Longtime NC Senate leader Berger concedes to Page in close GOP primary :: WRAL.com
Senate leader Phil Berger conceded Tuesday in the Republican primary for his long-held Triad-area seat — a stunning defeat for one of many state’s strongest politicians whose lengthy tenure was upended by a challenger who mentioned the incumbent had misplaced contact along with his district.
Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page defeated Berger, regardless of efforts from state Republican leaders and President Donald Trump himself to persuade Page to finish his marketing campaign.
Berger’s concession got here on the identical day election officers in Rockingham and Guilford counties accomplished a second recount that affirmed Page’s 23-vote lead — one of many closest legislative races in state historical past.
“While this was a close race, the voters have spoken, and I congratulate Sheriff Page on his victory,” Berger mentioned in an announcement Tuesday afternoon. “Over the previous 15 years, Republicans in the General Assembly have basically redefined our state’s outlook and popularity. It has been an honor to play a job in that transformation.”
Berger mentioned he would proceed to work carefully with legislative colleagues through the upcoming brief legislative session and work to assist all Republican Senate candidates to defend the chamber’s veto-proof majority.
Page, who for weeks has known as on Berger to concede, thanked the Senate leader on Tuesday.
“This was a hard-fought campaign, and I’m honored that the voters of Guilford and Rockingham counties placed their trust in me,” Page mentioned. “Now it’s time for our community to come together and focus on winning in November.”
Berger, who was endorsed by Trump, has represented the Rockingham space for 25 years and has led his chamber for 15 years.
The defeat will lead to a shake-up of Republican management in the state legislature. And Page is anticipated to go to the Senate; the county leans closely Republican.
The district sprawls from the Virginia border southward to cowl rural areas of Rockingham and Guilford counties whereas avoiding the Democratic hubs of Greensboro and High Point. The race had attracted nationwide consideration due to the excessive stakes.
As the leader of the Senate, Berger had sturdy affect over which measures advance in the chamber. Over the previous 15 years, he has led Republican measures to reduce taxes, slash laws, and rewrite state insurance policies to higher align with the GOP’s agenda. Trump endorsed Berger in the race final 12 months after the Senate leader led efforts to redraw North Carolina’s congressional districts, giving Republicans a greater probability of profitable a seat that Democrats have held for many years.
That legislative observe document helped Berger win 13 elections in a row by double-digit margins. But it wasn’t sufficient to save him from mounting frustrations from constituents who, if the election outcomes are any indication, agreed with Page’s influenza that Berger’s statewide affect distracted him from on-the-ground points going through his personal district.
Page gained the belief of many Triad voters even earlier than working for state Senate. He helped lead Trump’s reelection marketing campaign in North Carolina in 2020. And final 12 months, he ran for lieutenant governor and positioned fifth among the many GOP primary subject of 11 candidates, alongside the way in which carrying Rockingham and 6 different counties.
North Carolina hasn’t adopted important raises for state workers in the present fiscal 12 months in half as a result of Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall are at odds over a complete state funds. Page blamed Berger for the stalemate whereas additionally capitalizing on native resentment that had been constructing towards Berger since 2023, when state legislators thought-about permitting a on line casino in Rockingham County.
Casinos are solely allowed on tribal lands in North Carolina. Berger on the time supported a proposal to permit for casinos outdoors tribal lands in an effort to hold North Carolina gamblers — and the tax {dollars} they generate — from leaving the state for a brand new on line casino throughout the Rockingham County line in Danville, Virginia.
Page aligned himself with residents who spoke out in opposition to the thought and took difficulty with stakeholders making preparations with out first looking for public enter. Rockingham commissioners rezoned a 192-acre plot to probably permit a on line casino, even earlier than state regulation had been modified.
Berger maintained that he welcomed public suggestions and took it into consideration, as evidenced by his choice to abandon the thought. Berger says his document reveals he has been responsive to Rockingham residents and fellow Republicans throughout the state. He has supplied funding for varied group wants and financial growth tasks — together with the opening of a UNC Health hospital, in addition to tens of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} for transportation tasks and water and sewer infrastructure upgrades, in addition to funding for native schools and universities.
He accused Page of deceptive the general public and forged Page as somebody who cannot deal with extra duty. Berger pointed to inmate deaths in the Rockingham County Detention Center, which is run by the sheriff’s workplace.
Still, Page’s critics — together with Berger — acknowledged the power of his marketing campaign. Outside a Guilford County polling place on Election Day, Berger informed WRAL that he launched his reelection marketing campaign earlier this 12 months as a result of Page is “probably better known than me.”
Third-party teams started working pro-Berger advertisements roughly six months forward of the primary. Billboard and mail advertisements confirmed Berger carrying a shotgun and sporting camouflage, whereas additionally touting an endorsement and an A-plus grade from the National Rifle Association.
On the eve of North Carolina’s election submitting interval in November, a prime deputy Berger traveled from her Alamance County district to Page’s Eden dwelling to discourage him from working. Amy Galey, the state Senate Majority Whip, left a letter telling Page that her marketing campaign would assist Democrats. Republican donors would spend hundreds of thousands serving to Berger hold his seat — leaving the celebration with much less cash to use in opposition to Democrats in the midterm elections.
Days after Galey’s plea, Trump endorsed Berger in the race. But in doing so, the president praised Page as an “outstanding” particular person, saying in a December social media submit: “Sam Page is GREAT, he has been a longtime supporter, but I really want him to come work for us in Washington, DC, rather than further considering a run against Phil.”
For years, Page has been a vocal supporter of Trump and his stance on immigration. In 2016, Page co-founded “Sheriffs for Trump.” In 2017, Page was one in every of sheriffs severals to visit Trump on the White House and reward his agenda. In 2020, he helped lead the president’s reelection marketing campaign in North Carolina.
When Trump known as Page and provided the sheriff a job in Washington DC, Page mentioned he declined as a result of he believed he may very well be “more effective” for Rockingham County residents in the state Senate.
