Each of the three Democrats are linked to siding with Republicans on veto override votes of the governor.
While all precincts are in, still to be counted are mailed ballots needing cures, provisional ballots, and overseas and military ballots sent by snail mail. Runoffs are in play for winning candidates with less than 30% of the vote, and requests from those finishing runner-up by less than 1% of the total votes.
When the last precinct from Guilford County came in, Page led 13,077-13,075. Berger has been president pro tempore of the chamber since the historic 2010 midterm elections gave Republicans majorities in both chambers for the first time since Reconstruction 140 years earlier.
Canvassing to make results official and determine possible runoffs is Friday of next week. A runoff would happen May 12. On Nov. 3, the survivor is up against Reidsville Democrat Steve Luking.
In the House of Representatives, Democratic Rep. Carla Cunningham and Republican Rep. Keith Kidwell each went down in key races where there is no opponent waiting at the Nov. 3 general election.
Rev. Dr. Rodney Sadler (70%) is headed to Raleigh for District 106. Cunningham (21.8%), seeking an eighth term, and Vermanno Bowman (8.3%) were nowhere close. All are from Charlotte. Belhaven’s Darren Armstrong ended the fifth term quest of Chocowinity’s Kidwell 52.3%-47.7% in District 79.
Kevin Crutchfield of Midland upset incumbent Sen. Chris Measmer of Concord in District 34 in the other upper chamber upset.
In the House Republican primaries, Seth Woodall of Eden ousted incumbent Rep. Reece Pyrtle of Stoneville in District 65; Caroline Eason of Lawndale unseated incumbent Rep. Kelly Hastings of Cherryville in District 110; and Jimmy Rogers of Clyde defeated incumbent Rep. Mark Pless of Canton in District 118.
In the House Democratic primaries, Patricia Smith of Williamston defeated incumbent Rep. Shelly Willingham of Rocky Mount in District 23; and Veleria Levy of Charlotte defeated incumbent Rep. Nasif Majeed of Charlotte in District 99.
The race between Berger and Page, both members of the Rockingham County community of Eden, was among the most highly watched across the state as eight members of Congress and 38 members of the General Assembly faced primary challenges. Neither varied much in campaign points for the party.
Page carried their home county by 2 to 1.
Page, sheriff since 1998, has been more of an advocate for raising teacher pay, broader transparency in public records access, and from his occupation, public safety and justice system reform.
Berger is on board with tax breaks, deregulation and disassociation with “politically correct agendas that trample on our values.”
In other Senate primaries for Republicans, incumbent winners included Sens. Brent Jackson of Autryville in District 9, Benton Sawrey of Clayton in District 10, Jim Burgin of Angier in District 12, Tom McInnis of Pinehurst in District 21, and Steve Jarvis of Lexington in District 30.
In Senate primaries for Democrats, incumbent winners included Sens. Sophia Chitlik of Durham in District 22 and Paul Lowe Jr. of Winston-Salem in District 32.
In House primaries for Republicans, Seth Woodall of Eden ousted incumbent Rep. Reece Pyrtle of Stoneville in District 65; Caroline Eason of Lawndale unseated incumbent Rep. Kelly Hastings of Cherryville in District 110; and Jimmy Rogers of Clyde defeated incumbent Rep. Mark Pless of Canton in District 118.
Incumbent winners of House primaries for Republicans included Reps. Edward Goodwin of Edenton in District 1; Jimmy Dixon of Mt. Olive in District 4; Joe Pike of Sanford in District 6; Carson Smith of Hampstead in District 16; Frank Iler of Calabash in District 17; Donna McDowell White of Clayton in District 26; Larry Strickland of Pine Level in District 28; Mike Schietzelt of Wake Forest in District 35; and Diane Wheatley of Linden in District 43.
Also, Reps. Neal Jackson of Robbins in District 78; Sam Watford of Thomasville in District 80; Larry Potts of Lexington in District 81; Mitchell Setzer of Catawba in District 89; Todd Carver of Mooresville in District 95; Tricia Cotham of Charlotte in District 105; Jake Johnson of Columbus in District 113; Jennifer Balkcom of Hendersonville in District 117; and Mike Clampitt of Bryson City in District 119.
In other House primaries for Democrats, incumbent winners for House Democrats included Reps. Rodney Pierce of Roanoke Rapids in District 27; Abe Jones of Raleigh in District 38; Amanda Cook of High Point in District 60.
