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For nearly four weeks, North Carolina governor's race had been too close to call. On Monday, incumbent Pat McCrory conceded, clearing the way for Democrat Roy Cooper to be declared the winner.
"Despite continued questions that should be answered regarding the voting process, 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 said in a video message, the Washington Post reports.
In conceding, McCrory has become the first North Carolina governor to lose re-election. Many believe that McCrory's undoing was a series of divisive laws he signed, including one bill that forced transgender people to use public bathrooms that corresponded with the sex marked on their birth certificate. The law led companies, sports organizations and entertainers to pull money from the state.
McCrory's concession comes a month later than Cooper may have expected, since many believed that Cooper, who was leading by 4,000 votes after 4.7 million votes had been cast, had already won. But McCrory refused to concede.
Cooper has publicly stated that he wants the transgender-restroom law repealed.
Even though Republicans maintain a super majority in both the House and the Senate, Cooper's win is a bright spot for Democrats.
Read more at the Washington Post.
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