 |
| Phil Berger (left), Sam Page (right) Image courtesy WRAL.com |
For those who haven't known, the 2026 race for North Carolina State Senate District 26 has been thrown into beyond the singularity: a place where future events cannot be estimated. What happened is that Phil Berger, who has represented Rockingham County and a good slice of northern Guilford County for a quarter century now, has been running for re-election. It's worth noting that in the time since first coming to Raleigh, Berger has risen to be Senate Leader. He's arguably the most powerful politician so far as North Carolina state government goes. He gets to decide what bills rise to the top and have a chance of becoming law. His influence is considered greater than that of the governor.
Berger, a Republican, filed to run for another term. And he likely would have gone on to win again in the general election.
But then Sam Page filed to run, too.
Page, the sheriff of Rockingham County, has alleged that Berger has become too attached to his power and is no longer adequately representing the people of his district. Page has listed a number of issues that have arisen because of Berger's pursuits and policies, including an attempt to build a casino in western Rockingham County (presumably to compete with the Harrah's casino in nearby Danville, Virginia). Generally though, it's been trying to make a case that Berger has become out of touch with his constituents.
So it's been incumbent Phil Berger versus Sam Page the county sheriff for the Republican nomination for state senate... and it has by a very significant margin become among the filthiest races in North Carolina history. If for no other reason than because the balance of power in the state capitol is in dire jeopardy.
Just trust me. I've seen things shared on Facebook that make me feel embarrassed to be a son of Rockingham County. I really thought better of the place that I came from. I'm not naming anyone in particular, I'm only expressing my disgust at the entire spectacle that has unfolded during the past year. It hasn't gone unnoticed by others. Even here in upstate South Carolina, Berger versus Page has become a topic of discussion.
It's also renewed my disgust with the stranglehold that the two party system has on this country. For far too many involved in politics it's all about the power. And not at all about serving the people. The Democrats and Republicans have each lost sight of what's most important. If anyone were to ask me which is the worse I would immediately say the Democrats: they have become so fixated on the accumulation of power that they have become completely unmoored from reality (how hard is it to define what a woman is?). But the Republicans aren't far behind and the higher up in government the GOP is found the less effective they seem. Especially in the United States Senate. But that's a rant for another time.
Anyway...
Millions of dollars have been poured into the race between Berger and Page. Mostly to Berger's campaign, from outside the district. The Republican bigwigs desperately want Berger to be re-elected. Page's support has been far more localized. His campaign has been nothing like the effort by that of Berger's.
After all the deviousness and dirty tricks, it all came down to the Republican primary in North Carolina earlier this month. And when all the precincts had reported in on election night, the apparent winner was Sam Page over Phil Berger... by two votes.
(Has this race been dramatic, or what?)
That was just over two weeks ago. Since then there has been counting the absentee and other outstanding ballots that were submitted before the election. With those taken into account and after canvassing, it now stands that Page has a 23-vote lead.
True to North Carolina tradition, this has triggered further motions being made in the way of recounts, etc.
WRAL has a pretty good story about where things stand right now in the Berger/Page race. Including how Guilford County election officials might wind up stretching this affair to at least April 6th.
All that said, here is my honest take: it doesn't look like anything is going to change that would benefit Phil Berger. With each attempt to pull a win out of this, it's increasingly obvious that it isn't going to happen.
It really is becoming apparent that the Republicans of District 26 have chosen to nominate Sam Page to represent their part on the ballot in the general election come November. And that Phil Berger's time in Raleigh is drawing to a close.
I am of the mind that Phil Berger has indeed lost touch with the people of his district. But I also can't but believe that he didn't start out like that. He gave the district some good service. That has to be acknowledged. He fell prey to something that has affected those in political circles since time immemorial, and always will so long as Man is granted dominion over his earthly destinies. He came to put his position over his service though, and that can't go unaddressed. It's now time for new representation. Now is the time for Phil Berger to be a good man again, and acknowledge that the people of his party have spoken. And with that in mind, he should honor that choice.
There is no dishonor in conceding an election. Hey, I had to do it almost twenty years ago, when I didn't win a seat on the school board. But it was an amazing experience all the same. There has never been any regret for being unsuccessful in that race. And there doesn't have to be regret for Berger coming up short in the primary. He can leave office knowing that he served his people, and be content with that.
That's just my two cents about the matter. Or maybe five dollars and seventy-five cents. Enough to buy a little over a gallon of gas at current prices.
