Money Flows After Election Loss | Raleigh News

After losing his primary, North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger got a surprising $100K boost from a Republican fund to cover legal fees tied to his election challenge — a move made possible by a 2024 law change that quietly allowed the fund to pay for legal costs. The fund, which once only covered party operations, now funnels money from big donors like healthcare exec Michael Estramonte (who got a $17.7M state grant) and UNC board members, some with deep ties to state budgets. Berger’s legal bills hit over $75K, while his opponent, Sheriff Sam Page, raised $116K from donors including a rheumatologist and a real estate mogul. Berger’s Senate leadership role continues until 2027, and the race to replace him is heating up — all while money quietly reshapes the post-election landscape. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/4e8933455ebcd878