The close North Carolina Supreme Court race between Republican Jefferson Griffin and Democrat Allison Riggs has been marred by legal challenges and controversy.
A federal judge has denied Griffin's attempt to halt certification of the election, leaving Riggs in the lead by 734 votes following recounts, as the Associated Press reports.
Griffin's bid to challenge the results of the election included multiple legal actions and protests, alleging widespread irregularities. His claims focused on more than 60,000 votes he argued were invalid due to identification issues and other alleged discrepancies. However, state election officials dismissed his protests, citing insufficient evidence to alter the election's outcome.
One of Griffin’s primary strategies was to request a federal judge to prevent the State Board of Elections from certifying the results. Judge Richard Myers, however, rejected this effort. In his ruling, Myers stated that Griffin had not demonstrated a risk of immediate harm from the board's actions.
Despite the court ruling, Griffin maintained that votes without identification numbers and other alleged violations undermined the integrity of the election. However, election officials contended that these claims lacked merit and would not change the final tally. Alan Hirsch, the chair of the State Board of Elections, emphasized this point, stating that even if all of Griffin’s claims were resolved in his favor, the election results would remain the same.
In addition to the federal court action, Griffin and three other Republican candidates filed protests with the state elections board. These complaints targeted alleged ineligible votes, including those cast by deceased individuals, felons, and voters with residency issues. Griffin also claimed that some registrations were improperly rejected.
The state board, which voted along party lines, dismissed all protests. Democratic members argued that the number of disputed votes was far smaller than Riggs' lead, making the challenges irrelevant to the election outcome. Kevin Lewis, a member of the State Board, noted that acting on the board’s decision was premature due to pending legal challenges related to the 60,000 disputed ballots.
The race for the North Carolina Supreme Court seat was one of the tightest in recent memory. After initial results showed a narrow lead for Riggs, recounts confirmed her advantage by 734 votes.
Griffin’s allegations of widespread irregularities failed to gain traction during these recounts, and Riggs’ campaign expressed confidence in the integrity of the process. Riggs’ supporters have accused Griffin of attempting to disenfranchise legitimate voters through his legal maneuvers. The Associated Press has not yet called the race, pending the resolution of ongoing legal disputes. Two other legislative races in the state remain similarly undecided due to related protests.
Although Griffin’s efforts have thus far been unsuccessful, the final certification of the election results is not expected until after Jan. 3. This delay allows time for any remaining legal challenges to be addressed. Riggs, a Democrat, is poised to take her place on the state Supreme Court if certification proceeds as planned. Her victory would represent a significant win for Democrats in the state’s judicial system.
Griffin’s case is now being handled in federal court, but observers say his chances of success are slim given the lack of evidence presented in earlier proceedings. The controversy surrounding his challenge has sparked broader debates about the balance between election integrity and voter disenfranchisement.
While Griffin’s case has drawn significant attention, it is not the only contentious race in North Carolina. Republican state Rep. Frank Sossamon is also considering legal action after narrowly losing to Democrat Bryan Cohn in a legislative race. If Sossamon successfully overturns his loss, it could have implications for the Republican majority in the General Assembly. The stakes in these contested races highlight the high political tensions in the state.
For now, Riggs remains the declared winner of the Supreme Court race, pending certification. The outcome serves as a reminder of the challenges and complexities involved in close elections and the critical role of the courts in resolving disputes.
