Representative Gregory Murphy, a Republican from North Carolina, conceded his reelection campaign on Wednesday to Democrat Raymond Smith. This development results in the transfer of another House seat to the Democratic Party following a closely contested election in the state's 3rd Congressional District. The concession comes one week after the midterm elections concluded.
While Decision Desk HQ, which serves as The Hill's polling partner, has not yet officially called the race, the outcome is becoming clear. As of Wednesday evening, Smith held a lead over Murphy by fewer than 300 votes. This result represents a significant shift from election night, when the Republican incumbent had trailed Smith by an even smaller margin. The counting of provisional ballots was the critical factor that narrowed Murphy's initial lead and ultimately placed Smith in the lead.
In a statement shared via social media on Wednesday, Murphy offered congratulations to the incoming representative. He expressed confidence that Smith would serve with integrity and honor during the next two years. Murphy, who has represented the eastern North Carolina district since 2019, also extended his gratitude to his supporters. He described his time in Congress as the greatest honor of his life.
The outgoing representative acknowledged his personal feelings about the outcome. His statement noted that he would be remiss if he did not express disappointment at the prospect of ending his service. He emphasized that he believed he had engaged in diligent and good work on behalf of the residents of eastern North Carolina.
Raymond Smith, a Black army veteran and former state legislator, celebrated his victory on Wednesday. He took the opportunity to thank the volunteers and voters who backed his campaign. In a post on the social platform X, Smith emphasized that the win was a collective effort rather than a personal achievement.
Smith stated that the victory belongs to the people who believed in a cause greater than themselves. He pledged to work just as hard for all constituents, regardless of how they voted in the election. He added that the communities in the district deserve to be heard in Washington and that he is prepared to begin working immediately.
The path to this conclusion was not without controversy. Murphy had declared victory just a day after the election, on the previous Wednesday, despite thousands of ballots still waiting to be counted. At that time, he described the race as a razor-thin victory and expressed honor at being reelected by the district's residents.
Smith's campaign disputed that early declaration. Pointers were directed to roughly 6,000 provisional ballots that remained uncounted across the district's nine counties. In response to the delay in the final tally, Smith's team began seeking donations to prepare for a potential recount, a strategy that now appears to have been unnecessary as the margin was decided in his favor.
This flip in the 3rd District continues the trend of Democratic gains in the House. The close nature of the race highlights the competitive landscape in North Carolina politics, where small margins and the counting of provisional ballots can determine the final outcome of congressional contests.
