The race for a North Carolina congressional seat that includes part of the High Country remains unresolved more than a week after Election Day.

In the latest unofficial count available Tuesday night, Democrat Chuck Hubbard led longtime Republican incumbent Virginia Foxx by just 325 votes in the 5th Congressional District.

The count stood at 139,672 for Hubbard and 139,347 for Foxx, with Libertarian Robert Luffman receiving 7,574 votes.

All 230 precincts had reported, but the figures were not certified, and more eligible ballots could still be added.

The razor-thin margin leaves the outcome uncertain and comfortably within the range in which a candidate may request a recount.

The district stretches across northwestern North Carolina, including Ashe, Watauga and Wilkes counties, as well as communities farther east.

For mountain residents, the contest is one of the most dramatic congressional races of this election cycle.

Foxx has represented the district for more than two decades and defeated Hubbard by a wide margin in their previous matchup.

This year's result has been far closer, with the lead shifting as county boards reviewed provisional ballots.

On Election Night, Hubbard held an unofficial advantage of 99 votes.

During Tuesday's additional counting, Foxx briefly moved ahead before updates from other counties returned Hubbard to the lead.

The latest 325-vote advantage is a snapshot, not a final election result.

Election officials must finish reviewing eligible ballots and complete the canvassing process before any winner can be certified.

Military and overseas absentee ballots that meet state requirements may still arrive by Thursday, November 12.

County canvasses are scheduled for Friday, November 13, when local boards review and authenticate their counts.

The statewide board is scheduled to complete certification of multi-county contests later in the month.

After the canvass, a trailing candidate in a congressional race this close may seek a recount under North Carolina law.

That would mean additional scrutiny of the totals before the contest is settled.

Both campaigns have emphasized the importance of completing the vote count, and neither candidate should be treated as the certified winner at this stage.

The district's geography adds another dimension to the result.

It links mountain communities with counties farther east, producing a diverse electorate with different local priorities.

Disaster recovery, healthcare costs and federal assistance have been prominent concerns across the High Country since Hurricane Helene.

The election also comes amid wider political changes across Western North Carolina, including a separate congressional contest in the 11th District.

For now, patience and precision matter more than a premature victory declaration.

Readers should expect more updates after Friday's canvass and should distinguish unofficial returns from the final certified result.