CNN: “North Carolina State Senate leader Phil Berger on Tuesday conceded his primary race to Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page — a political earthquake that took down arguably the most powerful politician in a pivotal swing state. A full machine recount held Page’s narrow 23-vote lead in the March 3 Republican primary for state Senate District 26. An endorsement from President Donald Trump and millions of dollars in outside spending weren’t enough to save Berger, whose loss hinged on a very local complaint: backlash surrounding a failed casino expansion proposal that Berger had championed grew into bitter resentment in his district. Page, the county’s cowboy hat-wearing sheriff since 1998, had helped lead the effort to oppose the casino, accusing Berger of making deals behind closed doors and trying to ‘sneak’ the project into their community.”