Berger Defends Record, Faces Primary Challenge While Addressing Guilford County Issues

Phil Berger, Republican state Senate president pro tempore who has represented Rockingham County since 2001 and held Senate leadership since 2011, is defending his record as he seeks reelection in District 26, a seat that includes parts of Guilford County. The contest has moved from policy debate to a bruising primary as Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page mounts what political observers call the most serious primary challenge Berger has faced in years.

Berger discussed the NC Senate’s state budget proposal, North Carolina’s financial position, Medicaid funding discussions involving the legislature, Congress and the Department of Health and Human Services, income taxes and triggers, and a proposed children’s hospital in a 26 minute, 46 second appearance on PBS NC’s State Lines on December 19, 2025. The program listing notes closed captions and streaming availability on PBS NC platforms; the interview predates the spike in primary acrimony that intensified in February 2026.

Sam Page has framed his campaign around his record as a longtime sheriff in Rockingham County, saying, "I’m running on my record, and the people of Rockingham County know I have served them well and will continue to serve them well." Page has told voters he will pursue repeal of the law shielding legislators from public records, institute leadership term limits, and put school resource officers in every school if elected to the Senate.

The primary has featured mutual accusations about outside influence. Berger’s campaign has accused "Democrat-aligned dark money groups" of trying to influence the Republican primary and named groups including the Piedmont Accountability Coalition as airing ads critical of Berger. Berger’s campaign posted a political cartoon it attributed to Page and criticized what it described as "disgusting tactics." Page pushed back on social media, saying "Phil Berger’s dark money friends" are spreading "lies and misinformation" to tip the race.

The exchange spilled into public rebuke from other lawmakers. Sen. Graig Meyer of Orange County said, "If Phil Berger thinks he can blame Democrats for him being about to lose a primary in his own district, he’s just a crybaby." Early voting in the 2026 primary had begun by February 13, 2026, as the back-and-forth intensified and television and social media ads circulated.

Fundraising and endorsements have added to the drama: Berger has highlighted endorsements from conservative organizations and a presidential endorsement from Donald Trump while maintaining a sizable financial edge that local coverage summarized as Berger raising 63 times as much money as Page. Still, limited polling since late 2025 has shown the race to be close, with small samples and wide margins of error that leave the outcome uncertain.

The result of the primary will determine who represents Rockingham County and the portions of Guilford County inside District 26 and who occupies the Senate leadership seat Berger has held since 2011. Voters in Greensboro-area precincts that sit inside District 26 will see those consequences reflected in how the Senate handles budget priorities, Medicaid funding decisions and proposals such as a children’s hospital after the primary concludes.