If everything in politics were predictable, stories like this wouldn’t happen.
In a stunning upset, Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page defeated longtime State Senate leader Phil Berger in the Republican primary for Senate District 26—by just 23 votes after all ballots were counted and verified.
Yes, 23 votes. That’s not a landslide—that’s a political earthquake.
On election night, Page was ahead by just two votes. After provisional ballots, military and overseas votes, and absentee ballot corrections were finalized, his lead expanded slightly. A machine recount and hand-to-eye verification followed—and still, the result didn’t budge.
Berger conceded.
That concession marks a significant moment: nine incumbents in the North Carolina General Assembly—six Republicans and three Democrats—have now lost their reelection bids before even reaching the general election.
And Berger wasn’t just any incumbent.
He’s been in the legislature since 2001 and served as State Senate leader since 2011, widely considered one of the most powerful figures in North Carolina politics. Over the years, he played a major role in advancing conservative priorities like redistricting, Second Amendment protections, cooperation with ICE, limiting DEI in schools, expanding legislative power, and pushing back against Democrat governors.
In other words—he delivered results.
He also had the backing of Donald Trump. But here’s where things get interesting: so did Page. Trump gave Berger his official support, but also gave Page an unofficial nod in the same breath—likely remembering Page’s early support dating back to 2015.
So what happened?
It appears to be a mix of factors. Page brought strong grassroots credibility, decades of experience as a sheriff, and deep ties to the MAGA movement. Meanwhile, tensions over a budget stalemate with House Republicans and lingering backlash from a controversial casino proposal backed by Berger may have shifted enough voters to make the difference.
And in a race this tight, it doesn’t take much.
The takeaway? Even the most established political figures aren’t immune to change—especially when voters feel it’s time for a new direction.
But here’s the positive note: this is exactly how the system is supposed to work. Voters show up, make their voices heard, and even the most powerful leaders are held accountable.
And in this case, 23 votes were all it took to prove it.
