Congressman Mark Walker Endorses Sandy Smith for Congress in 1st District Republican Primary

NC-01 – With congressional redistricting putting North Carolina’s 1st District in (more) play for Republicans than it has been in decades, the Republican primary has attracted multiple candidates hoping to challenge incumbent liberal Congressman G.K. Butterfield (D). Weighing in on the primary this week is Congressman Mark Walker (R-NC), as he endorse Sandy Smith in the primary battle.

Walker, who suffered the opposite fate in the redistricting saga and is sitting 2020 out himself, said of Smith:

“I fully endorse Sandy Smith for United States Congress in North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District. Sandy is a strong fighter for our Constitution, conservative values, and President Trump. She will be a strong conservative in the House and has my full support to replace G.K. Butterfield.”

Even with the improved odds provided by new district lines, they’re still long. Yet, giving the boot to one of the most liberal members of the U.S. House is worth the effort. There are four Republican primary candidates total:

• Ethan Baca
• James Glisson
• Michele Nix
• Sandy Smith

Two of which maybe familiar to parts of Eastern North Carolina. In addition to the 1st District, Smith briefly ran in the 3rd District Special Election primary in early 2019, as well as challenging Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) before filing for this race. Michelle Nix, former vice chair of the NCGOP, also ran in the 3rd District Republican primary.

Perhaps, the momentum of Trump reelection and a push back against the radicalism of the Left will combine to sweep Butterfield out of office. We’ll bring you more developments from this primary as the candidates jockey to be the one with the broom.