Senate Race Tightens in North Carolina as Democrat Beasley Closes on Budd

Democrats think they’ve now got a shot at an open seat in Republican-leaning North Carolina to help them seize the closely divided U.S. Senate.

Earlier on Democrats seemed to think the race to replace retiring Republican Sen. Richard Burr was a low priority. They didn’t spend much money in the state.

But former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley, the Democratic nominee, is closing on Republican Congressman Ted Budd who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

The Real Clear Politics poll average shows her behind Budd by fewer than 4 percentage points, near the margin of error.

And more money is now flowing in on her side.

North Carolina GOP candidate for Senate, Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC) celebrates his Republican nomination at a Primary election night watch party on May 17, 2022 in Bermuda Run, North Carolina. (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)

Beasley had raised $15.9 million as of June 30 to Budd’s $6.3 million. Budd, though, has more outside support in his race, with $8.8 million being spent on his behalf but not donated directly to his campaign. Beasley has only $2.3 million in such outside support, and $6.3 million in such money working against her, according to the Open Secrets campaign finance website.

Beasley is still somewhat of a long shot, said Michael Bitzer, a political science professor at Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina.

“Democrats are defending states like Georgia, Arizona, and New Mexico, and to put resources in a state pretty much an uphill climb for a Democrat, they may look at it and say, ‘Where’s our best investment?’” Bitzer said.

Beasley proved overwhelmingly popular with Democrat primary voters. In a 10-candidate race, she received over 80 percent of the vote.

“She’s the first African-American female ever to lead the ticket” in North Carolina,

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