Phil Berger Archives

Phil Berger’s confirms reelection bid, setting up likely 2026 primary with local sheriff

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger has firmed up publicly plans to run again for his Senate seat next year. It appears to set up a Republican primary in March 2026 in his district against longtime Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page. Page announced last week that he would run for the 26th Senate District regardless of whether Berger wanted to continue representing the area. Berger’s comments on Tuesday go beyond what he told reporters about his political future the day before Page’s decision became public. Berger joined the Senate in 2001 and has been the chamber leader since 2011.… Continue Reading

North Carolina sheriff to seek state Senate seat now held by powerful Phil Berger

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The longtime sheriff in North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger’s home county says he plans to run for Berger’s seat next year regardless of whether the powerful politician seeks another term. Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page told The News & Observer of Raleigh of his plans on Thursday. Page was first elected sheriff in 1998. Conflict with Berger surfaced in 2023 over efforts to authorize a casino in Rockingham County. Page ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in 2024. Berger told reporters this week he still enjoys the legislative work and that any decision wasn’t required until later in the year.… Continue Reading

Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power-shifting law could be first of many

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Gov.-elect Josh Stein have challenged a portion of a law just enacted by the Republican-dominated General Assembly that erodes Stein’s powers and those of other top Democrats elected last month. The lawsuit filed Thursday in state court focuses on a provision that would prevent Stein from picking his own commander of the State Highway Patrol. More court challenges are likely because the bill enacted Wednesday with a veto override seeks to weaken Stein and others elsewhere. Later this month, Cooper leaves office after eight years. Republican lawmakers didn’t immediately respond to the lawsuit.… Continue Reading

North Carolina elections chief wants senator to take back comment about vote manipulation

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina State Board of Elections’ top administrator wants a powerful legislator to retract a comment that he made suggesting this month’s results were being manipulated. Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell wrote to Senate leader on Thursday, the day after he spoke to reporters. Senate leader Phil Berger sounded unhappy with a lengthy post-election counting process and inferred it was being used to help change a result. Brinson Bell said Berger’s accusation “has absolutely no basis in fact” and that county election boards were duty-bound to examine provisional and absentee ballots. A Republican initially led a state Supreme Court race on election night, but the Democrat is now ahead while there is a recount.… Continue Reading

Phil Berger is poised to continue his run leading North Carolina’s Senate

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Senate Republicans have left their leadership team mostly intact for the next two years. That includes choosing Sen. Phil Berger again to hold the chamber’s most powerful position. The Senate Republican Caucus met Wednesday and agreed to nominate Berger to an eighth two-year term as Senate leader when the next two-year term convenes in early January. His election as Senate president pro tempore is a virtual lock as the GOP will hold at least 30 of the chamber’s 50 seats. The caucus also again picked Sens. Ralph Hise and Paul Newton of Cabarrus County for other positions.… Continue Reading

North Carolina GOP’s legislative priorities for this year inch closer to becoming law

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina House voted to override Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of a bill that drastically expands private school scholarship grants and forces local sheriffs to comply with federal immigration agents’ requests to detain certain inmates. The House voted along party lines on Tuesday. The bill includes about $463 million to eliminate the state’s private school voucher waitlist. The other part of the legislation focuses on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement cooperation with sheriffs. Proponents say the legislation will keep North Carolinians safer. But opponents say it unfairly targets immigrant communities.… Continue Reading

Senate leader cites ‘incompetence’ and criticizes Governor Cooper’s latest request for state relief funding

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — North Carolina legislators returned to work Thursday to address further relief efforts following the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene, but Senate president Phil Berger doesn’t expect any action on Governor Cooper’s $3.9 billion request for disaster relief. State lawmakers approved an initial $270 million relief package last month, but Berger said he expects lawmakers will approve additional funding for Helene recovery efforts. However, he cautioned against rushing to spend all the state’s reserves so soon. Berger criticized Gov. Cooper’s administration for failing to get aid to Hurricane Matthew and Florence victims, including some people who lost their homes in 2016.… Continue Reading