North Carolina's 3rd congressional district
US House district in North Carolina.
North Carolina's 3rd District flipped on provisional ballots: Democrat Raymond Smith sits 293 votes ahead of Representative Greg Murphy on the state's 11 November file, having trailed by 233 on polling night. Murphy has until 17 November to seek a recount.
Last refreshed: 11 November 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Can a recount return North Carolina's 3rd District to Greg Murphy?
Timeline for North Carolina's 3rd congressional district
Changed leader on provisional ballots
US Midterms 2026: Raymond Smith overtakes Murphy in NC-3Background
North Carolina's 3rd District count on the State Board of Elections precinct file of 11 November 2026 stood at 118,488 for Raymond Smith and 118,195 for Greg Murphy, a 0.122% gap. Murphy had been 233 up on polling night; provisionals broke 1,114 to 602 for Smith. Murphy's recount request is due by noon on 17 November, following the 13 November county canvass.
The district covers all or part of Duplin, Greene, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Pitt, Sampson, Wayne and Wilson counties. The General Assembly redrew it on 22 October 2025, taking four inland counties with large Black populations from the 1st District and giving the 1st six mostly white counties from the old 3rd. A federal panel let the map stand on 26 November 2025.
The swap was meant to make the 1st Republican while the 3rd stayed safe. Late provisionals breaking almost two to one turned the seat Democratic on the count.
Who is winning North Carolina's 3rd congressional district?
Why did the lead change in North Carolina's 3rd District after election night?
Will there be a recount in North Carolina's 3rd District?
How did the 2025 redistricting change North Carolina's 3rd District?
Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 11 November 2026. Editorial standards.