The state Supreme Court, which has a 5 to 2 Republican majority, will now hear Jefferson Griffin’s challenge of over 60,000 ballots cast in his race to ascend to the high court.

A federal judge Monday said a dispute over who won a seat on North Carolina’s State Supreme Court should be handled in state court. The order is a boost for Republican Jefferson Griffin, who trails Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs by 734 votes.

A federal judge on Monday sent Republican Appeals Court Judge Jefferson Griffin’s elections case back to state court, which may leave the outcome of his race in the hands of the GOP majority on the North Carolina Supreme Court.