North Carolina governor calls for a recount in his razor-thin reelection bid

AP Photo/Gerry Broome

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory on Tuesday filed for a recount in the state's gubernatorial election, prolonging a two-week stalemate with his Democratic challenger.

The razor-thin race between McCrory and Roy Cooper was too close to call on Election Day, with Cooper holding a lead of about 4,500 votes out of 4.7 million cast. As the state tallies provisional and absentee ballots, Cooper's lead has expanded to about 6,800, within the 10,000-vote threshold for a recount.

"With serious concerns of potential voter fraud emerging across the state, it is becoming more apparent that a thorough recount is one way the people of North Carolina can have confidence in the results, process, and system," McCrory wrote in his letter to the state elections board.

Since Election Day, McCrory's team has lodged challenges of voter fraud in 50 of North Carolina's 100 counties, although several local elections boards have rejected his protests because of a lack of evidence.

Meanwhile, Cooper has led an effort among North Carolina Democrats to urge McCrory to drop the challenges.

"Instead of attacking North Carolina voters and undermining our democratic process, Gov. McCrory needs to accept his defeat and concede," said Ford Porter, a spokesman for Cooper, according to The Raleigh News & Observer.

The race has not officially been called, but Cooper claimed victory on Election Day, and on Monday he announced the leaders of his transition team, saying it would be "irresponsible to wait any longer."

The race between McCrory and Cooper was the closest of any gubernatorial election this year and will be the last in the country to be settled.

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