Could Mark Walker Challenge Ted Budd in NC 13?

NC-13 – Congressman Mark Walker (R-NC) got the short end of the stick when it came to congressional redistricting. He won his last election in North Carolina’s 6th Congressional District by double digits, but now faces a new map with 60/40 Democrat advantage. So, what to do? Well, it looks like Walker is considering whether he should follow a good many of his Republican voters, who were drawn out of the 6th and over to the 13th District.

That seat, though, is currently held by conservative Rep. Ted Budd.

Just talked to Mark Walker about potentially running against fellow North Carolina Republican Ted Budd after redistricting.

“We’re watching where our constituency base has been put. The majority has been put in what is now the 13th [district], so we’re working on the options.”

— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) December 4, 2019

Budd is no stranger to Republican primary scrums; he emerged from a primary field of 16 or so candidates to go on to win his first election to Congress. He is one of the most conservative members of Republican delegation from North Carolina, while Walker has arguably been one more inclined to climb the ranks within the Republican establishment. That is how the contrast would be drawn for that hypothetical match up, but the other options Walker says they are working on could paint a different picture entirely.

Walker originally intimated interest in challenging Senator Thom Tillis in 2020, before backing off. That match up option, however, would put him against the least popular senator in the country; make Walker a bona fide conservative by comparison in the primary; and represent a statewide race where his national fundraising networks could be leveraged to present him as a much more palatable choice for North Carolina.

The filing period began earlier this week, so we will know soon enough which primary battles will draw the most firepower.