Fred Smith conceded to Pat McCrory at Hedingham Country Club tonight.

In front of a crowd of more than 75 supporters, the Republican gubernatorial candidate thanked his family and everyone who was involved in his campaign and said he has no regrets.

"We've run a good race," he said. "We're proud of what we've done and we want to congratulate Pat McCrory. We're going to keep a smile on our face, and we're going to move forward.

"We don't regret anything we did in our race," he added. "We'd do it all over again."

Smith said his priority now is to help McCrory any way he can in the general election in November.

"That's the most important thing that we elect a Republican governor," he said. "I think the voters have chosen Pat to run and that's their choice. We've got to let Pat run the race the way he wants to run it."

He also quoted famed sportswriter Grantland Rice.

"As Grantland Rice said, sometimes it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game," he said.