RALEIGH, N.C. – Election officials on Wednesday said three counties will not be able to meet the original recount deadline.

Wednesday was originally scheduled to be the last day for the recount in the race for Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Just before noon, state election officials announced Forsyth, Guilford, and Mecklenburg counties would resume their recounts on Monday.

As of Wednesday evening, 95 of the state's 100 counties had finished their recounts. Republican Paul Newby continued to lead Democrat Cheri Beasley by more than 400 votes. If his lead holds, it would mean a clean sweep for Republican candidates in all statewide judicial races. Republicans have already been certified the winners in two associate justice races on the Supreme Court and in all five N.C. Court of Appeals races. The chief justice race would determine whether Democrats would hold a 4-3 or a 5-2 majority on the state's highest court. The winner also would administer the state court system.

The chief justice race is one of five races the N.C. State Board of Elections did not certify on Tuesday, citing ongoing challenges. Both candidates have election protests pending before the board.

Once the results of the recount are announced, the runner-up would have 24 hours to demand a hand-to-eye recount. This would involve a random sample of 3% of the precincts in each county. If the sample hand-to-eye recount suggests results would be reversed, officials would conduct a statewide hand-to-eye recount of all ballots.