NC Sen. Buck Newton considers run for attorney general

N.C. Sen. Buck Newton is considering a run for attorney general – with backing from House Speaker Tim Moore, The Wilson Times reported Friday.

Newton is a Republican attorney from Wilson who co-chairs the Senate Judiciary I committee. He recently helped spearhead efforts to pass Senate Bill 2, which would allow magistrates to declare that they will not perform any marriages based on “sincerely held” religious objections. Opponents of the bill say it would open the door to discrimination against same-sex couples.

News of Newton’s possible candidacy surfaced at a Wilson County Republican Party convention, where Moore offered this praise, according to the Times: “Sen. Buck Newton is a great senator, but he would make a better attorney general. You have got my support.”

Newton told the paper that he’ll make a decision soon. Another Republican senator, Tamara Barringer of Cary, has said she might also seek the attorney general post.

Attorney General Roy Cooper is expected to run for governor instead of seeking another term. On the Democratic side, Sen. Josh Stein, an attorney from Raleigh, has said he’ll likely run to replace Cooper.

Here’s a video of Newton speaking about Senate Bill 2 on Feb. 25:

This story was originally published March 13, 2015 at 12:17 PM.