Republican Rep. Ted Budd has won North Carolina’s Senate race, defeating former state Supreme Court Justice Cheri Beasley (D) in the contest for the open seat vacated by Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC).
At points, the race was in a statistical tie in the polls, though the most recent surveys put Budd ahead. The 50-50 partisan divide of the current Senate means Republicans needed to defend every seat they have as they vie for a crucial 51st vote in the upper chamber.
Budd has represented North Carolina’s 13th District since 2017 but opted to run for Senate this cycle. He was endorsed by former President Donald Trump and said his reason for running was to oppose President Joe Biden’s agenda.
“I am gravely concerned about our country’s future, because North Carolina families, our values, and our jobs are under attack every day in Washington,” he said on his campaign website. “Joe Biden has proven to be extremely liberal and dangerously incompetent.”
Beasley centered her campaign on abortion access following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in June.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“With urgent threats to reproductive freedom, and hundreds of laws passed across the country aimed at restricting reproductive freedom, Cheri believes the Senate must take action to protect women’s constitutional rights,” her website says.
Education ranked as a top issue for North Carolina voters, according to Google trends, followed by crime, taxes, and inflation. Cook Political Report rated the race as “leans Republican” heading into Election Day.
