‘Ready to fight.’ Republican Ted Budd wins Senate race in NC over Democrat Cheri Beasley
In a “so-called sleepy race,” voters sent a clear message to Washington, D.C., Ted Budd said in a victory speech just before midnight in Winston-Salem.
Budd, 51, a Republican from Advance in Davie County, became North Carolina’s next U.S. senator after winning a race against former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley, 56, a Democrat from Wake County. He’ll replace retiring Republican Sen. Richard Burr.
Media reports about their campaigns labeled the race as sleepy because of its mild nature and lack of controversy compared to other races around the country. Budd called it a “spirited campaign” in his victory speech and said he thanked Beasley in a phone call for a competitive race and for her service to the state.
“With their votes today, the people of North Carolina have sent a clear signal that the Biden agenda is wrong for America,” Budd said in an emailed statement. “It’s time to start creating jobs again instead of destroying jobs and I’m ready to fight for that in the US Senate.”
Republican leaders, including Sen. Thom Tillis, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and party Chairman Michael Whatley, joined Budd at his victory party at a Marriott hotel in Winston-Salem. Tillis, who will work alongside Budd in the chamber, told the newly elected senator’s supporters he believed Budd would help “heal the nation,” saying he “had no idea how bad things could get” in the first two years of the Biden administration.
Budd’s speech highlighted his desire to stop “Biden’s reckless spending,” support parents who want more say in their child’s education and reduce crime.
He also thanked former President Donald Trump and his family.
Key issues
In 2021, Trump surprised North Carolina Republicans by endorsing Budd at a speech in Greenville that helped lift Budd from a potential third-place candidate in the Republican primary to No. 1. In the May primary, Budd beat former Charlotte mayor and Gov. Pat McCrory, an early favorite, and former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker.
He also received large financial support from conservative super PAC Club for Growth, an organization that supported Budd in his campaigns for U.S. House
While support from the former president and the PAC were helpful in the primary, questions swirled about whether it would hurt Budd in the general election when he needed support from across the political spectrum. Budd is a member of the far-right Freedom Caucus and voted against certifying the election of President Joe Biden.
Polls continually showed the state’s voters were more concerned with pocketbook issues such as high gas and grocery prices. They largely blamed Biden and the Democratic Party for the state of both.
In a poll from Elon University, more than half of North Carolina voters polled gave the economy a letter grade of D or lower.
Others wondered if concerns over the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a landmark decision that had given people abortion rights, would be enough to push Democratic candidates to a win. Right now, the decision to legalize abortion has been left to the states and Elon found 53% of voters polled said they’d be somewhat or extremely dissatisfied if abortion were banned in North Carolina.
But that issue wasn’t enough to push Beasley ahead.
Beasley gathered supporters in Raleigh
Across the state in Raleigh, Beasley gathered her supporters at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown. She took the stage just after midnight to talk to supporters who cheered and chanted her name. The Associated Press called the race for Budd at 11:49 p.m. Tuesday.
Beasley confirmed she spoke to Budd just moments before speaking to supporters.
”I offered him my support and encouraged him to stand in the tradition of our state, to be an independent leader that puts North Carolina first,” Beasley said. “I am so proud of the race that we ran.
“While I am indeed disappointed, I am not defeated,”
Beasley said she remains resolved to fight for North Carolinians.
What does a Budd win mean?
Republicans needed a win from Budd in their goal to take the Senate majority in the 118th Congress. Budd’s victory maintains a GOP seat while the party tries to win races elsewhere.
Budd and Beasley spent the majority of the summer in a tight or tied race.
But Budd strengthened his lead over Beasley in polls following the candidates’ only debate, Oct. 7 on Spectrum News.
Over the weekend, East Carolina University released a poll that showed Budd leading Beasley 52% to 46%.
In the current Congress, Democrats hold the majority 51 to 50.
Just after 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, election results showed Democrats and Republicans were tied at 47 seats for the 118th Congress.
This story was originally published November 8, 2022 at 8:11 PM with the headline "‘Ready to fight.’ Republican Ted Budd wins Senate race in NC over Democrat Cheri Beasley."
.jpg)