North Carolina Senate Race Tightens as Provisional Ballots Counted
LUMBERTON — The race for a pivotal North Carolina Senate seat remains closely contested as election officials finalize the counting of provisional ballots, potentially impacting control of the legislature.
Current Standings
Incumbent Republican Senator Danny Britt holds a narrow lead over Democratic challenger Catina Hamm. Following the completion of provisional ballot reviews in the district, Britt’s lead has decreased to just 228 votes, a drop from a 268-vote margin on Election Day.
Significance of the Race
The electoral battle is significant for both parties. The district encompasses Hoke, Scotland, and Robeson counties. With Democrats having flipped four state senate seats during the election, the current composition of the chamber stands at 24 seats for Democrats versus 26 for Republicans. Should Hamm secure a victory, the Senate would be evenly split at 25-25, with the Democrat Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt able to cast tie-breaking votes. Conversely, a Britt victory would maintain the Republicans’ majority.
Historical Context
In a notable shift, Democrats regained control of the North Carolina House for the first time since 2010, with Republicans having held control of both chambers since 2011.
Reactions to Provisional Ballot Results
Following the announcement of the final provisional ballot count in Robeson County, Britt expressed his emotions openly, celebrating the results that have significant implications for his political future. In an interview, he reflected on his decade-long service in the state Senate, remarking, “I’ve spent the last decade serving the state Senate, the better part of my children’s lives, dedicated to Robeson County, dedicated to southeast North Carolina.”
Potential for Recount
While Britt remains optimistic about the final outcome, he acknowledged the possibility of a recount or election protests given the close margin. Under North Carolina law, a recount can be requested if the margin is 1% or less of the total votes. With Britt’s current lead falling within this threshold, the possibility looms large.
Britt stated confidently, “We’re confident that a recount changes nothing. We’re confident that any challenge of any of the ballots changes nothing.”
Provisional Ballot Review Details
Over 800 provisional ballots were thoroughly reviewed across the three counties involved in the election. The acceptance and rejection of these ballots received unanimous agreement from the bipartisan election boards in Scotland and Robeson counties.
- Hoke County: 59 accepted, 105 rejected (Hamm gained 17 votes)
- Scotland County: 55 accepted, 76 rejected (Hamm gained 26 votes)
- Robeson County: 311 accepted, 218 rejected (Britt gained 9 votes)
Next Steps in the Election Process
The State Board of Elections is scheduled to certify the Senate race on November 24. If a recount is requested, it must be submitted by noon on November 17. Additionally, military and overseas ballots sent by 12:01 a.m. on Election Day and received by 5 p.m. on Thursday will still be counted, with a total of 24 such ballots pending across the three counties.
