Provisional votes put Smith over Murphy in 3rd Congressional District contest
U.S. Army veteran and former state representative Raymond Smith is the unofficial winner of North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District contest over U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy, the Republican from Greenville. With the provisional ballots in all nine counties reported, the Democratic challenger received 118,488 votes to incumbent Murphy's 118,195 votes, according to the N.C. State Board of Elections. Libertarian candidate Daniel Cavender received 3,007 votes. Murphy was ahead after Election Day by 233 votes, with 117,583 ballots to Smith's 117,350. Smith pulled ahead on Tuesday by 293 votes. The difference was within the 1 percent margin that allows Murphy to call a recount. Smith, an educator from Goldsboro, on Election Night did not concede. His campaign director in Greenville said Tuesday a final count is crucial. “From the beginning of the campaign we always wanted to make sure that every vote counted,” said Diane Taylor, field director and community coordinator. “That was always our main priority. Even in this process (the provisional count) we really look forward to watching the process work as designed. We love the fact that Pitt County and all the other counties … have felt like Dr. Smith is the man for this job.” In Duplin, Murphy
