Dead heat in NC race that could shake US Senate control

Senate control could come down to the ultimate North Carolina toss-up state with a former judge. Cheri Beasley and a Republican congressman. Ted Budd Trapped in an incredibly close race overshadowed by mud and hand squeezing in other marquee matchups.

MS. beasleythe Democrat boasts an impressive resume as the first black woman to serve as Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. she He also counts himself as one of the “reversible five” who could fill a very thin Democratic majority in the Senate.

Four other races, in which Republican incumbents are fighting to retain their seats in Wisconsin and Florida, have not been tested. Republican Party I am running for candidacy in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Beasley’s campaign said in a September fundraiser: “I joined forces with Mandela Burns, Val Demings, John Fetterman and Tim Ryan as the ‘Flippable Five’ to launch this in November. “Our election is the five best chances Democrats have to take seats this year, and each of us can end the filibuster and help families across this country.” We are committed to keeping the Senate functioning.”

Mr. Beasley must defeat Mr. Beasley. Badis a Republican who has represented the state’s 13th congressional district since 2017 and cleared the primary earlier this year with the backing of the former president. donald trumpwon North Carolina in both his presidential campaign.

Candidates are vying to replace Republican Senator Richard Burr, who is retiring after serving three terms.

The race has not received national attention. For one, Fetterman and Republican nominee Mehmet Oz are the correct names for a plate of raw vegetables, and the Democratic Party’s recent stroke is off limits.

But North Carolina will be the center of attention in the final months of the campaign. Both candidates are vying for support in recent Civitas polls. Bad and Beasley each received 42.3% support.

“It’s a dead heat. Of course, there are many races per cycle where the candidates are within margin of error, but I don’t recall a place where the candidates polled in exactly the same number,” says Western Carolina University. Christopher A. Cooper, professor of political science at “It doesn’t get any closer, at least when it comes to polling.”

The fierce competition reflects the position North Carolina occupies in American politics. Roy Cooper has a Democratic governor, and while commentators say the state is trending blue, he still has. playing cards Winning states in 2016 and 2020 defied the notion that there was a big sea change.

“Over the past decade, we’ve been running close in statewide elections, statewide elections, and we’ve had consistent Republican senator victories and consistent Republican Congresses. We had a Democratic governor and a Democratic state supreme court.” Political Science Professor at North Carolina State University.

Analysts said Beasley was the most active of the two candidates in the airwaves and campaign trail.Mr Bad It may be intentionally low, given the conventional wisdom that the president’s party does not work. his first intermediate.

Topline numbers show a close race, but inside Republican Party Vibrant voter numbers show that Republicans, including Trump, do. BadPaul Shoemaker, a longtime political adviser to Mr. Barr and Republican Senator Tom Tillis in North Carolina, said economic concerns have the upper hand in the state.

“Democrats have a turnout problem, so they’re trying to construct a narrative that things aren’t as bad as voters feel at the moment,” Shoemaker said. “The current political climate in North Carolina is stronger for Republicans than it was in 2014, when everyone believed Kay Hagan would win.”

Tillis defeated Hagan in that cycle by about 45,000 votes, denying the Democrats a second term.

The current election campaign is similar to the one being waged across the country on issues such as inflation, abortion and opinions on Biden and Trump. playing cards It fosters voter attitudes that often break along geographic boundaries.

“There is nothing too unique left in American electoral politics. Politics has been nationalized from dog catchers, and that nationalization is evident in this US Senate election,” Cooper said. “Cities vote beasley Rural areas with buds. Therefore, suburbs and suburban areas remain the only battlegrounds for control of the U.S. Senate.”

MS. beasley He is a former court-appointed attorney who became a judge. she In 2019, he was appointed Democratic governor as Chief Justice of North Carolina, but lost when he sought to expire his term in 2020. she Leveraging that legal experience to pitch campaigns she Be an impartial and independent senator and know how to “keep students in the classroom and out of court.”

Beasley’s campaign seized upon South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsay Graham’s plan to ban abortion after 15 weeks in the United States. Republican Party Despite claiming the issue is up to the states, they are keen on a nationwide ban.

In the campaign, Mr. Bad He does not support measures to ease the economic pain of Americans, such as allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices.

“Cheri’s unparalleled momentum and North Carolina-focused campaign are why she’s well-positioned to win in November. Bad struggling to survive his A dishonorable record of fighting to strip Americans of their constitutional liberties and opposing efforts to lower costs.” beasley Campaign spokeswoman Kelsey Hobson said:

Mr Bad describes himself as a “conservative fighter, small business owner, and family man.” he To tell his Experience operating shooting sports retail stores, training centers and shooting ranges he We know what it takes to meet your payroll and run your business.

Mr Bad I voted not to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election, he thinks Biden is the legitimate president.

Trump’s endorsement helped him. Bad But that was before the ex-president’s raids on his Florida estate and the ex-president’s growing legal troubles.

Mr Bad I’m not shunning the former president.Mr playing cards A rally will be held in Wilmington, North Carolina on September 23. Bad In contrast to Mr. Trump, he spends money to rouse his supporters. beasley‘s “schedule conflicts” whenever Biden administration figures are in state.

“president playing cards He’s driven North Carolina twice, so Amy Kate and I are thrilled he’s back in our great state and inspiring people as our campaign accelerates into its final stages. ” Bad said referring to wednesday his wife. “And in a bipartisan spirit, we welcome Joe Biden to campaign early and often. Cheri Beasley Thank you both personally and publicly she for support his ruinous economic policies. “

Mr Bad He said he leaned heavily into the economic debate. beasley This will become a “rubber stamp” on Biden’s agenda, causing prices for everything from rent to groceries to rise again.

The National Republican Senate Committee has condemned Beasley’s time on the bench as vulnerable to crime and said Democrats would again be disappointed on election night in Tarheel.

“Ted Budd Will win big in North Carolina Senate election he competing with candidates in Cheri Beasley Their judicial and legal record is abysmal and doesn’t meet the Joe Biden policies she didn’t love,” said NRSC spokesman TW Arrighi. “Democrats on making Carolina blue. It’s been a long time coming, but as they’ve learned in past cycles, the story is cheesy.”