Jefferson Griffin Concedes North Carolina Supreme Court Race to Allison Riggs

RALEIGH, N.C. — Republican Jefferson Griffin conceded defeat in the North Carolina Supreme Court race on Wednesday, officially handing victory to Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs.

The announcement follows a lengthy legal battle that began after last November’s election, where Riggs won by a narrow margin of 734 votes. A federal judge ordered the state election board to certify this result, effectively ending all ongoing litigation initiated by Griffin.

U.S. District Judge Richard Myers, appointed by former President Donald Trump, ruled that many challenged ballots must be included in the final count, stating it would be unconstitutional to eliminate them now. Griffin responded by announcing he would not appeal the court’s decision, noting, “While I do not fully agree with the District Court’s analysis, I respect the court’s holding.”

Riggs celebrated the conclusion, saying, “After millions of dollars spent, more than 68,000 voters at risk of losing their votes, thousands of volunteers mobilized, and hundreds of legal documents filed, I’m glad the will of the voters was finally heard.”

Riggs had emerged as the victor after a machine recount and a partial hand recount confirmed her lead over Griffin following the November elections. Griffin, a state appeals court judge, had launched a wave of legal challenges, claiming irregularities in over 65,000 ballots.

His challenges focused on specific categories of voters, including those without proper identification and overseas voters. However, many of these claims were stalled in both state and federal courts, including the North Carolina Supreme Court.

Judge Myers emphasized in his ruling that election rules cannot be changed retroactively after the votes have been cast. He asserted that Griffin’s proposals to invalidate lawful votes would violate fundamental rights encompassed by due process and equal protection laws.

The outcome of this race is significant as it shines a light on the ongoing tensions surrounding election integrity and litigation in the United States. Griffin’s decision to concede follows months of legal disputes and contentious allegations that ultimately did not hold water in court.

Upon concluding his legal efforts, Griffin acknowledged the court’s directive and the necessity to uphold the integrity of the electoral process. Riggs will now retain her seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court, which she was appointed to in 2023.