Key facts
- Murphy said in a statement he congratulated Representative-Elect Raymond Smith on his successful election.
- Smith led Murphy by fewer than 300 votes as of the evening of November 11, 2026.
- Decision Desk HQ, a partner of The Hill, had not called the race.
- Smith's campaign had pointed to roughly 6,000 provisional ballots still to be counted across nine counties.
- Murphy has represented the eastern North Carolina district since 2019.
Republican Rep. Greg Murphy conceded North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District race to Democrat Raymond Smith on November 11, 2026, flipping another House seat to Democrats after a close contest.
Decision Desk HQ, a partner of The Hill, had not called the race. As of the evening of November 11, Smith led Murphy by fewer than 300 votes, after trailing the Republican by even fewer votes on election night. Provisional ballots helped ease Murphy's narrow lead and put Smith ahead.
"I want to congratulate Representative-Elect Raymond Smith on his successful election for the Third District Congressional seat," Murphy said in a statement. "I am sure he will serve the next two years with honor and integrity." Murphy, who has represented the eastern North Carolina district since 2019, thanked his supporters and said serving in Congress had been the greatest honor of his life.
"I would be remiss if I did not express personal disappointment in not being able to continue what I believe was good and diligent work on behalf of the people of eastern North Carolina," his statement reads.
Smith, an army veteran and former state lawmaker, celebrated the win on November 11, thanking volunteers and voters who supported his campaign. "This victory doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the people who believed in something greater than themselves," Smith said in a post on X. "Whether you may have voted for me or not, I intend to work just as hard for you," he added.
Murphy had declared victory a day after the election, despite thousands of ballots still awaiting counting. In a social media post at the time, he said he was "honored to be reelected by the good people of the Third District," describing the race as a razor-thin victory. Smith disputed the declaration, pointing to roughly 6,000 provisional ballots that had yet to be counted across the district's nine counties. His campaign also began seeking donations to prepare for a possible recount.