Gov. McCrory concedes
By Melinda Harrell
Published in News on December 5, 2016 1:09 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Update ---- Cooper responds to McCrory's concession
Gov. Pat McCrory conceded the North Carolina governor's race in a video message this afternoon, throwing full support behind governor-elect Roy Cooper.
In his statement, he said he believed that voters had spoken and Cooper was the victor.
"Being the 74th governor of North Carolina has been a privilege and an honor, but during this wonderful season its also time to celebrate our democratic process and respect what I see to be the ultimate outcome of the closest governor's race in modern history," McCrory said.
"Despite continued questions regarding the voting process, I personally believe that the majority of our citizens have spoken and we should now do everything we can to support the 75th governor of North Carolina Roy Cooper."
McCrory said his team will help the Cooper transition team in "every way" to facilitate a "smooth transition."
He also cited many of the achievements of his administration, including an increase in teacher pay and an improved economy for the state.
"I am proud that our team leaves the state in a much better way than we came into office," McCrory said.
He also encouraged support of Cooper as well as president-elect Donald Trump.
"Please pray for our new governor Roy Cooper and our new President Donald Trump and their families. I encourage everyone -- now more than ever -- to respect all of our public servants and the offices they were elected to hold," McCrory said.
Roy Cooper thanked McCrory for his service as governor and said he looked forward to a smooth transition.
"Thank you for the honor to serve the great state of North Carolina."
"I'm proud to have received the support from so many who believe that we can come together to make a North Carolina that works for everyone," Cooper said in a statement about the concession.
"It will be the honor of my life to serve this great state. While this was a divisive election season, I know still that there is more that unites us than divides us. Together, we can make North Carolina the shining beacon in the south by investing in our schools, supporting working families and building a state that works for everyone. I'd like to thank all of the hardworking families in North Carolina, and I look forward to serving the greatest state in the country as your governor."
The race to the governor's mansion was not without heated rhetoric and litigation.
McCrory contested the results more than 50 counties after the Nov. 8 election. Today the 94,000 votes cast in the early voting period in Durham County was to be recounted, essentially wrapping up the election as McCrory said he would not ask for a statewide recount if the Durham recount maintained the same numbers.
At the time of McCrory's concession, Cooper was leading him by 10,250 in unofficial ballot counts.
Should that number have remained the above 10,000 after the Durham recount, McCrory would not have been able to call for a statewide recount.
Before leaving office, McCrory plans to address Hurricane Matthew recovery funding and the western wildfires in a special legislative session on Dec. 13. In his video message, he said that will be what he focuses on -- in addition to helping Cooper's transition -- during the remainder of his time in the governor's mansion.
Update ----
Gov. Pat McCrory conceded the North Carolina governor's race in a video message this afternoon, throwing his full support behind governor-elect Roy Cooper.
In his statement, McCrory said he believed the voters had spoken and that Cooper was the victor.
"Being the 74th governor of North Carolina has been a privilege and an honor, but during this wonderful season its also time to celebrate our democratic process and respect what I see to be the ultimate outcome of the closest governor's race in modern history," McCrory said.
"Despite continued questions regarding the voting process, I personally believe that the majority of our citizens have spoken and we should now do everything we can to support the 75th governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper."
McCrory said his team will help the Cooper transition team in "every way" to facilitate a "smooth transition."
He also cited many of the achievements of his administration, including an increase in teacher pay and an improved economy for the state.
"I am proud that our team leaves the state in a much better way than we came into office," McCrory said.
He also encouraged support of Cooper as well as president-elect Donald Trump.
"Please pray for our new governor Roy Cooper and our new President Donald Trump and their families. I encourage everyone -- now more than ever -- to respect all of our public servants and the offices they were elected to hold," McCrory said.
"Thank you for the honor to serve the great state of North Carolina."
Initial report -- The Associated Press is reporting that Gov. Pat McCrory has conceded defeat in the 2016 race for governor.
McCrory and his surrogates have filed suits contesting the election results which show attorney general Roy Cooper won the contest by more than 10,000 votes, the requisite number to prevent the incumbent from demanding a statewide recount, which he had, until Monday, threatened to do.
This story will be updated as details are confirmed.