WCNC-TV, Charlotte, N.C.

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory conceded the gubernatorial race to Attorney General Roy Cooper on Monday after weeks of challenging the results.

McCrory posted a video to YouTube Monday morning, saying his team would be willing to assist Cooper's team in the transition to office.

"During my remaining weeks as governor, my team will be working on a financial plan to be approved at a special legislative session to help our citizens and communities impacted by Hurricane Matthew and the current wildfires in the western part of our state," McCrory said.

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McCrory has spent several weeks bitterly challenging election results across the state, including a recount request in Durham County, where nearly 90,000 votes were questioned by his campaign on election night. As of 10:30 Monday morning, fewer than 10,000 votes were left to be counted, with Cooper's lead growing to more than 10,000.

McCrory, a former mayor of Charlotte, said it's important to respect the democratic process and the ultimate outcome of the "closest North Carolina governor's race in modern history."

"Despite continued questions that should be answered regarding the voting process, I personally believe the majority of out citizens have spoken, and we should do everything we can to support the 75th governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper," McCrory said.

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Cooper released a statement shortly after McCrory's concession, calling the opportunity to lead North Carolina "the honor of my life."

“I want to thank Governor McCrory and our First Lady Ann McCrory for their service to our state. Kristin and I look forward to working with them and their staff in what I expect will be a smooth transition."

Pending litigation challenging North Carolina’s process to ensure people who use same-day registration to vote are whom they claim to be are no longer could delay final election results this fall.

A federal judge late Monday granted a request by lawyers for the head of a conservative-leaning group to withdraw his bid to prevent the certification of statewide results until the voter verification was complete. A hearing on blocking the certification had been set for Thursday.

Attorneys for the Civitas Institute president wrote that State Board of Elections rulings involving election protests and recounts have changed the need for blocking the certification.

The lawyers say the Civitas Institute president still wants to pursue the underlying litigation challenging the same-day registration process of verifying the addresses of new voters.

Throughout his campaign, Cooper reiterated that one of his main priorities will be education. Shortly after Cooper's victory, the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) congratulated the governor-elect in a statement.

"We look forward to a champion for public school students and educators in the governor's office," NCAE President Mark Jewell said. "We are glad the stall tactics have come to an end because North Carolina educators are Ready for Roy."

The results mark the first time in North Carolina that a sitting governor was not re-elected — and there are two big reasons why that happened: House Bill 2 — the so-called "bathroom bill" that strikes down protections for the LGBT community — and the Interstate 77 toll lane project. So, what happens now with those two issues?

"The biggest challenge is trying to get the legislature to do what (Cooper) wants," said Dr. Michael Bitzer.

Cooper will be working with a Republican-controlled legislature. He's promised to repeal HB2. The law prevented local non-discrimination ordinances designed to protect LGBT people. The law also tells transgender people to use restrooms in schools and government buildings that correspond to the sex on their birth certificate.

A spokesman for Equality NC said, "I don't think we're going to have push; he knows the importance and it's his values."

Gay rights groups that made the defeat of McCrory this year a top priority because of HB2 are celebrating.

Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin said Monday that McCrory’s “reign of discrimination is finally over.”

Tami Fitzgerald with the North Carolina Values Coalition supported the law and McCrory. Fitzgerald says McCrory’s defeat “was orchestrated by radical forces outside North Carolina” and warned Cooper against any attempt to “compromise the privacy and safety of our children.”

The other issue that hurt McCrory was the I-77 toll lane project. McCrory lost the traditionally Republican districts along the I-77 corridor. Cooper has promised to take a look at what it will cost to get out of the contract that McCrory supported.

Mecklenburg County Commissioner Jim Puckett says he spent two years trying to tell McCrory he'd lose the election because of the toll lane project, and he now expects Cooper will cancel the contract.

"I would encourage him to find a way to do that," Puckett says, "It will fail — it gets more expensive every day."

Contributing: The Associated Press. Follow WCNC-TV on Twitter: @wcnc