Today, Pat McCrory finally accepted defeat in the North Carolina governor’s race.
McCrory made the concession in a video message posted around noon Monday as a recount he requested in Durham County entered its final hours, reported The News and Observer.
“I personally believe that the majority of our citizens have spoken, and we now should do everything we can to support the 75th governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper,” McCrory says in the video. “The McCrory administration team will assist in every way to help the new administration make a smooth transition.
“Pat McCrory’s reign of discrimination is finally over. McCrory’s stubborn and reckless support of HB2 cost him this election, and his defeat sends a powerful warning to lawmakers across the country that targeting LGBTQ people will not be tolerated,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “We look forward to working with Governor-elect Roy Cooper and fair-minded lawmakers to repeal HB2. It’s way past time to repair the harm inflicted on North Carolina’s people, reputation and economy.”
“Gov. McCrory has finally conceded, and now it is time for the state and people of North Carolina to get on with our business of rebuilding,” said Equality North Carolina Executive Director Chris Sgro. “Roy Cooper is a champion of equality and for North Carolina values, and he is the right person to lead our great state moving forward. This was a hard-fought election, but the people of North Carolina clearly know that Roy Cooper will be the best leader for our state. This is a proud day for especially LGBT North Carolinians, who can now celebrate a Governor who cares deeply about our community.”
In 2012, Pat McCrory was elected with an 11 percent margin of victory. Not only did HB2 cost McCrory his re-election, it dragged down several state candidates. HRC and ENC endorsed Roy Cooper for Governor and Josh Stein for Attorney General, who both won, as well as four challenger races that also declared victory: Rep. Cynthia Ball (D), Chaz Beasley (D), Joe John (D) and Mary Belk (D).
Instead of accepting the fact that voters rejected his bid for re-election, McCrory launched an all-out effort to throw the integrity of the election into question by lodging voter protests in more than half of the state’s 100 counties. The Republican-controlled State Board of Elections issued an order requiring dismissal of all 52 of those protests. McCrory’s tactics garnered widespread criticism. In a powerful editorial headlined, “McCrory will be remembered for this lack of grace,” The Charlotte Observer wrote that McCrory “and his fellow scaremongers have disrespected democracy…”
