This time, Democrats have a point

I’ve spent years pushing back against the left’s tendency to go scorched earth in their rhetoric against N.C. Republicans. Everything is a “state of emergency,” or “threat to democracy” or “war” on a beloved institution. Most of the time, it’s dishonest nonsense.

Not this time.

I’m talking, of course, about Judge Jefferson Griffin and the state GOP’s challenge of the results of his state Supreme Court race. After being shut down at the N.C. Board of Elections, Griffin has now filed an appeal to the state Supreme Court.

To be blunt: This appeal is political dynamite. If Griffin wins, it would set off a national firestorm with effects that linger for years. If he loses, it still leaves the party fractured and weakened. Either way, it’s a disaster.

I hate writing this. I really do. I have no desire to poison relationships with people at the state Republican Party, whom I like and respect. But this isn’t just some minor procedural squabble — it’s a huge risk that could threaten the future of conservatism in North Carolina.

I’m not sure who’s leading the push here — but it needs to end now.

A quick recap of the case

On election night, it looked like Griffin had squeaked out a win in the race for Supreme Court justice against sitting Justice Allison Riggs. But as absentee-by-mail and provisional ballots continued to be counted over the following days, the numbers shifted, and Riggs pulled ahead. By the time the counting and recounting was done, Riggs led by 734 votes.

I get it — watching those late ballots change the results makes people doubt the system. It’s frustrating, and it erodes confidence. That’s why North Carolina needs to get to the point where all votes are counted by midnight on Election Day. But we’re not there yet, and Griffin’s appeal doesn’t have to do with the standard, legitimate challenges to provisional ballots that happen in every close election.

To boil it down, Griffin and the NCGOP are seeking to throw about some 60,000 votes based on technicalities in voter registration. These ballots cast by voters whose registrations lacked either a driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number as required by law. In most cases, these registrations were filed long ago, and the voters had cast ballots without issue for years. Many provided valid ID at the polls this year.

Granted, these registrations should have been flagged and cured months, if not years, ago. But the fact is, the State Board of Elections accepted these voters and their ballots without issue.

Why this case is a disaster waiting to happen

If the Supreme Court sides with Griffin, the fallout will be immediate and brutal. This isn’t just bad optics; it’s potentially a credibility-shattering disaster for the court, the party, and conservatism in North Carolina. Overnight, this becomes a national story about Republicans “stealing” a Supreme Court seat. The allegation would be impossible to defend against.

And it wouldn’t end there. A ruling for Griffin would hand Democrats the perfect weapon: a story that’s simple, emotional, and devastating. It’s not hard to imagine Republicans losing judicial races — and even key legislative seats in 2026 — because of the stink this case would leave behind.

If Griffin loses the appeal, the damage is only slightly contained. The party will have spent months locked in a fight that divides its base and gives Democrats fresh ammunition for future campaigns. This appeal makes future judicial races even harder.

The stakes are too high

This is bigger than one judicial seat. It’s about the credibility of the court, the trust of voters, and the long-term viability of the NCGOP as a governing party. Republicans have spent over a decade proving they can deliver for North Carolina. Griffin’s appeal risks throwing all of that away for a fleeting victory.

Yes, the State Board should be held accountable for its failures. Yes, North Carolina needs to fix how absentee and provisional ballots are handled. But Griffin’s appeal isn’t the solution.

Griffin should drop the appeal. If he doesn’t, the Supreme Court should reject the case outright. The stakes are too high, and the risk is too great.

This isn’t how Republicans win. It’s how they lose.

Let’s hope someone pulls the plug before it’s too late.