North Carolina Senate leader, conservative architect Phil Berger concedes primary loss

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina government’s most influential politician, Republican state Senate leader Phil Berger, conceded the primary race for his legislative seat on Tuesday, shaking the power structure in the ninth-largest state and likely soon ending his preeminence as the state’s top conservative architect.

Berger had trailed Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page in their March 3 primary. He has been Senate leader since 2011 when Republicans took full control over the General Assembly for the first time in 140 years.

“While this was a close race, the voters have spoken, and I congratulate Sheriff Page on his victory,” Berger said in a news release conceding the election. “Over the past 15 years, Republicans in the General Assembly have fundamentally redefined our state’s outlook and reputation. It has been an honor.”

President Donald Trump had endorsed Berger for reelection, praising him for his policy accomplishments.

Unofficial results on primary election night showed Page leading Berger by just two votes out of more than 26,000 counted in the 26th Senate District that includes part of Greensboro and neighboring areas.

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Page’s lead expanded as elections boards in the two counties composing the district reviewed provisional, absentee and military and overseas ballots.

Trump’s endorsement of Berger occurred several weeks after the legislature redrew the state’s U.S. House district map in an attempt to flip 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.

Page was outspent by Berger’s campaign by more than 50-to-1 through mid-February. That doesn’t include several million dollars that a pro-Berger independent expenditure group spent on mailers and advertising.

Page would advance to the November general election in the GOP-leaning district. Berger could remain a senator and Senate leader through year’s end. Senators would pick a new chamber leader in early 2027.

Gary Robertson, The Associated Press