The North Carolina State Board of Elections delayed certification of several key races on Tuesday, including a contentious state Supreme Court contest between Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs and Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin. The race, now under recount and protest, has drawn scrutiny over allegations of potential conflicts of interest and ongoing legal challenges.
Griffin’s legal team filed a motion requesting the recusal of board member Siobhan Millen, citing her husband’s role as a partner in the law firm representing Riggs in the election. Millen is one of three Democrats on the five-member board, chaired by Democrat Alan Hirsch.
“This motion is about ensuring integrity and impartiality in the election process,” stated NCGOP Communications Director Matt Mercer. “The facts demonstrate a clear conflict of interest that undermines public confidence in the impartiality of the state board.”
The board deferred action on the motion to a later meeting. Republican board member Stacy Eggers emphasized the urgency of addressing the matter, given the tight timeline for protests and recounts.
The Supreme Court race is the only statewide contest under recount or protest, but several legislative races remain uncertified. These include Senate Districts 18 and 42 and House Districts 32 and 105. Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Allen Chesser’s narrow victory in House District 25 over Democrat Lorenza Wilkins was certified after a recount confirmed the results.
The board has faced a turbulent election cycle, marked by eight lawsuits from various entities, including both major political parties. Additionally, local election boards are handling five unresolved contests across the state.
Despite the challenges, voter turnout in North Carolina reached 73%, with 5.7 million ballots cast—a record-breaking figure in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which caused widespread devastation in 25 counties.
Karen Brinson Bell, the board’s executive director, praised state and local election officials for overcoming the logistical hurdles posed by the hurricane. “It is pretty phenomenal, and I quite frankly, respect the hell out of them for what they’ve pulled off,” Bell said.
The board certified the 2024 general election results for most races after completing a mandatory post-election audit, which reported minimal inconsistencies. Bell expressed confidence in the audit findings, stating, “The tabulators did perform accurately in this election.”
While the board’s decisions on the remaining contested races and recusal requests are pending, the controversies underscore the high stakes of this election season in North Carolina.
