GOP powerbroker in North Carolina, who led redistricting, trails in primary by two votes

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Cooper, Whatley set November match-up in North Carolina Senate race

Cooper, Whatley set November match-up in North Carolina Senate race

North Carolina Senate Leader Phil Berger (R), an enormous figure in the state’s politics, is trailing his primary challenger by two votes in a race that could dramatically reshape the power dynamics in the state capital.

As of Wednesday morning, North Carolina’s Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page (R) was leading Berger, 13,077 to 13,075 votes, according to the vote count reported by the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

If the margins are within 1 percent, the trailing candidate is permitted to request a recount. 

Still, Page — a popular Republican sheriff whose name recognition in his district rivals that of the incumbent GOP leader — claimed victory in a speech Tuesday night.

“The results are in. We just won,” Page said in his speech. “We won this because of relationships … I never forget who I work for, and I’ll be working for the people of the 26th District, covering Guilford and Rockingham County.”

Berger, in his speech Tuesday night, said he was still awaiting all the results to come in, especially in Guilford County. As of Wednesday morning, more than 95 percent of the votes had been counted, according to Decision Desk HQ.

“I want to thank the people in this room and everyone else who has either supported me, gone out and campaigned, talked to their neighbor, did anything. I appreciate it more than I can adequately express,” Berger told his supporters Tuesday night. 

“I wish I could tell you that we had some certainty as to what the result is, but we just don’t know that at this point. And it looks like it’s going to be close,” he said, adding that he expects to have a statement at some point Wednesday.

The race has the potential to dramatically upend politics in the North Carolina state legislature.

Berger, first elected in 2001, has led the State Senate since 2011, when he helped overturn 112 years of Democratic control in the legislative chamber. He is widely seen as the most powerful Republican lawmaker in the state.

But Berger faced the toughest primary challenge of his career this year, when the popular Republican sheriff, who’s held the post since 1998, entered the race positioning himself as an alternative to the status quo. 

Page, on the campaign trail, emphasized his background in law enforcement and discussed concerns about fiscal policy and government services, according to local news outlet, WFMY.

The primary race attracted the attention of Raleigh and Washington, where President Trump backed Berger in the state-level race. The Senate leader helped shepherd through the legislature Trump’s redistricting push.

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Page, an adamant Trump supporter, told The Washington Post that the president called him late last year to offer him a job in Washington, instead of remaining in the race. Page said he declined the offer. 

According to Page, Trump said he decided to back the state Senate leader “because he’d helped him with the mapping, the redistricting.” Berger adamantly denied any quid pro quo and said he did not speak to Trump about securing the endorsement.

The winner of the primary will face Democrat Steve Luking in the general election in November.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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