RALEIGH, N.C. -- National eyes are on the election confusion and chaos in Florida elections, as counts and recounts of last Tuesday's votes continue. But closer to home, we have some races that are still up in the air as well.

  • House District 103 went from a republican victory on election night to a democratic win in post-election ballot counting.
  • In all, there are about five or six races still being closely watched in North Carolina, perhaps none more than Senate District 9. 
  • North Carolina’s county canvas of votes is Friday. The state canvas is November 27.

“North Carolina is competitive political statewide, and increasingly we are seeing battleground districts emerge at the state legislative level,” said Jonathan Kappler with the NC Free Enterprise Foundation. “To the point where the communities in transition, the suburban communities primarily, are seeing a lot of close contests where a lot of money is coming in to them.”

House District 103, which pitted incumbent republican Bill Brawley against political newcomer, and daughter of a former governor, Rachel Hunt, went from a republican victory on election night to a democratic win in post-election ballot counting. But it's still too close for a final outcome to be determined.

“Election Day in large part is when we start counting votes and stop voting,” said republican consultant Jim Blaine. “Just because you stop voting, doesn't mean all the votes are in. And I think that's because of a decision people have made that they want it to be easier to cast a ballot.”

In all, there are about five or six races still being closely watched in North Carolina, perhaps none more than Senate District 9. Incumbent Michael Lee trails former Wilmington Mayor Harper Peterson by less than 40 votes. The winner of this race could determine if democrats break the republican supermajority in the state senate.

“Michael Lee won the provisional ballots in 2016,” said Blaine. “If he were to win the provisional ballots again this year, there are over 1,000 in his district, if he won them again this year, he would probably win the race.”

Political observers say these tight races are something we can expect to see more and more, making it more and more clear that every vote really does make a difference on Election Days.         

“This was a relatively high turnout election and seriously every single vote definitely makes a difference, these absentee ballots potentially switching the outcome late in the game,” said Kappler. “So you really cannot take anything for granted in North Carolina politics and it's good message for voters to have going into other consequential elections.”

North Carolina’s county canvas of votes is Friday. The state canvas is November 27.