Certification Halted As GOP Challenges North Carolina Supreme Court Results

In a significant development, the North Carolina Supreme Court has blocked certification of Democrat Allison Riggs as the winner in a judicial election. Republican Jefferson Griffin successfully argued for the delay, citing irregularities involving thousands of ballots.

Riggs leads Griffin by just 734 votes after a recount. The Republican candidate, however, has raised objections to 60,000 ballots that were included in the final results. Griffin and his legal team claim these votes do not meet the legal standards required for counting.

The State Board of Elections faces criticism from GOP leaders, including RNC Chairman Michael Whatley, who accused the board of undermining trust in the election process. Griffin echoed these concerns, stating that his efforts are aimed at preserving the integrity of North Carolina’s elections.

The case has navigated both state and federal courts. Earlier this week, a federal judge returned the matter to state jurisdiction, but the elections board has since appealed to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. That appeal remains unresolved.

This contested race comes as debates over election practices continue to escalate in North Carolina, where President Donald Trump’s strong performance has contrasted with narrow Democratic wins in other key races.