NC Senate leader says his comments casting doubt on election results reflected public concerns

North Carolina Senate Leader Phil Berger defended his questioning of election results, telling reporters Monday that his comments  were “a reflection of what the general public sees and has concerns about.”

Last month, Berger said vote counting this year was “another episode of count until someone you want to win, wins.”

He did not mention a particular race, but Democratic incumbent Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs had taken a lead in the race for the court seat over Republican Appeals Court Judge Jefferson Griffin. Riggs trailed by about 10,000 votes on election night, but led by more than 600 votes after provisional and absentee votes were counted.

State Elections Director Karen Brinson Bell sent a strongly-worded letter to Berger, saying his accusations were baseless and could endanger elections officials. 

Berger said Monday that he disagreed. 

“I continue to have concerns about the perception that has been created in the public with the situation that somebody’s way ahead on election day, then two weeks later, there’s a different result. I think that creates concerns.”

In the two weeks after election night, county boards of election had to consider and count tens of thousands of provisional and absentee ballots.

Griffin has asked for a recount, which was ongoing as of Monday morning. He is also protesting the ballots of about 60,000 voters. 

On Monday, the Senate voted to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of a bill that, among other things, significantly shortens the time for local elections boards to count absentee and provisional ballots. 

Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause North Carolina, said Berger’s response was disappointing because Berger probably knows better and knows that in all counties — including his home county of Rockingham — elections officials are doing their jobs. 

“There’s nothing nefarious going on in the count,” Phillips said. 

Phillips said he and Berger don’t agree on much, but he’s had a positive view of Berger “as a person and even as a Senate leader.”

“He’s got an influential platform and for him to put that message out is not the most responsible way to say it,” Phillips said.