RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – Tuesday's Republican primary runoffs in North Carolina's congressional districts could once again prove the former president's strong influence. donald trump It is influencing Republican politics across the country.
Voters will choose between attorneys Kelly Daughtry and Brad Knott in the runoff election for the redrawn 13th Congressional District. In the March 5 primary election, Mr. Daughtry came in first place and Mr. Knott came in second place. Republican candidates for statewide lieutenant governor and state auditor are also participating in runoff elections.
President Trump endorsed Knott in April. A few weeks later, Daughtry suspended his campaign as early voting had already begun. The runoff election continued on Tuesday, with both names appearing on the ballot. To ensure victory, Knott must receive the most votes. He reminded his supporters that they need to get out and vote.
If Daughtry wins but declines the nomination, local Republicans will choose a replacement to replace Democrat Frank Pierce in November.
Trump, who is considered the Republican presidential nominee, won North Carolina, the nation's ninth largest state, in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, and the state is expected to be a battleground in this fall's presidential election. It is expected. However, turnout in Tuesday's runoff election is expected to be very low. Democrats don't have primaries.
The former president has a history of meddling in North Carolina politics. This is the second time this year he has endorsed Daughtry's opponent. In the 2022 District 13 primary, he supported her challenger, then-political newcomer Beau Hines, who won the primary.
President Trump also endorsed then-Rep. Ted Budd in the 2022 U.S. Senate Republican primary. Budd easily defeated former Gov. Pat McCrory and went on to win the general election. In the recent March primary, President Trump endorsed first-time candidate Addison McDowell, who won the 6th Congressional District race.
A total of 14 candidates originally competed this year for the 13th Congressional District seat, which represents all or parts of eight counties in or near the capital, Raleigh. The district has been pushed to the right by the Republican-controlled Congress, and current Democratic Rep. Wiley Nickell will not run for re-election. The seat is one of three that Republicans hope will be added to the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina in the fall election thanks to redistricting.
Mr. Daughtry was the top fundraiser and top vote-getter in the March 5 primary, but he did not receive the at least 30% of votes needed to avoid a runoff. For a runoff to take place, the second-place finisher would have to formally request a runoff, which Knott did.
Despite those advantages, Daughtry effectively ended his campaign earlier this month after President Trump endorsed Knott, a former assistant U.S. attorney from Raleigh, on April 5.
Daughtry said the endorsement made it clear that “the path to victory is no longer possible.”
“I believe in the democratic process and respect the support of the president,” she said in a written statement.
In a social media endorsement, President Trump called Knott a “strong patriot” who supports law enforcement, secures the U.S.-Mexico border and defends gun rights.
Daughtry, the daughter of longtime Republican Congressional leader Daughtry, has been described by President Trump as a “RINO” (Republican in Name Only) and a member of Trump's “Make America Great Again” campaign. He called him “no friend of MAGA,” after the slogan. He said Daughtry has contributed to the campaigns of some Democratic candidates in the past.
In other races Tuesday, the lieutenant governor runoff features Hal Weatherman, then the lieutenant governor's chief of staff. Governor Dan Forest and Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O'Neill. Mr. Forrest came in first place out of the original 11 candidates in the primary election. The winner will face Democratic state Sen. Rachel Hunt, the daughter of former four-term Gov. Jim Hunt.
The Republican Auditor runoff will feature candidates Jack Clark and Dave Boreek. The winner will face Democratic State Auditor Jessica Holmes. Libertarian Party candidates are also running for auditor and lieutenant governor.
The Republican runoff elections are open to registered Republicans and independent voters who voted in the March Republican primary or did not vote at all.
