2024 elections News and Reporting Coverage | WRAL

North Carolina elections officials make major changes to overseas and military voting

North Carolina elections officials made major changes to overseas and military voting rules Monday in response to court rulings in the 2024 race for a state supreme court seat. Some say those changes should have been made by lawmakers, not officials..

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

3 NC lieutenant governors, a historic house, and a case of missing furniture

Several state government agencies have been engaged in a low-profile effort to replace furniture taken from the Hawkins-Hartness House, the Raleigh landmark that houses the lieutenant governor's office. Now a request for $95,000 to buy desks, chairs and carpet is tied up in state budget negotiations.

Jack Hagel and Paul Specht, WRAL News

Trump, Tillis, and NC Supreme Court races: NC GOP chairman discusses the year ahead

North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Jason Simmons recently spoke to WRAL about Republican Jefferson Griffin's failed state Supreme Court challenge, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis's upcoming reelection bid and more.

Paul Specht, WRAL state government reporter

Trump-backed Simmons wins second term as NC's GOP chairman

Members of the North Carolina Republican Party reelected Jason Simmons, who was endorsed by President Trump, over challenger Brooke McGowan.

Paul Specht, WRAL state government reporter

Allison Riggs officially sworn in as NC Supreme Court Justice

NC Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs won the 2024 election for her seat on the court by defeating Republican Jefferson Griffin. The race attracted national attention for her Griffin's attempt to overturn the result by throwing out thousands of voters' ballots.

Six months later: Allison Riggs declared winner of NC Supreme Court seat after Jefferson Griffin concedes

The Republican challenger for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat conceded last November's election on Wednesday to Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs.

Republican Jefferson Griffin concedes long-unsettled NC Supreme Court election to Democrat Allison Riggs

Griffin said he wouldn't appeal a federal court decision that ordered state elections officials to count thousands of ballots that the Republican disputed. The concession sets the stage for Riggs to be officially elected to an eight-year term as an associate justice on the state's highest court.

Gary D. Robertson, Associated Press

Federal judge tells state board to certify Riggs' victory in disputed NC Supreme Court race

A federal judge ordered North Carolina elections officials to certify Democrat Allison Riggs' narrow victory in the November election for a seat on the state Supreme Court. GOP challenger Jefferson Griffin has seven days to appeal.

Jack Hagel and Brian Murphy, WRAL News

Federal court temporarily blocks NC from taking steps to throw out ballots in Griffin-Riggs lawsuit

Federal courts will allow NC Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs to pursue her claim that her colleagues on the state's highest court are violating voters' constitutional rights by ruling in favor of election claims by Republican Judge Jefferson Griffin.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Hammer Time for Free and Fair Elections

Wednesday, April 23, 2025--Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

NC Supreme Court lawsuit: Voters ask federal court to stop elections board from tossing their ballots

The lawsuit seeks to keep the state from requiring photo IDs for 5,500 military and overseas absentee voters whose ballots were challenged by Republican Jefferson Griffin. The voters say state law doesn't require them to show ID.

Jack Hagel, WRAL News

Justice Riggs speaks in Durham one day after North Carolina Supreme Court Decision

Justice Allison Riggs spoke at a conference in Durham, one of the four counties where ballots are being challenged. This comes just one day after the State Supreme Court voted to throw out ballots in contested November 2024 election.

NC Supreme Court says thousands of votes can be thrown out

Republican Judge Jefferson Griffin has won, in part, his effort to throw out thousands of voters' ballots from the 2024 elections. On Friday the North Carolina Supreme Court rejected some of Griffin's challenges but kept others alive, paving the way for him to potentially be declared the winner of last year's race for a seat on the Supreme Court.

NC Supreme Court votes to throw out some, but not all, ballots contested in 2024 race for seat on court

Republican Jefferson Griffin's challenges against several thousand voters will be allowed to go through -- an outcome that could help him secure a seat on the state's highest court. One GOP justice broke ranks, calling the order 'judicial tampering in election results.'

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

GOP candidate Jefferson Griffin asks NC Supreme Court not to hear lawsuit over his attempt to toss 65k ballots from 2024

Jefferson Griffin, who is running for a seat on the state Supreme Court, is now asking the court not to hear the lawsuit involving his attempt to throw out thousands of 2024 ballots. If the high court agrees, it would leave Griffin the winner in the race, pending any federal challenges.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

DRAUGHON DRAWS: A cure for a nonproblem

Thursday, April 10, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

NC Supreme Court race: Appeals court rules in favor of Jefferson Griffin

A Republican judge's effort to throw out 65,000 voters' ballots from the 2024 NC Supreme Court election is valid, his Republican colleagues on the state Court of Appeals ruled in a decision split down party lines.

State Court of Appeals rules in favor of Jefferson Griffin's effort to throw out 65K votes

A Republican judge's effort to throw out 65,000 voters' ballots from the 2024 Norht Carolina Supreme Court election is valid, his Republican colleagues on the state Court of Appeals ruled in a decision split down party lines.

Republican Jefferson Griffin wins NC appeals court challenge in case contesting 65K ballots

A Republican judge's effort to throw out 65,000 voters' ballots from the 2024 NC Supreme Court election is valid, his Republican colleagues on the state Court of Appeals ruled in a decision split down party lines.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

Marshals probe alleged death threats against NC Supreme Court candidate Griffin

North Carolina Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin, a Republican who is locked in a legal battle over last year's election results, says his family has received death threats as part of a hate-mail campaign. His opponent has also been the target of violent threats, according to her campaign. Authorities are investigating.

Paul Specht and Jack Hagel, WRAL News

NC lawmakers says Apex employee left voicemails filled with swear words

State Rep. Erin Paré rejected an invitation from Apex officials to attend the town's legislative breakfast, citing profane voicemails and lewd emails purportedly sent by a town employee.

NC lawmaker rejects Apex's invitation after 'inappropriate' emails, profane voicemails from town employee

State Rep. Erin Paré rejected an invitation from Apex officials to attend the town's legislative breakfast, citing profane voicemails and lewd emails purportedly sent by a town employee.

Paul Specht, WRAL state government reporter

Seeking to avoid repeat of Supreme Court election lawsuit, NC lawmakers eye changes for overseas voters

The percentage of people voting overseas is small, but North Carolina is a closely contested swing state where even small margins can make a difference. Republican Jefferson Griffin trails Democratic Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs by just 734 votes, out of more than 5 million ballots cast.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

Clayton wins second term as NC Democratic Party chair

The state party's executive committee elected Anderson Clayton to a second term as chair over challenger Marlando Pridgen of Columbus County.

Paul Specht, WRAL state government reporter

NC Supreme Court won't fast-track lawsuit challenging 60K ballots in race for one of its own seats

Republican Jefferson Griffin wants his case to be heard by the state Court of Appeals, while Democrat Allison Riggs and the State Board of Elections wanted to bring it directly to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court sided with Griffin on taking the slower route.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter