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North Carolina State Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger is two votes behind his primary challenger, Sam Page, although he has the support of President Donald Trump, according to the State Unofficial. election results.
The razor-thin margin will likely prompt a recount.
Berger, who helped lead Republican redistricting efforts in the state, was challenged by Page, the Rockingham County sheriff. Unofficial results indicate Page received 13,077 votes, while Berger trailed with 13,075 votes.
Trump entered the race by offering Page a job – as sheriff said in December he refused – and approved Berger.
“Phil Berger has been the highly respected leader of the North Carolina Senate for over a decade, helping us achieve massive, historic victories across the state, including my six BIG VICTORY and primaries in 2016, 2020 and 2024!” Trump said in February Truth post on social media.
In the same message, Trump said Page “is GREAT,” adding that the sheriff “is a long-time supporter, but I really want him to come work for us in Washington, D.C., rather than considering running against Phil – both are such exceptional people!”
Both candidates have attempted to tie themselves closely to the president. Berger has touted Trump’s support and emphasized on his campaign website that he “supports Donald Trump.” Page led “Sheriffs for Trump” in 2016, and he called himself a “passionate supporter” of the president.
Former Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, suggested on NBC News NOW that Berger, the state’s “most powerful” senator, could be an example for top lawmakers who are losing touch with their districts.
“That’s probably an example, even going back to Mitch McConnell or some previous speakers, when you spend too much time at the state Capitol taking over, sometimes people back home say, ‘You forgot us back home here in Rockingham County,'” McCrory said.