Dr. Raymond Smith heads to Washington after taking lead in NC’s 3rd District race

PITT COUNTY, NC (WCTI) — Democrat Dr. Raymond Smith is preparing for his next chapter in Washington, D.C., after provisional ballots flipped North Carolina’s closely contested 3rd Congressional District race in his favor.

Smith went from trailing Republican incumbent Congressman Dr. Greg Murphy by 233 votes on election night to leading by 293 votes after provisional ballots were counted Tuesday.

The shift prompted Murphy to congratulate Smith on Wednesday, Nov. 11, although the election results are not scheduled to be officially certified by the state until Friday.

Smith, who arrived in Washington on Wednesday, described a whirlwind week following the election.

“I was receiving text messages, I was receiving calls from people. It’s like okay, what’s going on here,” Smith said.

Provisional ballots change the race

Murphy held a narrow lead over Smith following the Nov. 3 election in North Carolina’s recently redrawn 3rd Congressional District.

Neither candidate declared victory or acknowledged defeat on election night as counties continued reviewing outstanding ballots.

The race changed Tuesday when provisional ballots were counted, putting Smith ahead by 293 votes.

On Wednesday morning, Murphy released a statement congratulating Smith on his apparent victory.

“I want to congratulate Representative-Elect Raymond Smith on his successful election for the Third District Congressional seat,” Murphy said. “I am sure he will serve the next two years with honor and integrity.”

The statement marked a change from Murphy’s outlook on election night, when he expressed confidence that he would ultimately win.

“We’re ahead and after all votes are counted and we have the most votes,” Murphy said at the time. “That usually constitutes winning, and we’re going to run through the finish line.”

Redistricting plays role in closely watched race

The outcome also comes after North Carolina’s congressional districts were redrawn in a move intended to improve Republican prospects in the eastern part of the state.

Smith said the changes to district boundaries shifted the political makeup of the 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts.

“The legislature moved some Republican-leaning counties into the first. But they removed purple and blue counties out of the first and into the third,” Smith said.

Despite the district changes, Smith emerged with a narrow lead after provisional ballots were counted.

Smith said he believes voters supported candidates they were familiar with and trusted to represent their concerns in Washington.

Smith begins preparations in Washington

With the final certification process still pending, Smith traveled to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to begin preparing for the possibility of serving in Congress.

He said his schedule is already filling with meetings as he works to learn more about the responsibilities of representing the district.

“Meetings, meetings, meetings,” Smith said. “We’re trying to digest as much as we can and we’re trying to make sure that we are prepared to represent the third congressional district.”

Smith’s preparations come as Murphy reflects on his time representing ENC.

In his Wednesday statement, Murphy expressed disappointment that he would not be continuing his work in Congress but thanked his staff, supporters and constituents.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve the wonderful people of eastern North Carolina for the past seven years as their Congressman,” Murphy said.

Murphy also said he and his family would spend the coming months considering their future.