A partial hand recount is set to begin for a tight primary election in North Carolina's state Senate District 26. Republican candidate Same Page is challenging incumbent state Sen. Phil Berger, who currently holds the position of state Senate leader. The two candidates were separated by 23 votes in the March 3 election, a difference that qualifies for a recount. Under North Carolina law, a trailing candidate in a non statewide race can request a recount if the election results are within 1% of the total votes cast. Berger requested a hand-to-eye recount, which includes a random sample of voting sites within 24 hours of the initial recount. If Berger wins the partial recount, it would trigger a full hand recount of all ballots from this race. The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Steve Luking in November.