Recount: Cooper holds edge as governor's recount continues

Is Roy Cooper North Carolina's next governor?

Stay tuned to find out.

A recount of the ballots cast in the governor's race between Democrat Cooper and Republican incumbent Pat McCrory is taking longer than expected, so residents of the state will have to wait a while before learning who will lead the state over the next four years.

Cooper, the state's attorney general, held a slim lead over McCrory after Election Day, but a recount of the votes in some areas has left the result in question.

McCrory is exploring every possible angle that might push his vote total higher. All votes were supposed to have been recounted as of today, but election officials have said that is not possible. Delays at the Department of Motor Vehicles have proved to be a problem, and there are mailed-in absentee and provisional ballots that have to be checked before a decision can be rendered.

All this is tedious but necessary. The state's voters deserve a clear-cut winner, and this is the only way to ensure that happens.

Published in Editorials on November 18, 2016 9:40 AM