North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) is requesting a statewide recount in his reelection race, in which he trails by more than 6,000 votes.
{mosads}“With many outstanding votes yet to be counted for the first time, legal challenges, ballot protests and voter fraud allegations, we must keep open the ability to allow the established recount process to ensure every legal vote is counted properly,” McCrory’s campaign manager Russell Peck said Tuesday.
McCrory has 2,289,766 votes, with Democrat Roy Cooper at 2,296,077, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
Chuck Stuber, a Republican candidate for state auditor, also filed for a statewide recount.
Cooper’s campaign manager Trey Nix said in a statement that the recount request was a desperate attempt by McCrory to stay in office.
“This is nothing but a last-ditch effort from Governor McCrory to delay and deny the results of this election,” Nix said, adding that Cooper’s margin seems insurmountable.
“We are confident that a recount will do nothing to change the fact that Roy Cooper has won this election.”
Cooper has already announced the leaders of his transition team, despite McCrory’s refusal to concede the race.
Correction: A previous version of this story reversed the vote tallies. Democrat Roy Cooper is currently ahead. Updated at 10:20 p.m. Tuesday.