Bob Rucho resigns from the North Carolina State Board of Elections after donations to sheriff candidates surfaced while a razor-thin GOP Senate race heads toward a possible recount.
Republican elections official Bob Rucho has stepped down from the North Carolina State Board of Elections after questions surfaced about campaign donations he made while serving on the board.
The issue is that state law says board members are not allowed to donate to political candidates.
Yet records show that since joining the board last year, Rucho gave about $1,200 total to two sheriff candidates running for reelection:
A “MUTUAL” EXIT
According to officials, Republican auditor Dave Boliek spoke with Rucho and the two agreed it would be best if he stepped aside.
The auditor’s office oversees the elections board under a relatively new state law, so the situation landed directly on Boliek’s desk.
State officials say the donations were a major factor behind the resignation.
Rucho hasn’t publicly commented about the situation.
But the donations weren’t the only thing raising eyebrows.
Election board members are also supposed to stay neutral publicly — meaning they shouldn’t be posting about candidates.
However, Rucho had reportedly made Facebook posts defending longtime Senate leader Phil Berger, who is currently locked in a tight Republican primary battle with Sam Page.
In at least one post, Rucho criticized Page while backing Berger.
For someone helping oversee elections, critics say that kind of public commentary doesn’t exactly scream “neutral.”
The resignation is happening at an especially tense moment in North Carolina politics.
The Republican primary between Berger and Page for Senate District 26 is extremely close, with Page reportedly ahead by just two votes after Election Day.
Election officials are still counting provisional ballots, military ballots, and overseas ballots. If the margin stays under one percent, the losing candidate can request a recount.
And that recount would be handled by the same election system now dealing with its own controversy.
REPLACEMENT ALREADY IN PLACE
Not long after Rucho stepped down, officials moved quickly to fill the seat.
Angela Hawkins, who previously chaired the Wake County elections board, was sworn in Thursday as his replacement.
Boliek praised Hawkins and said she brings valuable experience to the role as the board works through post-primary ballot counts and potential challenges.
