Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin has finally conceded the North Carolina Supreme Court race. This decision comes on the heels of a ruling by Richard E. Myers II, chief judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Griffin would be dogged by legal disputes as he tried to right the election’s wrongs. He was then defeated by Democratic candidate Allison Riggs in November’s general election. This concession ends a half year effort to contest the result. Positioned as it currently is, the North Carolina Supreme Court race is the only contested and uncalled race left in the 2024 electoral cycle.
For the statewide contest, Allison Riggs pulled off one remarkable victory. After two recounts validating her lead she won the race with a margin of 734 votes. Griffin’s war on critics ignited widespread scandal. They claimed that a favorable outcome would set a troubling new precedent for future candidates challenging election results. Myers’ ruling is a major victory for Democrats in this key presidential year in this key swing state.
In response to that ruling, Griffin said that while he respected the court’s opinion, he still has some concerns about that court’s analysis.
“While I do not fully agree with the District Court’s analysis, I respect the court’s holding — just as I have respected every judicial tribunal that has heard this case,” – Jefferson Griffin
Griffin is right to refrain from appealing the court’s unqualified decision. This ruling marks the close of his long-shot legal campaign.
DNC Chair Ken Martin took Griffin to task for her efforts to upset the election’s results. He labeled it an attempt to “hijack a state Supreme Court seat” and erode the public’s faith in the electoral process. He remarked, “For 200 days, Republicans in North Carolina sought to overturn the will of the people,” adding that this outcome should serve as a lesson to Republicans nationwide.
“May this saga be a lesson to Republicans everywhere: If you try to undermine the will of the voters, you will lose,” – Ken Martin
Riggs’ campaign and its dedicated legal fund invested nearly $100,000 in legal representation throughout this drawn-out process, underscoring their commitment to upholding the results of the election.
Especially in light of the often angry rhetoric of recent American electoral politics, Myers’s decision, named for the Trump appointee to the U.S. As both parties prepare for future elections, this ruling may have lasting implications for how electoral disputes are approached and resolved in North Carolina and beyond.