The candidate who finished first in the Republican nomination primary race for a North Carolina congressional seat says she’s suspending her campaign, citing her rival’s endorsement by former President Donald Trump in the runoff election.
Though Johnston County attorney Kelly Daughtry had the most votes among 14 candidates in the March 5 GOP primary for North Carolina 13th Congressional District, she did not reach the 30% threshold needed to win the primary outright.
She and Brad Knott, who finished second and is a former federal prosecutor, had advanced to the scheduled May 14 runoff.
Knott accepted Daughtry’s endorsement in his own statement but cautioned supporters who believed he was now the primary winner.
The seat for the reconfigured 13th District covers all or parts of eight counties.
The current 13th District is represented by first-term Democratic Rep. Wiley Nickel.
Nickel, however, declined to seek reelection, citing the North Carolina legislature’s redistricting last fall that skewed his district to the right politically.
The GOP runoff winner in the 13th District will still have a fall Democratic rival in Frank Pierce.
Citing her rival’s endorsement by former President Donald Trump in the runoff election, the front-runner in the Republican primary for a congressional seat in North Carolina announced that she would be suspending her campaign.
In the March 5 GOP primary for North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District, Kelly Daughtry, an attorney from Johnston County, received the most votes out of the 14 contenders; however, she fell short of the required 30 percent to win the primary outright. She had advanced to the runoff on May 14 along with former federal prosecutor Brad Knott, who came in second.
Following Trump’s official endorsement of Knott, Daughtry stated on social media that “it has become clear that a pathway to victory is no longer feasible.”. “.”.
“I cherish democracy and honor our President’s endorsement,” Daughtry continued.
Third-place primary finisher Fred Von Canon also endorsed Knott.
“It is now appropriate to halt my campaign,” Daughtry continued. “Brad has my utmost support, and I want him to know that I am not here to stand in his way. “.
It’s too late, though, to take Daughtry’s name off the ballot. Voting in person for the runoff is still open until May 11; absentee voting has been open for several weeks.
In a statement of his own, Knott acknowledged Daughtry’s support but issued a warning to those who thought he was now the clear winner. In 2022, Daughtry—daughter of former state legislative leader Leo Daughtry—tried in vain to win a congressional seat.
This election is still ongoing, Knott stated, despite Kelly’s campaign ending. “On May 14, I urge all of my supporters to cast ballots. “.
Eight counties are included in or partially covered by the 13th District seat, which has been reorganized. The boundaries, which are shaped like a horseshoe, encircle the majority of Raleigh, the state capital, and extend from Lee County to the Virginia border, going east and north.
Rep., a Democrat serving her first term in office, represents the 13th District. Nicole Wiley. Nonetheless, Nickel chose not to run for reelection, citing political redistricting in his district that occurred last fall due to actions taken by the North Carolina legislature towards that end. Other two Democratic incumbents in office are Reps. Speaking out against the GOP’s lopsidedness, Jeff Jackson and Kathy Manning claimed that their inability to win in November was another reason not to run.
Frank Pierce will continue to be the GOP nominee in the 13th District runoff. Nonetheless, the Democratic exits may have a significant impact on Republicans’ ability to hold onto their limited U.S. s. By 2025, the House will be majority.
