According to a statewide recount of votes from the Nov. 2 election, Republican Steve Troxler could become the new commissioner of agriculture, and Democrat June Atkinson emerged victorious in the race for superintendent of public instruction.
But thanks to irregularities in some areas, the races aren't quite over - and might not be until next year, when the State Board of Elections, and maybe voters, might have weighed in again on the issue.
Troxler leads Democrat Britt Cobb, the interim agriculture chief, by 2,353 votes - down from the 2,656 he led by last week. In the superintendent race, Atkinson leads by 8,488 over Republican Bill Fletcher.
Now, however, the race is likely to move out of election precincts and into the courts.
Both Cobb and Fletcher called for recounts in their races after losing the initial vote by a margin of less than 10,000 ballots.
But Fletcher sued to have the recount stopped after learning that as many as 10,000 people who cast provisional ballots - given to voters who don't show up on rolls - might have voted in the wrong precinct.
A judge denied that request but will hear Fletcher's case later this month.
And all candidates in the races, except Atkinson, have filed protests over roughly 4,000 votes lost in Carteret County.
During the early voting period, the machines stopped counting votes on Oct. 22. Any votes cast after 11:10 a.m. that morning until the end of early voting on Oct. 30 were not counted.
