Two GOP congressional primaries in NC likely headed to runoffs

Primary season isn’t over yet. Campaigning will likely continue in a few pockets of the state. 

Republican Kelly Daughtry came out on top of the pile of 14 candidates running in the 13th congressional district primary. She received about 27% of the vote, short of the 30%-plus-one needed to avoid a runoff. Brad Knott placed second, with close to 19%. Daughtry is a Johnston County lawyer and Knott is a former federal prosecutor. 

CBS17 reported Knott will request a runoff. 

Republicans in the state legislature redrew the district to make it a safe Republican seat. First-term incumbent Democratic Congressman Wiley Nickel decided not to run in a district he could not win. The district looks like a crooked, backward “C” that loops around Raleigh and Durham, and Orange and Alamance Counties. 

Daughtry loaned her campaign more than $2 million, according to federal campaign finance reports. Knott raised $736,000, including a $250,000 loan to his campaign. 

Outside spending was significant in this primary. For example, a group called the American Foundations Committee spent about $801,600 to boost Knott and a total of $763,800 to oppose Daughtry and third-place finisher Fred Von Canon, according to Open Secrets. 

In the 6th Congressional District, Donald Trump-endorsed lobbyist Addison McDowell claimed the top spot in a six-way race with 26% of the vote. Former US Rep. Mark Walker, looking to reclaim his old seat, was second with 24%.

Republicans also redrew this district to make it safe for Republican candidates. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Manning decided not to run again, calling the congressional districts Republicans produced “egregiously gerrymandered.”

Walker suggested to his campaign supporters Tuesday night that the race would go to a runoff, WXII reported. 

The victor will determine who goes to Congress. The winning candidate in the 6th District primary faces no opposition in November. 

Two pending lawsuits claim Republicans violated the law in creating the 6th District because it dilutes the power of Black voters. Those cases will not be decided before the November election.

Any runoffs will be held May 14. Only the top two candidates in each primary go to a runoff.