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• Jefferson Griffin, the Republican candidate, conceded the North Carolina Supreme Court race to Democratic incumbent Justice Allison Riggs.
• Griffin’s concession follows a federal court ruling that upheld the inclusion of contested ballots in the final count.
• The election outcome was finalized six months after the November 2024 election.

Quick Brief

2-Minute Digest

Essential Context

Jefferson Griffin, a Republican and current judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals, conceded the North Carolina Supreme Court race to Democratic incumbent Justice Allison Riggs. This concession came after a federal judge ruled that over 65,000 contested ballots must remain in the final count.

Core Players

• Jefferson Griffin – Republican candidate, North Carolina Court of Appeals judge
• Allison Riggs – Democratic incumbent, North Carolina Supreme Court Justice
• U.S. District Judge Richard Myers – Issued the federal court ruling
• North Carolina Supreme Court – Finalized the election outcome

Key Numbers

• 65,000+ – Number of contested ballots that were upheld in the final count
• 734 – Margin of votes by which Riggs won the election
• 50.01% – Riggs’ percentage of the final tally
• 49.9% – Griffin’s percentage of the final tally

Full Depth

Complete Coverage

The Catalyst

The concession by Jefferson Griffin was triggered by a federal court ruling on Monday, which determined that the contested ballots must be included in the final count. This ruling effectively ended Griffin’s legal challenges to the election results.

“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,” Griffin said in a statement.

Inside Forces

Griffin’s legal challenges had been ongoing since November 2024, involving both state and federal courts. His efforts aimed to overturn the election by disputing the eligibility of thousands of voters.

The North Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals had previously ruled on aspects of Griffin’s challenges, affirming the importance of voter ID for absentee ballots and residency requirements for voting in North Carolina.

Power Dynamics

The outcome of this election maintains the current balance of power on the North Carolina Supreme Court, with Democrats holding a 4-3 majority instead of the GOP expanding their majority to 6-1 if Griffin had won.

Justice Allison Riggs hailed the victory but also highlighted the broader implications: “After millions of dollars spent, more than 68,000 voters at risk of losing their votes, thousands of volunteers mobilized, hundreds of legal documents filed, and immeasurable damage done to our democracy, I’m glad the will of the voters was finally heard.”

Outside Impact

The prolonged legal battle has significant implications for election integrity and voter rights in North Carolina. The case drew national attention and underscored the importance of judicial independence and the rule of law.

Riggs’ victory is seen as a win for democracy, as it upholds the original election results and ensures that the voices of all voters are heard.

Future Forces

The conclusion of this election marks the end of the last uncalled contest from the 2024 elections. Moving forward, the focus will be on implementing the court’s rulings and ensuring that future elections are conducted with clarity and integrity.

Key areas for future reform include strengthening voter ID laws and residency verification processes, as highlighted by Griffin’s legal challenges.

Data Points

• November 2024: The original election took place.
• April 2025: The North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled on Griffin’s challenge, which was later overturned by the North Carolina Supreme Court.
• May 2025: Federal Judge Richard Myers ruled that the contested ballots must remain in the final count, leading to Griffin’s concession.
• May 12, 2025: The North Carolina elections board will certify the election results after the federal court’s seven-day stay ends.