July 8, 2022/Media, Press

Ted Budd is a “Weak” Candidate Gambling On “Extreme” Positions

Reporting this week reveals U.S. Senate candidate Congressman Ted Budd is focused on “doubling down on conservative positions” that are “out of touch” with mainstream North Carolina voters. Budd’s opposition to legislation that North Carolina’s current Republicans Senators Burr and Tillis support, including the gun safety compromise and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, represents a stark shift to the right and a “high-risk strategy” for a candidate in a swing state like North Carolina.

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Politico: GOP Senate hopefuls adopt a high-risk strategy for November

  • In many cases, facing their own fiercely competitive general election races, Republicans running this year are largely foregoing appeals to the center, instead doubling down on conservative positions — from opposing popular bipartisan reforms to celebrating the rollback of abortion rights.
  • The stark difference in rhetoric and policy positions between those outgoing senators and the Republicans back home running for their seats also illustrates the deeply polarizing approach being taken by a new crop of GOP candidates. 
  • It was the same story in North Carolina. Retiring GOP Sen. Richard Burr also backed the gun bill and infrastructure package. But Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), the nominee to succeed him, opposed both measures in the House and called the infrastructure plan “a liberal trojan horse for a socialist agenda.”

Daily Beast: Dems Always Swear They Can Win in NC. This Time They Mean It

  • Where Democratic strategists feel they have a strong candidate in Beasley, they also believe they have a weak candidate in the Republican nominee: Rep. Ted Budd, a third-term congressman who cruised to victory in the primary after winning former President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
  • Budd was one of the 147 members to vote against certifying the 2020 election results and, on top of being a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, he’s backed by the ultra-conservative PAC Club for Growth.
  • DSCC chair, told The Daily Beast that North Carolina is certainly a priority for the committee. “I’m getting a lot of excitement on the campaign trail, it’s a clear contrast between her and her opponent who is an extreme candidate. He’s out of touch with the majority of North Carolina voters… she’s gonna do extremely well,” Peters said. “She’s gonna build a lot of excitement on the journey.”

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