Jefferson Griffin Archives

Legal challenge over extremely close North Carolina election stays in state court for now

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — An appeals court has agreed that a federal trial judge acted properly last month in declining to rule on the eligibility of voters in an unresolved North Carolina Supreme Court election. The federal judge returned the matter to the state court. But the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday also gave Associate Justice Allison Riggs the ability to return to federal court if appeals in state court result in challenger Jefferson Griffin overtaking her in their extremely close race. Riggs leads Griffin by fewer than 750 votes from the November election. Griffin has challenged roughly 66,000 ballots. Riggs’ allies say Griffin’s trying to overturn the results by disenfranchising lawful voters.… Continue Reading

North Carolina Supreme Court passing for now on ruling if ballots in close race are valid

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina Supreme Court has dismissed a request by the trailing candidate in an close race for a seat on the court to rule now on whether well over 60,000 ballots should be removed from the tally. The justices on Wednesday ordered that the appeals of Republican Jefferson Griffin should be heard by the local trial court, as state law directs how appeals of protests rejected by the State Board of Elections should be handled. Current Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs leads Griffin by 734 votes. Riggs has recused herself from the court’s deliberations. It’s possible the case could ultimately return to the justices.… Continue Reading

North Carolina justices block certification of election outcome in race for one of its own seats

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Supreme Court has blocked the certification of a November election result for one of the seats on its court so it can review legal arguments by a trailing candidate. The Republican-dominated court on Tuesday issued the temporary stay sought by GOP candidate Jefferson Griffin. He is trailing Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs by just 734 votes. Griffin wants over 60,000 ballots removed from the tally because he contends they were cast improperly. Without the stay, the state was prepared to issue a certificate for Riggs on Friday confirming her victory. The stay was issued after a federal judge said a state court should consider Griffin’s litigation.cc… Continue Reading

Republican protests in close North Carolina races dismissed by elections board

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s elections board has dismissed protests filed by several Republican candidates trailing narrowly in their races last month who have questioned well over 60,000 ballots cast this fall. The Democratic-majority board agreed Wednesday to throw out the protests of GOP Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin and three legislative candidates. Members voted mostly along party lines. Griffin was fewer than 750 votes behind Demcoratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs from over 5.5 million ballots cast. The board’s decisions can be appealed to state court. One legislative race at issue could end the Republicans’ GOP veto-proof majority come next year.… Continue Reading

Another recount won’t be ordered in a North Carolina court race, but protests are ahead

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Another recount won’t be ordered by North Carolina election officials in a close state Supreme Court race after a partial hand recount failed to suggest the trailing Republican candidate could overtake the Democratic incumbent. Associate Justice Allison Riggs maintained a 734-vote lead over Jefferson Griffin following a machine recount completed last week. Griffin then asked for partial hand recount. That wrapped up Tuesday and actually had Riggs picking up more votes than Griffin. So the State Board of Elections won’t order a complete hand recount. The election hasn’t been resolved. The state board is scheduled on Wednesday to hear arguments on protests filed by Griffin and GOP legislative candidates.… Continue Reading

Tight race for the North Carolina Supreme Court is heading to another recount

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A very close election for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat heads next to a hand recount. That comes after a machine recount of well over 5 million ballots resulted in no margin change between the candidates. Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs has a 734-vote lead over Republican challenger and Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin. Griffin already had asked for a partial hand recount that will begin in some counties on Wednesday. Riggs is one of two Democrats on the seven-member Supreme Court. This race and two General Assembly races have yet to be called by The Associated Press.… Continue Reading

A recount will happen in the extremely close race for a North Carolina court seat

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The narrowly trailing Republican candidate in the race for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat has formally requested a statewide recount. Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin sent the request before a midday Tuesday deadline. Associate Justice Allison Riggs led Tuesday by 625 votes over Griffin from more than 5.5 million ballots cast in the race. Recounts in five General Assembly races also have been requested. Republicans would need to flip a state House seat the GOP candidate is currently trailing in if it wants to retain the veto-proof majority that they have held for the past two years.… Continue Reading

Democrat keeps slight lead for North Carolina Supreme Court as counties finish count

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The final counts by counties are about over and a Democratic incumbent on North Carolina’s Supreme Court has an ever-slight lead over a Republican challenger. Associate Justice Allison Riggs had trailed on election night by roughly 10,000 votes to Jefferson Griffin. But that margin dwindled last week as provisional and absentee ballots were considered. Riggs overtook Griffin and led by over 600 votes late Monday. Griffin can request a recount by Tuesday. A handful of legislative districts also remained close, including a state House race that if the margin holds for the Democrat would end the veto-proof majority that Republicans have held within the General Assembly.… Continue Reading

North Carolina court race is extremely close as counties complete election tallies

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — An already close race for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat reached a razor-thin margin as most counties completed final tallies from the Nov. 5 election. Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs and Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin were essentially even as of Friday night. The margin is within the range for the trailing candidate to seek a recount. County election boards met to consider provisional or absentee ballots and certify local results. Several county boards likely will finish work Monday. Complete, canvassed results in areas with very close legislative races still indicate that Republicans are unlikely to maintain their veto-proof majority in the General Assembly come January.… Continue Reading