Republican Jefferson Griffin conceded defeat Wednesday in the North Carolina Supreme Court race, ending a six-month legal effort challenging the election results. The announcement follows a federal judge's ruling against his claims regarding tens of thousands of ballots.
The concession resolves the last unresolved contest from the 2024 election cycle. Griffin, a state appeals court judge, trailed Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs by 734 votes out of more than 5.5 million cast after two recounts.
Griffin and the state Republican Party pursued legal challenges in counties across the state, arguing that over 65,000 votes were cast improperly. These challenges focused on voters whose registration records allegedly lacked certain identification numbers, overseas voters claimed not to reside in North Carolina, and some overseas voters who did not provide photo identification with their ballots.
The legal battle moved through state and federal courts. Earlier this week, Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers decisively ruled against Griffin's efforts to invalidate votes cast in the November election. The judge stated that the rules should be established before the election occurs, not altered afterward.
Myers ordered the state Board of Elections to certify Riggs' victory. Griffin had seven days to appeal the decision but chose not to.
"While I do not fully agree with the District Court’s analysis, I respect the court’s holding — just as I have respected every judicial tribunal that has heard this case," Griffin said in a statement announcing he would not appeal the court’s decision.
Griffin's campaign maintained that the legal actions aimed at upholding the rule of law and ensuring that only legal votes were counted. State Republican Party officials supported the efforts, citing concerns about election administration.
The Republican-controlled state Supreme Court had previously addressed aspects of the case, including an order for a "cure period" for some military and overseas voters who did not provide photo identification with their ballots, agreeing with Griffin that a prior exemption violated state law. The court also ruled a small number of voters should have their votes canceled. However, the final federal ruling included the remaining disputed ballots in the official count.
Riggs will retain her seat on the state Supreme Court, solidifying the court's 5-2 Republican majority. She was appointed to the court in 2023 before winning election to a full term.
Allison Riggs released a statement following the concession. "After millions of dollars spent, more than 68,000 voters at risk of losing their votes, thousands of volunteers mobilized, hundreds of legal documents filed, and immeasurable damage done to our democracy, I’m glad the will of the voters was finally heard, six months and two days after Election Day," Riggs said.