Jason Husser, professor of political science and director of the Elon Poll, spoke with The Assembly about the close Senate primary race between Phil Berger and Sam Page.
Elon University Professor of Political Science and Public Policy Jason Husser was quoted in The Assembly examining the razor-thin Republican primary between North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger and Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page. The story, “Every Vote Counted in Guilford,” explores how turnout patterns and political geography helped shape one of the most dramatic primary contests in recent state history.
With unofficial results showing the race separated by only a handful of votes, the article notes that the portion of Senate District 26 located in Guilford County played a pivotal role. Berger performed strongly there, while Page dominated in Rockingham County, making turnout differences between the counties a key factor in the close outcome.
Husser offered insight into why Berger may have seen stronger support in the Guilford section of the district. He pointed to demographic shifts and migration patterns in the region.
“One reason Berger might have done better in Guilford is there is more population mobility there,” Husser told The Assembly, noting that Republicans moving to fast-growing areas near Gibsonville along the I-40/I-85 corridor may not have long-term ties to the region.
Husser also noted that voters may see Berger as the Republican endorsed by President Donald Trump and as a major architect of policy victories of the state’s Republican majority.
“People who haven’t been attached to town politics for 30 years would likely say, ‘Let’s go with the establishment guy,’” Husser said.