Riggs gets long-awaited NC Supreme Court win certified. Why Democrats should temper their enthusiasm

Democratic Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs was sworn in on Tuesday to the state Supreme Court. She'll serve through 2032 and play a critical role in the next round of redistricting.

Democratic Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs gets sworn in on May 13, 2025. She was the last candidate in the nation to be formally certified from the Nov. 5, 2024, election.

Six months and eight days after the election, the only undeclared race in the country is over. North Carolina Democratic Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs on Tuesday received her final election certification and was formally sworn into office.

“Power stays in the hands of the people, not the politicians,” Riggs said after being sworn in.

Riggs’ victory followed an unprecedented monthslong effort by Republican Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin to overturn the election, which she views as an “immeasurable damage done to our democracy.”

Griffin and the North Carolina Republican Party argued that laws in place at the time of the election violated the state constitution, and as result, voters should be removed from the count.

Tuesday’s certification comes a week after a Trump-appointed federal judge sided with Riggs and ordered the State Board of Elections to certify her 734-vote win. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Myers put a weeklong stay to his order so that Griffin could appeal. But two days later, Griffin conceded.

Republicans presently have a 5-2 advantage on the state Supreme Court. With her win, Riggs will hold onto her seat through 2032. Most notably, this will give her a chance to weigh in on the next round of redistricting in 2031.

In the meantime, Griffin will continue to serve through 2028 on the Court of Appeals, where Republicans have a 12-3 advantage.

To curtail GOP-friendly voting maps, Democrats must win at least three of the next four Supreme Court elections. If liberals retake control of the bench, conservatives could face an uphill battle getting their preferred voting maps enacted.

Democratic Justice Anita Earls is up for reelection in 2026, and the seats currently held by Republican Justices Phil Berger Jr., Tamara Barringer and Chief Justice Paul Newby will be up for grabs in 2028. Republican Justices Trey Allen and Richard Dietz have their seats up for grabs in 2030.

Riggs’ win snaps a streak of 17 consecutive losses by Democrats in statewide judicial contests.

Since GOP lawmakers made Court of Appeals races partisan starting in 2016 and Supreme Court races partisan starting in 2018, Republicans have won 22 contests. Democrats have won five times.

While Riggs has won her election, the broader political fight over how accessible voting ought to be is just getting started. And despite the pomp and circumstance in Raleigh for Riggs’ victory on Tuesday, Republicans may have very well already won the long game.

“It doesn't have to be this way,” Riggs said. “Voters should not have to fight tooth and nail to have their lawful votes counted. Disappointed politicians should not use the courts to try to get a different election outcome."

Changes in election law, oversight