Lucky 13: North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District brings big names, big competition
Only one district of North Carolina’s congressional map is a swing district, one that’s considered viable for either a Republican or Democrat to win.
It’s the 13th Congressional District, and it encompasses all of Johnston County, the southern portion of Wake County and parts of Harnett and Wayne counties.
“There’s no more critical district to deciding the partisan balance of North Carolina’s congressional delegation,” said Chris Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University. “It’s also geographically in an interesting area of the state.”
Thirteen seems to be the district’s lucky number: 13 candidates have filed to represent it in Congress.
When the State Board of Elections ended filing at noon Friday, five Democrats and eight Republicans had signed up to seek their party’s nomination in the May 17 primary.
The district lacks an incumbent, which may have contributed to the high number of candidates.
Some familiar names entered the race, including former U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers, state Sen. Wiley Nickel and former state Sen. Sam Searcy.
There’s also Bo Hines, a political newcomer who once played football for N.C. State University.
Cooper said he’s not yet sure how voters’ familiarity with certain candidates will play out at the polls. For those four candidates, name recognition can sometimes come at a cost, Cooper said.
Cooper said he’s surprised the 13th Congressional District didn’t draw in any third-party candidates.
“It’s going to be competitive on paper, and a third-party candidate could siphon votes away from the two major parties,” Cooper said. “The fact that we don’t have that, is surprising.”
The News & Observer broke down the biographies of each candidate running in the 13th Congressional District.
Democrat Jamie Bowles and Republicans Jessica Morel and Kevin Wolff filed to run Friday, and information about their campaigns and biographies wasn’t immediately available.
Republicans
The Republicans who are running include:
DeVan Barbour
Barbour, a Republican, grew up in Johnston County, attended South Johnston County High School and graduated from N.C. State University. He worked at his family fertilizer, hardware and paint store while creating his own business. He currently lives on a farm in Benson with his wife and two children. In his spare time he’s a Sudan Dunn Clown for Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Kelly Daughtry
Daughtry, a Republican, is the daughter of Leo Daughtry, a former member of the state House and Senate. Together the father and daughter run a family law practice where she has 25 years of experience in state and federal court. Daughtry, a Johnston County resident, graduated from Dartmouth College before earning her juris doctorate from UNC Law School. In her spare time, she is active at Corral Riding Academy, a faith-based equine therapy nonprofit for at-risk girls.
Renee Ellmers
Ellmers, a Republican, is the only candidate to previously have served in Congress. Beginning in 2011, Ellmers represented the 2nd Congressional District for six years, until former Rep. George Holding defeated her in the 2016 primary election. Ellmers holds a bachelor’s of nursing degree and worked at Trinity Wound Care Center in Dunn before working in Congress. She and her husband have a son and live in Dunn.
Bo Hines
Hines, a Republican, lives with his wife in Winston-Salem. He’s a political newcomer but has made it known for years that he would run for office and has gained endorsements from far-right politicians, including Reps. Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. He also has been endorsed by Club for Growth, an influential conservative organization that is pumping millions of dollars into support for candidates, including North Carolina’s U.S. Senate candidate Ted Budd. Hines played football for N.C. State University before transferring to Yale University, where he studied political science. If Hines is elected to Congress, at 26, he would be one of its youngest members.
Kent Keirsey
Keirsey, a Republican, is a combat veteran who served in the U.S. Army. He spent 12 months in combat in Iraq and earned a Bronze Star Medal for his leadership. In 2008, he left active duty and attended Stanford University. Keirsey went on to create the Army’s Best Ranger Competition, co-founded Collective Health, a company aimed at fixing health care in America, and built multiple real estate technology companies. Keirsey and his wife live with their children in Chapel Hill.
Jessica Morel
Morel, of Fayetteville, filed Friday, and information about the campaign wasn’t immediately available.
Chad Slotta
Slotta, a Republican, spent 13 years as a pastor. When his father died, he took over his family business GIV LLC, which stands for God Inspired Ventures, and is a manufacturing company. He also runs Slotta Global Ministries, with the intent to spread the gospel globally. Slotta and his wife live with their three children in Cary.
Kevin Wolff
Wolff, of Apex, filed Friday, and information about the campaign wasn’t immediately available.
Democrats
The Democrats who are running include:
Jamie Bowles
Bowles, of Salemburg, filed Friday, and information about the campaign wasn’t immediately available.
Nathan Click
Click, a Democrat, is a U.S. Air Force veteran who served in Operations New Dawn and Enduring Freedom and founded a commercial financing company. He graduated from North Carolina A&T State University and Oklahoma City University. He and his wife have four children and live in Raleigh.
Denton Lee
Lee, a Democrat, was born and raised in Johnston County. He graduated from the University of Mount Olive with a business degree and became branch manager of a bank before becoming an entrepreneur. He went back to college and graduated from East Carolina University and became an exceptional children and math teacher. He and his wife live with their three children in Clayton.
Wiley Nickel
Nickel, a Democrat, is a state senator and criminal defense attorney living with his wife and children in Cary. Nickel hails from California, and received his bachelor’s degree from Tulane University and his juris doctorate from Pepperdine University. Before moving to North Carolina, Nickel served on former President Barack Obama’s campaign and on his advance staff. He has served two terms in the Senate.
Sam Searcy
Searcy, a Democrat, is a former N.C. senator who serves on the State Board of Community Colleges. He grew up on a farm in Hendersonville and later graduated from Appalachian State University and the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma. Searcy began Graybeard Distillery and CliniStart, a company that helps with contracts in clinical research, before running for Senate in 2018 and again in 2020. He won both elections but stepped down immediately in 2020. He lives with his wife and four children in Holly Springs and has a goat farm in Avery County.
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