RALEIGH, N.C. — Rep. Ted Budd became North Carolina’s next U.S. senator Tuesday night.
Budd held 50.72% of the vote over former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley’s 47.06% with 2,627 of the state’s 2,655 precincts reporting. The Associated Press called the race for Budd at 11:49 p.m.
“I am beyond grateful for your unwavering support throughout this election,” Budd told his supporters in an email. “I mean it from the bottom of my heart when I say that we could not have done this without committed friends like you. Our victory tonight sends a clear message that North Carolinians are ready for a new direction in Washington.”
Beasley had an early, small lead in North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race after the Board of Elections released totals from early voting and mail-in absentee ballots and about one-third of the state’s precincts.
“I’m so grateful for the outpouring of support from all of you today,” Beasley tweeted in a video message to her supporters immediately after polls closed. “Now lets go make history.”
“I’m so grateful for the outpouring of support from all of you today,” Beasley tweeted in a video message to her supporters immediately after polls closed. “Now lets go make history.”
Beasley is a Democrat and former N.C. Supreme Court chief justice from Raleigh. Budd is a Republican from Advance in Davie County who represents the 13th Congressional District. Budd will replace retiring Republican Sen. Richard Burr.
Watch parties
As results came in, Budd’s supporters crowded the hallways and a conference room at the Marriot in Winston-Salem.
Former state Sen. Fred Smith said though the economy has emerged as a major issue in North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race, he sees it as something more.
“We have a culture war in this election,” said Smith, who ran for governor in 2008 but lost in the Republican primary to Pat McCrory. “Economies come and go.”
Beasley gathered supporters at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Raleigh where people danced together and listened to speakers from the Democratic Party.
Bobbie Richardson, chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party said, “this year we’ve had a fight like never before,” citing the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
“You know all the issues, you know what is at stake,” Richardson said. “What we want for this state and for this country is on the ballot. There is perhaps no woman whose character shines brighter than that of Cheri Beasley.”
Attorney General Josh Stein spoke about the importance of races across the state saying the work they did was important for the future of the state and the country.
Just past 10 p.m., former Republican N.C. Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr took the stage. He said the election was safe and secure. Despite this, “a threat to democracy does not end tonight regardless of the election results,” Orr said.
No matter who wins across this country, the challenge for everyone is to “saddle back up and get ready for 2024,” he said.
Following Orr, Democratic US House Rep. Deborah Ross spoke. The AP called the race for the 2nd House District in her favor.
"The night is young,” Ross said. “We know those ballots come in past midnight. The good thing is that North Carolina is on offense for the U.S. Congress. We are gonna add two seats to the U.S. House of Representatives, we are gonna add Cheri Beasley to the U.S. Senate.“
What does a Budd win mean?
Republicans hope to gain the Senate majority in the 2022 election. Budd’s victory maintains a GOP seat while the party tries to win races elsewhere.
The candidates spent the majority of the summer in a tight or tied race. But Budd strengthened his lead over Beasley in polls following the candidates’ one and only debate on Spectrum News, Oct. 7.
Over the weekend, East Carolina University released a poll that showed Budd leading Beasley 52% to 46%.
Beasley raised more money than Budd throughout the campaign, taking in more than $34.4 million to Budd’s more than $12.6 million.
How did issues help candidates?
American’s dissatisfaction with the economy could help secure a win for Budd tonight as some voters place the blame for the high price of gas and groceries at the feet of the president and the Democratic Party, by association.
In a poll from Elon University, more than half of North Carolina voters polled gave the economy a letter grade of D or lower.
But abortion became another major issue in Tuesday’s election. In June, The U.S. Supreme Court overturned a landmark case that gave people the right to abortions. Right now, the decision to legalize abortion has been left to the states and Elon found that 53% of voters polled said they’d be somewhat or extremely dissatisfied if abortion was banned in North Carolina.
Other key concerns in the election is the country’s democracy and Budd’s endorsement by former President Donald Trump and his decision to vote against the election certification of President Joe Biden following the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Pollsters also heard from North Carolina voters about concerns about crime, the environment, guns, foreign policy and energy, but to a lesser extent.
