Smith Leads Murphy in NC’s 3rd Congressional District Race as Provisional Ballots Counted
Democrat Raymond Smith has taken the lead over incumbent Greg Murphy in the tight race for North Carolina's Third Congressional District, as provisional ballots are being counted in Greenville.
Greenville New Bern Washington, NC, November 10, 2026 — The race for North Carolina’s Third Congressional District is experiencing a shift as Democrat Raymond Smith has overtaken incumbent Greg Murphy. This development comes as provisional ballots are currently undergoing tabulation in Greenville.
The latest updates indicate a close contest, with Smith now holding the lead. Provisional ballots, which are cast when a voter’s eligibility is in question on Election Day, are a critical component in determining the final outcome of elections, particularly when margins are narrow.
The Third Congressional District encompasses a wide area of North Carolina’s coastal plain and Outer Banks. The incumbent, Greg Murphy, is a Republican, while Raymond Smith is representing the Democratic party in this election. The final results will depend significantly on the verification and counting of these provisional votes.
Officials are working to process all valid provisional ballots cast during the election. The exact number of provisional ballots cast and the margin between the two candidates were not immediately available. The process of counting these ballots is detailed and requires careful verification to ensure all eligible votes are accurately recorded. This stage of vote counting is common in elections across the country, especially in close races.
The outcome of this election will determine who will represent North Carolina’s Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Further updates are expected as the tabulation of provisional ballots progresses in Greenville.
Story summarized from the original created by WITN Web Team on www.witn.com, see more information here.
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