Feb 10, 2025 Statement on the Challenge to North Carolina’s Supreme Court Election Results

Three months after polls closed in the November 2024 election, a North Carolina Supreme Court race has yet to be certified, despite clear, verified results. While it is an unsuccessful candidate’s right to protest their loss, their claims must be based on law and facts, proven with evidence. In this circumstance, Judge Jefferson Griffin, who, a recount confirmed, was defeated by Justice Allison Riggs, is attempting to throw out more than 60,000 lawful votes – including thousands of military votes, cast by men and women who were away from home because they are serving their country. Judge Griffin’s claims have no merit; he should concede immediately.

If candidates or campaigns had issues with North Carolina’s voter registration – one of the few voter lists publicly available on the web – or the state’s voting laws governing voter ID requirements, they could and should have raised their concerns prior to the election. They did not. Now, dissatisfied with the election results, they are trying to retroactively change rules that North Carolina voters legally followed.

Changing the rules on voters after an election is a serious threat to democracy. This includes lawsuits that challenge the validity of laws governing election disputes after the results of an election contest are known. Federal courts have jurisdiction to enforce the law, and they should do so without delay, or risk further escalation of an election crisis in North Carolina. 

Any outcome other than a swift resolution that seats the lawful winner, Justice Riggs, would set a dangerous precedent for future elections – that the rule of law does not apply and losing candidates can rewrite the rules until they win.