North Carolina Senate Leader Phil Berger has requested a hand recount after losing his Republican primary election by 23 votes, according to a letter sent to the state's Board of Elections on Friday.

Berger, who leads the state's upper legislative chamber, is challenging the results of a machine tally that showed him trailing in the contested Republican primary for his state Senate seat. The narrow margin of defeat has prompted the veteran legislator to seek the additional verification process.

The request for a hand recount represents the latest development in what has become a closely watched primary race. Under North Carolina election law, candidates may request recounts under certain circumstances, particularly when margins are exceptionally narrow.

Berger's letter to the Board of Elections specifically asks for a hand recount of a sample of ballots, which would involve election officials manually reviewing and counting votes rather than relying solely on machine tabulation. The state board will need to review and approve the request before any hand recount can proceed.

The outcome of this primary race could have significant implications for the composition of North Carolina's state Senate leadership, given Berger's prominent role in the chamber. The final resolution of the contest will depend on the board's decision regarding the recount request and any subsequent review of the vote totals.