Gregory Murphy

A sign directs voters to a polling location. Photo: Alan Wooten / The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Republican U.S. Rep. Dr. Greg Murphy, leading on Election Night and now trailing after provisional and other outstanding eligible ballots have been counted, has conceded to Democratic challenger Dr. Raymond Smith.

Democrats in North Carolina in unofficial results are poised to win 11 of 14 seats against maps, including a redistricting redraw of two of them in October, that were once thought capable of landing 11 Republican seats this cycle.

“I want to congratulate Representative-elect Raymond Smith on his successful election for the 3rd District congressional seat,” Murphy wrote in an open letter to constituents. “I am sure he will serve the next two years with honor and integrity.

“We ran a hard and positive campaign highlighting our excellent constituent services as well as the work we have done fighting for our veterans, our farmers, and against insurance company greed. We must endeavor to make life affordable for all Americans and provide them a safe country with opportunity for all.”

The 3rd was one of two redrawn in October by Republican lawmakers in Raleigh, with intent to help break an 0-for-71 skid in the northeastern corner of the state dating to 1882 and deliver Republican Laurie Buckhout a win over incumbent Democratic Rep. Don Davis. Instead, both seats went to the Democrats.

Murphy led by 233 votes when all precincts were in on Election Night. Today, with county canvass results due Friday to the State Board of Elections, Smith leads by 293 votes of 239,690 cast. The percentage of 49.43%-49.31% permits a recount request, though Murphy’s statement doesn’t indicate that is imminent.

Murphy won a special election in 2019 and was reelected three times.

The state’s longest serving Republican also appears done. All provisionals and other outstanding ballots have been counted in the 5th Congressional District, and barring a recount request or other developments, Democrat Chuck Hubbard is poised to defeat Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx by 335 votes of 286,820 cast in the northwestern part of the state.

Foxx won election in 2004 and was bidding for a 12th term.

As of Thursday morning, on the State Board of Elections website, turnout for the midterms was 53.8% – with more than 4.2 million of nearly 7.9 million casting a ballot.