(Mark Pellin, Headline USA) U. S. Rep. Ted Budd rode a strong pro-liberty, America First message and an endorsement from former President Donald Trump to a huge win in North Carolina’s GOP Senate primary, while not even a Trump blessing could salvage the self-destructive implosion of Rep. Madison Cawthorn’s reelection bid.
Cawthorn, embattled by accusations, allegations and gun charges, along with the release of drunken lingerie photos and sexually explicit videos, conceded to state Sen. Chuck Edwards in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District primary.
Not even an early and repeated endorsement from Trump could save Cawthorn’s campaign, but if there were any doubts about the impact and pull of an America First MAGA message, they were put quickly to rest with Todd’s rout of former Gov. Pat McCrory and former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker.
Budd’s win was decisive, with the AP calling the results less than a half-hour after polls closed.
“This was clearly a landslide, or blowout, election victory for both Budd and Trump,” Breitbart reported.
Backed with a Trump endorsement and bolstered by support from Club for Growth, Budd outpaced the field with nearly 60% of the vote, McCrory trailing with 25% and Walker 9.2%.
“Ted Budd is an unrelenting champion for your North Carolina values,” Trump said. “And we will crush the radical Democrat nominee in November.”
Similar sentiments were voiced by N.C. Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson.
“I throw my entire weight and all of my support behind our representative, Ted Budd,” the hulking Robinson said during a campaign rally.
Congratulations to my friend Ted Budd on winning the Republican nomination for the US Senate. He is the common-sense candidate that will defeat the radical left in November! pic.twitter.com/eKaArzGrbK
— Mark Robinson (@markrobinsonNC) May 18, 2022
The North Carolina tilt, Budd more so than the blundering Cawthorn, was seen as another bellwether for gauging the influence and sway of Trump in the GOP.
“I think it was huge,” Budd said of the former president’s endorsement.
“But it really helps especially when you work hard like we’ve done. We’ve stayed focused. We’ve worked hard.
“Stay humble and go out and ask people for their prayers, their support and their vote.”
Budd moves on to face Democrat Cheri Beasley, a former chief justice of the state Supreme Court, in the general election.
“Joe Biden, Cheri Beasley, and the radical Leftists who pull their strings are making America woke and broke,” Budd wrote on Twitter after his win.
“I’m running for Senate to stop the madness, because working families need a fighter to stand up and crush the BROKEN BIDEN BEASLEY AGENDA once and for all.”
