According to the Associated Press, Ted Budd, R.-N.C. was the projected winner in the North Carolina Republican Senate primaries. This prediction was made tonight by Donald Trump. Budd was the winner in the crowd of 14 candidates, which also included former Republican Governor Pat McCrory as well as U.S. Rep. Mark Walker.
The Washington Times
Budd won the primary with more than 30 percent of the vote. This avoided Budd being in a runoff. He now advances to the November general election, where he’ll take on/is expected to take on Democrat Cheri Beasley, a former state Supreme Court chief justice. Beasley would be North Carolina’s first Black senator if elected in the Republican-leaning state.
According to Fox News Digital, Budd said President Trump’s backing was a big help:
It was huge, I believe. But it really helps especially when you work hard like we’ve done. We’ve stayed focused. We’ve worked hard. Stay humble and go out and ask people for their prayers, their support and their vote.”
Breitbart points out that the AP called the polls only twenty minutes after closing. “This was clearly a landslide, or blowout, election victory for both Budd and Trump,” they write.
Club for Growth Action also supported the congressman and celebrated his victory quickly:
VERY BIG congratulations @club4growth PAC-endorsed @TedBuddNCOn winning the #NCSENRepublican Primary North Carolina voters understood that Budd was the only principled conservative in the race who will stand up to Biden’s radical socialist agenda. #ncpol pic.twitter.com/qAGlnZPLYT
— Club for Growth (@club4growth) May 18, 2022
Budd will face Democrat and former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley, whom the Associated Press also projects as a winner tonight, in November’s general election. This contest will surely “again test former President Donald Trump’s influence in North Carolina,” they write.
Budd is already swinging, though.
General election underway quickly– @TedBuddNCMake calls @CheriBeasleyNCIn his acceptance speech, the radicalist liberal candidate in North Carolina was proclaimed. #ncsen #ncpol
— Tim Boyum (@TimBoyumTV) May 18, 2022
RedState is available for more election results all night.