### Riggs Edges Ahead in Tight NC Supreme Court Race, Recount Anticipated

In the hotly contested race for the North Carolina Supreme Court, Democratic incumbent Justice Allison Riggs holds a narrow lead over Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin. With all votes tallied late Monday, Riggs was ahead by a slim margin of 625 votes out of a total of 5.5 million votes cast. Given this tight margin, Griffin's campaign has signaled its intention to request a recount.

As of noon Tuesday, the period for requesting a recount had concluded, and Griffin officially called for one. However, the situation remains complex as a few counties are still in the process of finalizing their vote counts. While it is improbable, it's possible that Griffin could surpass Riggs once all votes are fully certified. Should Griffin take the lead, Riggs would then be entitled under state law to request a recount herself.

The hundreds of votes separating the two candidates represent only a minuscule fraction of the total ballots cast, falling comfortably within the margin that allows for a recount. Riggs' campaign has expressed satisfaction with the preliminary results while acknowledging Griffin’s right to pursue a recount.

"Recounts are a normal part of election processes and show our democracy at work," said Embry Owens, Riggs' campaign manager. "They allow for transparency and inspire confidence in our electoral systems. Our team continues to feel gratitude for all election officials who are working hard to ensure a smooth, fair, and timely process."

This is not without precedent. In 2020, another close race for a Supreme Court seat — the chief justice race between Republican Paul Newby and Democrat Cheri Beasley — also went to a recount. In that instance, Newby ultimately triumphed by 401 votes, a process that extended into mid-December.

Adding to the election drama, on Monday, Griffin and the North Carolina Republican Party filed a lawsuit against the State Board of Elections to gain access to data that might support challenges to certain ballots. However, after receiving the requested data, GOP lawyers notified the court that they were no longer seeking a hearing in the matter, as revealed by emails obtained by WRAL.

As the recount process looms, all eyes are on North Carolina to see how this tightly contested race will conclude.