What Sen. Berger & Sheriff Page will do this year, regardless of primary results
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- Two votes separate them; if gap stays within 1% either can seek recount.
- Berger will serve out his term through Dec. 31 even if he loses the primary.
- If he wins primary and general, Page would gain a freshman Senate seat.
Just 23 votes separate Senate leader Phil Berger and Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page in their Republican primary for Senate District 26.
It will be a few more weeks before all military and overseas ballots are counted and results become official. If the gap between them — which currently has Page in the lead — remains under the recount threshold of 1%, then the losing candidate can request a recount.
Berger exiting the Senate would be a seismic shift in North Carolina politics, as he has spent the past 15 years in control of the Senate. Republicans have a supermajority in that chamber, and Berger is the president pro tempore. That means he presides when the lieutenant governor, who is Senate president, does not. He also has final say on what bills come to the floor for a vote, which means all state laws come through Berger. The House is also controlled by Republicans.
A week before the primary, Berger told The News & Observer that win or lose, he’ll finish out his Senate term, which doesn’t end until December. Page, too, will remain sheriff for the rest of his term this year, he told The N&O.
Berger will remain in the Senate through 2026, regardless of outcome
If Berger loses the race, he’ll still serve out the rest of his term, which doesn’t end until Dec. 31.
“I made a commitment to the people of Rockingham County and to the members of the caucus that I was going to serve out my term, and that’s what I intend to do,” he said last week. Asked if he had thought about who he’d want to succeed him as Senate leader, assuming Republicans maintain control, he said “not really.”
Berger’s Republican Senate caucus elected him as president pro tem for the biennium, which is the two years that runs from January 2025 to December 2026 including long and short sessions.
Other Republican senators in leadership positions who may be considered for the role if Berger left are:
- Sen. Ralph Hise of Spruce Pine, who is deputy president pro tem and a budget chair;
- Sen. Michael Lee of New Hanover County, who is majority leader;
- Sen. Amy Galey, of Alamance County, who is majority whip;
- Sen. Todd Johnson, of Union County, who is majority whip.
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Page’s political future
If Page is declared winner, he’ll finish out his term as sheriff. Assuming he wins the general election in the Republican-leaning district, he’ll be sworn in as a senator in January.
“I know there’s a lot of people in different situations that support me, and I appreciate it. But at the end of the day, I’m going to work for you, and I’m going to work for you for the right reasons — and it ain’t about the money, because I’m retiring as sheriff Dec. 1, and I’m ready to start my job as the next senator here,” Page said in an interview.
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Page would be a freshman, with much less power than Berger has amassed in 25 years at the legislature.
“I may be even in the back of the room, but you know what? They’re going to hear my voice,” Page said.
Rockingham County also held Democratic and Republican primary elections for sheriff. According to unofficial results, Democratic candidate Franklin Moore will compete against Republican candidate Billy Parker in the general election to be the next sheriff.
This story was originally published March 5, 2026 at 1:25 PM with the headline "What Sen. Berger & Sheriff Page will do this year, regardless of primary results."
