Today, North Carolina Democratic Party (NCDP) Chair Bobbie Richardson and State Senator Natalie Murdock held a virtual press call slamming Ted Budd for standing with former President Trump’s dangerous, dog-whistle comments at his Wilmington rally last week. 

“Let’s speak truth. No one uses the term ‘n-word’ to talk about nuclear weapons. Trump knows that and so does Ted Budd. And still, he stands with the former president using that term as he runs against Cheri Beasley – who would be the first African American woman to represent North Carolina in the U.S. Senate. This is the kind of poisonous rhetoric that has no place in North Carolina or our country,” said NCDP Chair Bobbie Richardson.

“North Carolina voters know Donald Trump and the dangerous ends he will go to inflame the public. Voters should know – this is who Ted Budd is, too. He was endorsed by Trump and proudly stands with him, even as he attempts to make ‘jokes’ about the n-word. It’s disgusting and poses a real threat to communities of color who have been targeted by white nationalism rhetoric like what we heard last Friday. We cannot let extreme politicians like Ted Budd get away with this,” said State Senator Natalie Murdock.

This week, Democratic leaders and outlets have called Budd’s actions “disqualifying” and a “race to the bottom,” writing that “Trump baited his own audience into exposing their bigotry” and “you certainly won’t see Budd criticizing” the former president for it. 

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