Democrat Raymond Smith wins NC-3 race, prepares to take office in January

Republican Rep. Greg Murphy has conceded the North Carolina 3rd Congressional District race to Democrat Raymond Smith following the counting of provisional ballots, ABC11 WTVD reported. The margin was 293 votes according to unofficial data from the North Carolina State Board of Elections, and Murphy chose not to request a recount.

Smith, a former state House member, is preparing to take office in January and outlined his priorities in an interview with ABC11. He emphasized the importance of agriculture, noting it remains the leading industry in North Carolina and that eastern North Carolina feeds the nation.

Smith highlighted that the nation's top pork producer is headquartered in Duplin County, located within the 3rd District. He also pointed to the significance of military and Veterans Affairs issues, referencing several military bases in eastern North Carolina, including Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, which faced potential closure in recent years.

Health care was also mentioned as a key concern for Smith, who aims to address challenges in that sector. He also mentioned affordability and ending the war in Iran as priorities during the interview.

Smith's victory adds another seat to the Democratic delegation from North Carolina, impacting the state's congressional representation as the new term begins in January.