Still trailing by 23 votes, NC Senate leader asks for hand recount

North Carolina Senate Leader Phil Berger requested a hand recount after losing his Republican primary bid for his state Senate seat by 23 votes in machine tallying. Berger, who leads the state's upper legislative chamber, submitted the recount request to the state Board of Elections on Friday following the contested primary result. A hand recount could potentially alter the outcome in what appears to be an extraordinarily tight race for one of North Carolina's most powerful political positions. The narrow margin has triggered the formal recount process, which will determine whether Berger advances in the primary or his opponent claims the nomination.