NC Senate candidate Susan Evans won’t seek recount

Democrat Susan Evans announced Wednesday that she won’t ask for a recount in a close N.C. Senate race with Republican Sen. Tamara Barringer.

Evans was entitled to a recount because she trailed Barringer by less than 1 percent of votes cast. But with 1,000 votes, or 0.08 percent, separating the two candidates, a recount was unlikely to change the outcome.

“I will not be asking for a recount and have conceded the race to Ms. Barringer this morning,” Evans, a Wake County school board member, wrote on Facebook. “Thanks again to everyone who helped out with the campaign and encouraged me along the way. I am extremely proud of the race we ran.”

Barringer will now serve a third full term representing Senate District 17, which consists of southwestern Wake County, including parts of Cary, Apex, Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina.

Wake County will still have a recount in one legislative race: The House race in which incumbent Republican Rep. Marilyn Avila trails Democrat Joe John by 391 votes. Avila is seeking a recount.

Outside the Triangle, another N.C. House race also has a recount. In a district that includes Pitt and Wilson counties, incumbent Republican Rep. Susan Martin has a narrow lead, which prompted Democrat Charlie Pat Farris to seek a recount.

In a third close House race in the mountains, Democratic Rep. Joe Sam Queen has conceded defeat to Republican Mike Clampitt, according to the Smoky Mountain News.

This story was originally published December 1, 2016 at 2:10 PM with the headline "NC Senate candidate Susan Evans won’t seek recount."