McCrory concedes defeat in N.C. governor’s race

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory announced this morning he has accepted the Nov. 8 election results that evicted him from the governor’s mansion. Democrat Roy Cooper, the state’s outgoing attorney general, appears to have beaten McCrory by about 10,000 votes. Election officials have yet to certify the result. McCrory asked for a partial recount following the razor-thin Election Day outcome, but ongoing tallies have only padded Cooper’s lead. McCrory is the first sitting governor to lose a reelection bid in North Carolina. Analysts blame his support for HB2, the bill requiring transgender people to use restrooms that correspond to the sex on their birth certificates. Cooper wants HB2 repealed, although it’s not clear whether he can persuade the state legislature, which approved the measure by a wide margin. In a statement following McCrory’s announcement, Cooper said his supporters believe “we can come together to make a North Carolina that works for everyone.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.