North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Jerry Meek made this statement on the Joint Select Committee on Council of State Contested Elections hearing on the Superintendent of Public Instruction's race:

"I am glad that the General Assembly is meeting to exercise their constitutional and legal authority to determine who received the most votes and declare a winner. There are 8,535 reasons why June Atkinson is the rightful winner--she leads Bill Fletcher by that many votes, which were cast in good faith by registered voters in our state. It's unfortunate that Bill Fletcher and the Republicans have spent months trying to deny the will of the people by trying to throw out votes. This is the last undecided statewide election in America-quite a dubious distinction. Ten months after Election Day, and nine months after the State Board of Elections certified June Atkinson as the winner, the end is in sight."