(The Center Square) – Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page’s 23-vote victory over 13-term Sen. Phil Berger in a Republican primary went official on Friday with completion of the canvass.
Berger, president pro tempore since the historic 2010 midterms and endorsed by second-term Republican President Donald Trump, has until noon Tuesday to file for a recount. He qualifies because the difference of 13,136-13,113 is less than 1%.
If after a first machine recount he remained unsatisfied, a hand recount is permissible. This is often called a hand-to-eye recount, where samples determine if there is a full hand-to-eye recount of all ballots.
Election protests are also a possibility, as are litigations.
“Our legal team is monitoring and evaluating this situation as elected officials continue to adjudicate this process,” said Jonathan Felts, a spokesman for Berger. “As most of y’all are aware, we have until Tuesday at noon to ask for a recount and Tuesday at 5 p.m. to file an election protest.
“While I anticipate we will, at a minimum, request a machine recount, no decision has been made yet.”
Page claimed victory on primary Election Day when the difference was two votes. It grew to 23 by the provisional deadline last Friday.
“It’s an honor to be chosen by the majority of voters as our party’s nominee,” Page said on social media then. “Now we’ll keep working hard to win in November and serve the people of Guilford and Rockingham counties.”
On Nov. 3, Reidsville Democrat Steve Luking will be a definitive underdog.
“We’ve just kind of flipped the script here,” Page said Friday. “We always hear the most money raised wins elections, but I just showed it doesn’t. It’s relationships and trust in the people that you work for – your citizens.”
Berger has been president pro tempore of the chamber since the 2010 midterm elections gave Republicans majorities in both chambers for the first time since Reconstruction 140 years earlier.
The Senate’s Republican leadership team behind Berger includes Sens. Ralph Hise of Mitchell County, deputy president pro tempore; Michael Lee of New Hanover County, majority leader; and Amy Galey of Alamance County and Todd Johnson of Union County, both majority whips.
Page was fifth in the Republican primary for lieutenant governor in 2024. He’s been sheriff in Rockingham County – he and Berger are each from the community of Eden – since 1998.
Each aligned with Trump on policy, Berger and Page clashed on a proposal that could have landed a casino in their home county. Berger was for it, Page against. Berger eventually stopped pursuit of the project.
