A veteran North Carolina legislator has filed protests in his primary election after falling slightly behind, citing ballot distribution errors and unlawful campaigning at voting sites. Democratic Rep. Michael Wray, who has been in office since 2005, filed protests in three counties in the 27th House District, where he trails Halifax County teacher Rodney Pierce by 35 votes.
Wray’s protests allege that several voters received the wrong primary ballot and that a Democratic poll observer in Halifax County improperly influenced voters to choose Pierce. Despite calls from Pierce to concede, Wray is pushing for all valid ballots to be counted and is considering a recount once the results are certified.
The protests come as elections boards in all 100 counties in North Carolina are finalizing the tabulations from the March 5 primaries. The Warren County board delayed its canvass due to Wray’s protest, with meetings scheduled in Halifax and Warren counties to consider the allegations.
In addition to Wray’s potential defeat, three other General Assembly incumbents lost their primary elections, highlighting the competitive nature of the state’s political landscape. The State Board of Elections is set to complete its canvass on March 26, determining the final outcome of the races.
