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Senate District 1 may have flipped

Provisional ballot counts may flip Election Night's results and allow Bill Cook to overtake Sen. Stan White.

Posted Updated

By
Mark Binker
RALEIGH, N.C. — Back on Election Night, it appeared at least one state Senate seat was up in the air. 

"The Republicans' current Senate majority is 31-19. It appears from early returns the GOP will expand that edge by at least one. Senate District 1, where incumbent Democrat Stan White holds a slim lead over Republican Bill Cook, appears to be too close to call Tuesday night," said our blog post at the time.

It appears that Canvas Day, today, will change that outcome. As of 4:50 p.m., the State Board of Elections gave Cook an 80-vote lead over White. Sources watching the recount closely say that margin could be slimmed down to around 20 by the time the counting is done. Such as slim margin would put that race well into territory in which White could call for a recount. 

As far as the state Senate is concerned, the drama is confined to this district. Republicans will hold at least 32 seats, enough for veto overrides, constitutional amendments and pretty much anything else they'd like to do. If Cook is eventually certified as the winner, it would give the GOP 33 of 50 seats in the state Senate.

The State Board of Elections is scheduled to meet Tuesday, Nov. 27, to certify results and order recounts where applicable. 

 

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