Axios: “The North Carolina state Supreme Court race between Democrat Allison Riggs and Republican Jefferson Griffin is heading to a recount after Riggs appeared to win the race by just 625 votes.
Why it matters: If Riggs, who was appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper to the court in 2023, continues to hold the narrow lead after the recount, her election would keep the partisan makeup of the state’s highest court at a 5-2 advantage for Republicans.
- Republicans are guaranteed to keep an advantage on the court — which hears appeals from lower courts and decides the legality of contested matters like gerrymandering — until at least 2028, when three incumbents will be up for election.
Driving the news: State law allows a candidate to request a recount in a race if the difference is 10,000 votes or fewer.”