Congressional incumbents from North Carolina and a sitting Supreme Court Justice advance to November’s general election after winning their primary elections on Tuesday, June 7.
Rep. Renee Ellmers, however, lost her primary to Rep. George Holding from North Carolina’s 2nd congressional district, which includes Wake county. Ellmers was first elected in 2010 when the tea party took over the House. She is considered Donald Trump’s first endorsed candidate.
“I’m just really pleased with the result, really thankful for all the support,” Holding said in a victory speech to reporters.
As for his campaigning style, Holding said that it was in response to Ellmers negative campaigning.
“My record as a member of Congress was attacked. My votes were attacked and I had to respond to them,” Holding said.
He also thanked his supporters and volunteers.
“I try to vote in a conservative manner,” Holding said. “This primary gave me the opportunity to learn that people do notice. I’m just really pleased at the result, really thankful for all the support.”
According to abc11, voter turnout was low at two Wake Forest polling sites June 7. In the 2nd district, Holding brought in 53 percent of the 16,000 votes, Ellmers brought in 24 percent of the votes, with 7,527 votes, and Greg Brannon brought in 23 percent of the votes, with 7,320 votes, according to CBS North Carolina and Associated Press. All three incumbents are republican.
Edie Benchabbat, a Holdings supporter, told WNCN that she thinks Washington changed Ellmers, and was unhappy with Ellmers support for Trump.
In a statement, Ellmers thanked her supporters and voiced her support again for Donald Trump.
“My loyalty is, and has always been, to my constituents, not to the Washington special interest groups or their deep pockets,” Ellmers said. “I have sought to be an effective legislator, providing common sense conservative solutions to everyday problems. Today the special interest groups, super PACs and their deep pockets won. However, their days are numbered as I roll up my sleeves to help elect Donald Trump as our next president to shake up the status quo in Washington.”
The court-ordered redistricting in February moved Ellmers’ 2nd District to the north and east, absorbing much of the 13th district, Holden’s District. Holden is expected to win the Republican leaning district in the November general election, where he will go against Democrat Raleigh attorney John McNeil.
A federal court panel invalidated maps of two North Carolina districts and ruled them unconstitutional due to racially discriminatory and unnecessary voter ID law and other unfair electoral restrictions. A three-judge panel barred elections in North Carolina’s 1st and 12th Congressional Districts until new maps are approved. These maps have been previously challenged in court for gerrymandering, according to the News & Observer.
Other winners for U.S. House of Representatives on June 7’s primary include District 3’s Republican Walter B. Jones, and Democrat Ernest T. Reeves. As for District 5, Sue Googe, Republican, and Virginia Foxx, Democrat, won the US House of Representatives primary for their parties. In District 8, Richard Hudson, Republican, and Robert Pittenger, Democrat, won their U.S. House of Representatives primary.
“For years, partisan gerrymandering has led to costly litigation and deprived North Carolina voters of having a real choice and a voice in our elections,” said Bob Phillips, the executive director of Common Cause North Carolina, according to the News & Observer. “Fortunately, a growing number of citizens and leaders across the political spectrum agree that North Carolina should adopt an independent redistricting process.”
Common Cause North Carolina is a group that advocates for government transparency and accountability.
