Democrat Raymond Smith Jr. has taken a 293-vote lead over Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy in North Carolina’s 3rd Congressional District as counties prepare to finalize election results.
Unofficial results showed Smith with 118,488 votes, or 49.4%, and Murphy with 118,195 votes, or 49.3%, according to WITN’s election results. Libertarian Daniel Cavender received 3,007 votes, or 1.3%.
The shift comes after Murphy held a 233-vote lead entering Tuesday. Provisional and cured absentee ballots contributed to the change in the count, according to NC Newsline. The results remain unofficial.
Murphy, a Greenville Republican, has represented the district since 2019. Smith, a Goldsboro Democrat, is a former state legislator and Army veteran.
County boards of elections are scheduled to conduct their canvasses at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13. Eligible military and overseas absentee ballots mailed by Election Day may arrive until 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, according to the State Board of Elections.
The margin is narrow enough to qualify for a requested recount after county canvass. For a contest that is not statewide, the trailing candidate may demand a recount when the margin is 1% or less of the votes cast. The deadline to request a recount in a state-jurisdiction contest is noon Tuesday, Nov. 17.
The state canvass is scheduled for Nov. 24. A recount request has not been confirmed.