The Republican contender for North Carolina’s Supreme Court officially conceded on Wednesday, concluding his extensive effort over the past six months to contest the election outcome in this critical battleground state.
Judge Jefferson Griffin expressed his respect for the District Court’s ruling in a statement, stating, “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.”
In his statement, Griffin further confirmed, “I will not appeal the court’s decision.”
This concession to Democratic Justice Allison Riggs came shortly after a ruling by District Judge Richard E. Myers II, appointed by former President Donald Trump, dismissed Griffin’s legal challenges regarding the election.
This decision represented a significant victory for Democrats within a state pivotal to national politics, allowing Riggs to secure an eight-year term on the court which is currently dominated by Republicans.
The outcome potentially enhances the Democratic Party’s prospects of regaining a majority on the seven-member court by 2028.
In his comprehensive 68-page ruling, Judge Myers articulated that “retroactive changes to election procedures raise serious due process concerns, particularly where those changes result in invalidating the votes of individuals who cast ballots in reliance on previously established rules.”
This ruling rejected Griffin’s post-election legal arguments, amid warnings from critics who suggested that a successful challenge could empower other unsuccessful candidates to contest their election results.
Myers emphasized, “You establish the rules before the game. You don’t change them after the game is done,” underscoring his firm stance on election integrity.
The Democratic National Committee celebrated Riggs’ victory, characterizing it as “a righteous victory for democracy and a clear defeat of political gamesmanship.” DNC Chair Ken Martin remarked, “For 200 days, Republicans in North Carolina sought to overturn the will of the people, hijack a state Supreme Court seat, and systematically undermine basic faith in our elections.” He added, “May this saga be a lesson to Republicans everywhere: If you try to undermine the will of the voters, you will lose.”
The legal disputes surrounding this race marked it as the final contest remaining uncalled from the 2024 election cycle, causing Riggs’ campaign to incur significant expenses in defending against the lawsuits. Reports indicate that her campaign, along with a special legal fund, spent nearly $100,000 on legal fees during this prolonged battle, according to independent journalist Bryan Anderson, citing campaign finance records.
