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By Jordan King and Associated Press
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North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger, whom President Donald Trump backed in the Republican primary for the 26th Senate District, has conceded the race to Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page.
Berger, who has served as president pro tempore of the North Carolina Senate since 2011, conceded to Page on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported. He lost the March 3 primary by 23 votes.
"While this was a close race, the voters have spoken, and I congratulate Sheriff Page on his victory," Berger said in a statement. "Over the past 15 years, Republicans in the General Assembly have fundamentally redefined our state's outlook and reputation. It has been an honor to play a role in that transformation."
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Why It Matters
Democrats have made multiple gains in special elections, flipping dozens of Republicans seats since Trump returned to office in January 2025, but Republicans have pushed back against narratives of a "Democratic wave." The loss of a Trump-endorsed candidate may signal shifting power within the GOP and reshape primary dynamics.
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What To Know
Unofficial results on primary election night showed Page leading Berger by two votes out of more than 26,000 counted in the 26th Senate District, which includes part of Greensboro and neighboring areas.
Page's lead expanded as elections boards in the two counties within the district reviewed provisional, absentee and other ballots. Later recounts were conducted, and Berger's campaign filed formal protests. But Berger conceded after a hand recount of a small portion of the ballots on Tuesday morning showed no change in Page's razor-thin lead.
When endorsing Berger for reelection, Trump praised him for his policy accomplishments. The endorsement came weeks after the North Carolina General Assembly redrew the state's U.S. House district map with the goal of flipping a Democratic seat as part of the president's redistricting campaign to retain GOP control of the U.S. House in this year's midterm elections.
Berger's campaign outspent Page's by more than 40-to-1 through mid-February, finance reports show. That does not include several million dollars that a pro-Berger independent expenditure group spent on mailers and advertising.
Berger, a 73-year-old attorney who has been in the state Senate since 2001, has been a force in North Carolina government as the General Assembly implemented a rightward agenda despite opposition from a string of mostly Democratic governors, whose inherent powers are relatively weak.
What People Are Saying
Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page, the Republican nominee in North Carolina's 26th Senate District election, said: "I thank him for wishing me the best moving forward. Now it's time for our community to come together and focus on winning in November."
What Happens Next
Page is set to face Democratic challenger Steve Luking in the November 3 general election.
Berger's term ends in January, and state senators are expected to pick a new chamber leader in early 2027.
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