State Senate race in Mecklenburg County still undetermined after razor-thin margin
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Every vote counts in an election especially when it's this close: the race between Woodson Bradley and Stacie McGinn for state Senate District 42 was separated by only 27 votes Thursday afternoon.
The numbers in the razor-thin race could change because absentee and provisional ballots are still being counted.
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What happens here at the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections public meeting always matters.
"The counting is still going on," said Stacie McGinn, the Republican candidate for District 42.
She and Bradley are vying for the seat vacated by Democrat Rachel Hunt, who was elected Tuesday as the state's next lieutenant governor.
"That's what I'm doing this for, I'm doing it for the voter," said Michael Dickerson, director of the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections.
But in a couple of races, the absentee mail-in ballot counting could change the unofficial results.
"I really do think it's a historic moment here in Charlotte and may represent a seat change, we'll see," said McGinn.
McGinn spent election night doing what many campaigns do.
"We kept hitting the refresh on a regular basis, looking at the numbers, and waiting to see what the results were," said McGinn.
It was back and forth between McGinn and Bradley for a district that covers much of south Charlotte, including Ballantyne and Matthews.
"Excited at times and a little bit of nervousness," McGinn said.
And then she saw 100% of the precincts reporting. Only 27 votes separated McGinn from Bradley. That number grew to 181 Thursday evening.
"It's obviously a surprising number," said McGinn.
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Mecklenburg County still has to review absentee ballots that made it to the elections board on Election Day and provisional ballots and count those that are eligible.
"I don't know if it's going to flip anything or anything like that, that's why we're doing this now," said Dickerson.
There's a lot of power in just one vote.
"We are waiting patiently," said McGinn.
McGinn has never run for office before. Win or lose, she's happy with at least one result.
"The fact that a Republican in what has been traditionally solidly blue Mecklenburg County garnered 50% of the vote really is a milestone and extraordinary," she said.
McGinn says she's waiting to see the official results before she decides if she'll ask for a recount, but she will accept the final results.
Queen City News reached out to Bradley several times Thursday, but we did not get a response.
