The race for North Carolina’s open U.S. Senate seat has intensified as key Republican candidates bolster their campaigns ahead of the state’s primary elections. With the seat being vacated by retiring Senator Richard Burr, the contest to secure the Republican nomination is expected to be one of the most significant races in the 2022 midterms. As the GOP aims to maintain control of the Senate, the North Carolina race has become a battleground with a tight field of contenders.
The leading candidates in the Republican primary are Congressman Ted Budd, former Governor Pat McCrory, and former Congressman Mark Walker. Each of these candidates is working hard to appeal to the state’s conservative base, but the strategies they are employing vary significantly.
Ted Budd, representing North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District, has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Budd’s campaign message emphasizes his unwavering support for conservative values, including limited government, tax cuts, and a strong stance on immigration. Budd has also framed himself as a fighter against the “Swamp” in Washington, positioning himself as an outsider who will take on the political establishment. His alignment with Trump has provided him a significant advantage among Republican voters who remain loyal to the former president.
In contrast, Pat McCrory, who served as the governor of North Carolina from 2013 to 2017, has positioned himself as a pragmatic, seasoned leader capable of leading the state into the future. McCrory’s campaign has focused on his experience in government, specifically his record on economic development, education reform, and infrastructure. McCrory’s tenure as governor, particularly his controversial decision to sign the “bathroom bill,” has been a point of contention in the race, with both his supporters and critics using it as a litmus test for his political principles.
Mark Walker, another prominent candidate, has taken a more traditional conservative approach, emphasizing limited government, fiscal responsibility, and social conservatism. As a former U.S. Congressman, Walker has made clear his intention to return to Washington to advance the conservative agenda, particularly on issues such as tax reform and national security. His candidacy is buoyed by his appeal to evangelical Christians and rural voters, who form a critical part of the Republican base in North Carolina.
While the field remains competitive, the primary race is beginning to crystallize into a contest between the outsider Trump-backed candidate, Ted Budd, and the establishment figures, McCrory and Walker. The outcome of the Republican primary will have significant implications for the general election, where the GOP will face Democrat Cheri Beasley, a former North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice.
