RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) 鈥� North Carolina government鈥檚 most influential politician, Republican state Senate leader , conceded the primary race for his seat to on Tuesday, shaking the power structure in the ninth-largest state and likely soon ending Berger’s preeminence as the state鈥檚 top conservative architect.
Berger trailed Page, the Rockingham County sheriff, in their March 3 primary by only 23 votes. He has been Senate leader since 2011 when for the first time in 140 years. President Donald Trump had endorsed Berger for reelection, praising him for his policy accomplishments.
Trump鈥檚 endorsement came several weeks after the legislature map in an attempt to flip a Democratic seat as part of the president鈥檚 to retain GOP control of the U.S. House in this year鈥檚 midterm elections.
鈥淲hile this was a close race, the voters have spoken, and I congratulate Sheriff Page on his victory,鈥� Berger said in a news release. 鈥淥ver the past 15 years, Republicans in the General Assembly have fundamentally redefined our state鈥檚 outlook and reputation. It has been an honor.鈥�
A razor-thin outcome after millions spent in race
Unofficial results on primary election night showed Page leading Berger by just two votes out of more than 26,000 counted in the 26th Senate District that includes part of Greensboro and neighboring areas.
Page鈥檚 lead expanded as elections boards in the two counties within the district reviewed provisional, absentee and other ballots. Later recounts were conducted and Berger鈥檚 campaign filed formal protests. But Berger gave up after a hand recount of a small portion of the ballots Tuesday morning showed no change in Page’s razor-thin lead.
Page will now advance to the November general election in the GOP-leaning district against Democrat Steve Luking, whom Berger defeated in 2024. Page said Berger called him Tuesday to concede.
鈥淚 thank him for wishing me the best moving forward,鈥� Page said in a statement. 鈥淣ow it鈥檚 time for our community to come together and focus on winning in November.鈥�
Page’s campaign was outspent by Berger鈥檚 campaign by more than 40-to-1 through mid-February, finance reports show. That doesn鈥檛 include several million dollars that a pro-Berger independent expenditure group spent on mailers and advertising.
Berger can remain a senator and Senate leader through year鈥檚 end 鈥� things he sounds like he plans to do based on Tuesday鈥檚 concession and previous suggestions. Senators would pick a new chamber leader in early 2027.
Berger, a 73-year-old attorney, has been a force in North Carolina government as the General Assembly implemented a rightward agenda despite opposition from a string of mostly Democrat governors, whose inherent powers are relatively weak.
Possible casino stirred opposition back home
Page, who was first elected sheriff in 1998, tapped into local voter discontent with a narrative that Berger was more interested in the state rather than in looking out for constituents. Berger鈥檚 unsuccessful efforts in 2023 to pass a law that could have to Rockingham County also angered social conservatives and gave Page an opening.
While endorsing Berger in December, Trump praised Page and said he wanted the sheriff to instead 鈥渃ome work for us in Washington, D.C.鈥� rather than run against Berger. Page 鈥� who had supported Trump鈥檚 immigration enforcement policies over the years 鈥� declined.
Berger figures most everywhere in conservative shift
Berger first joined the Senate in 2001 and was minority leader before a GOP sweep in the 2010 elections.
He figured into every conservative policy prescription since, including income tax reductions, private-school vouchers for any family, restrictions on abortion and looser regulations on gun access. Berger鈥檚 allies say he鈥檚 chartered fueled economic success in the state of 11 million.
Current GOP House Speaker Destin Hall, who has grappled with the Senate recently over an unresolved budget, praised Berger late Tuesday as 鈥渁 true titan of conservative leadership in North Carolina.鈥�
With support from the House speaker, Berger also enacted efforts to away from Democratic Gov. Josh Stein and former Gov. Roy Cooper toward lawmakers and other officials. Despite clashing with Cooper, Berger and then-Speaker Tim Moore ultimately reached a deal with him to to hundreds of thousands of adults.
Given Berger鈥檚 longevity and 鈥渉is ability and willingness to quietly but effectively wield power and you are left with the most powerful politician in North Carolina,鈥� Western Carolina University political science professor Chris Cooper wrote Tuesday in an email.
Berger鈥檚 critics said his agenda benefited the rich, kept down salary increases for state employees and teachers and failed to adequately fund public schools while funneling money to private schools. Democrats also have accused legislative Republicans of eroding rights for women and transgender people.
Senate Minority Leader Sydney Batch said in a news release that Berger 鈥渉as put power, politics, and special interests ahead of the people he was elected to serve.”
The General Assembly鈥檚 chief work session for 2026 begins in April, when senators will begin jockeying in earnest to succeed Berger as Senate leader should the GOP maintain a majority in the fall. The chamber鈥檚 50 members pick a leader every two years.
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This story has been updated to correct that Berger’s campaign outspent Page’s campaign by more than 40-to-1 through mid-February, not more than 50-to-1.
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