RALEIGH, NC — The race for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat could soon head into a recount because of slim margins. County election boards continue to count the last provisional ballots before certifying the results.

What You Need To Know

  • The race for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat could head into a recount because of slim margins

  • The candidates are Justice Allison Riggs, the incumbent Democrat, and Republican Jefferson Griffin on the North Carolina Court of Appeals

  • A recount can be requested by the candidate in North Carolina if the unofficial margin in the race is under 0.5% or 10,000 votes

  • As of Thursday morning, the difference was 10,130 votes, with Griffin in the lead

Justice Allison Riggs, the Democratic incumbent, was challenged by Republican Jefferson Griffin, a judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

A recount can be requested by the candidate in North Carolina if the unofficial margin between candidates is under 0.5% or 10,000 votes. All 100 counties would pay for the recount, which is a labor-intensive process.

As of Thursday morning, the difference was 10,130 votes, with Griffin in the lead.

"As of today, my race is too close to call. Our team is closely monitoring the count of remaining absentee ballots and provisional ballots, and we will have a clearer idea of our next steps within the next 24-36 hours," Riggs said Wednesday on X.

The last time a North Carolina Supreme Court race saw a recount request was four years ago when Cheri Beasley lost to Paul Newby by 409 votes.

Republicans have had a majority on the court since 2022. The results of this election could strengthen that GOP majority if Griffin's lead holds.