United States Senate election in North Carolina, 2022

Elections in North Carolina, 2022

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U.S. Senate, North Carolina

Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: March 4, 2022
Primary: May 17, 2022
Primary runoff: July 5, 2022
General: November 8, 2022
How to vote
Poll times: 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Voting in North Carolina
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Lean Republican
Inside Elections: Tilt Republican
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Lean Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2022
See also
U.S. Senate, North Carolina
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th • 13th • 14th
North Carolina elections, 2022
U.S. Congress elections, 2022
U.S. Senate elections, 2022
U.S. House elections, 2022

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U.S. Rep. Ted Budd (R) defeated former state supreme court justice Cheri Beasley (D) and seven other candidates in the general election for U.S. Senate in North Carolina on November 8, 2022.

Budd was first elected to North Carolina's 13th Congressional District in 2016 and was re-elected in 2018 and 2020. Prior to serving in the U.S. House, Budd worked as an investment analyst and owner of a gun range and store.[1] Budd said he was running because he was "gravely concerned about our country’s future, because North Carolina families, our values, and our jobs are under attack every day in Washington."[2]

Beasley served as a North Carolina district court justice from 1999 to 2008 and as a judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals from 2008 to 2012. Gov. Bev Perdue (D) appointed Beasley to the North Carolina Supreme Court in 2012, where she was chief justice from 2019 to 2020. Beasley also worked as an assistant public defender and a partner at McGuireWoods LLP.[3][4] Beasley said she was running to "fight to lower costs, create good-paying jobs and expand access to affordable, quality health care in every part of North Carolina."[5]

Incumbent Sen. Richard Burr (R)—who first took office in 2005—did not seek re-election, which made this an open seat race. In 2020, incumbent Sen. Thom Tillis (R) defeated Cal Cunningham (D), 49% to 47%. In 2016, Burr defeated Deborah Ross (D), 51% to 45%.

The 2020 and 2016 presidential elections in North Carolina were both decided by less than 4 percentage points. In the 2020 election, incumbent President Donald Trump (R) won the state over President Joe Biden (D), 49.9% to 48.6%. In the 2016 election, Trump carried North Carolina with 49.8% of the vote to Hillary Clinton's (D) 46.2%. At the start of the 2022 election cycle, Inside Elections rated this state Battleground Republican.[6]

The outcome of this race affected the partisan balance of the U.S. Senate in 2022. Democrats retained their majority and gained one net seat, with the Senate's post-election partisan balance at 51 Democrats and 49 Republicans.

Thirty-five of 100 seats were up for election, including one special election.[7] At the time of the election, Democrats had an effective majority, with the chamber split 50-50 and Vice President Kamala Harris (D) having the tie-breaking vote.[8] Of the seats up for election in 2022, Democrats held 14 and Republicans held 21.

Minor party, independent, and write-in candidates included Matthew Hoh (G), Shannon Bray (L), and independent candidates Hayden Boyette, Michelle Lewis, Kimrey Rhinehardt, Brenda Rodriguez, and Marc White.

Matthew Hoh (G) and Shannon Bray (L) completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. To read those survey responses, click here.

For more information about the primaries in this election, click on the links below:

* United States Senate election in North Carolina, 2022 (May 17 Democratic primary)
* United States Senate election in North Carolina, 2022 (May 17 Republican primary)

## Contents

* 1 Election news
* 2 Candidates and election results
* 3 Voting information
* 4 Candidate comparison
* 4.1 Candidate profiles
* 4.2 Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses
* 4.3 Campaign advertisements
* 4.3.1 Cheri Beasley
* 4.3.2 Ted Budd
* 4.4 Debates and forums
* 4.4.1 October 7 debate
* 5 Election competitiveness
* 5.1 Polls
* 5.2 General election race ratings
* 6 Noteworthy endorsements
* 7 Election spending
* 7.1 Campaign finance
* 7.2 Satellite spending
* 8 Election analysis
* 9 Presidential elections
* 9.1 Cook PVI by congressional district
* 9.2 2020 presidential results by 2022 congressional district lines
* 9.3 2012-2020
* 9.4 Historical voting trends
* 10 Statewide elections
* 10.1 U.S. Senate elections
* 10.2 Gubernatorial elections
* 11 State partisanship
* 11.1 Congressional delegation
* 11.2 State executive
* 11.3 State legislature
* 11.3.1 North Carolina State Senate
* 11.3.2 North Carolina House of Representatives
* 11.4 Trifecta control
* 12 Demographics
* 12.1 Election context
* 12.1.1 Ballot access requirements
* 12.1.2 Election history
* 12.1.2.1 2020
* 12.1.2.2 2016
* 12.1.2.3 2014
* 12.1.2.4 2010
* 12.2 2022 battleground elections
* 12.3 See also
* 12.4 External links
* 12.5 Footnotes

## Election news[edit]

Click below to view a timeline leading up to the election, including polling, debates, and other noteworthy events.

* November 9, 2022: U.S. Rep. Ted Budd (R) was projected as the winner over former state supreme court justice Cheri Beasley (D) and seven other candidates in the November 8, 2022, general election for the United States Senate from North Carolina.

* November 1, 2022: Meredith College released a poll of 724 likely voters showing Ted Budd with 44%, Cheri Beasley with 43%, and 9% undecided. The margin of error was ± 3.4 percentage points.[9]

* October 27, 2022: Pre-general election campaign finance filings were due. Beasley reported raising $34.3 million and spending $31.2 million and Budd reported raising $12.7 million and spending $12.6 million in 2021 and 2022.[10][11]

* October 26, 2022: The Marist Institute for Public Opinion released a poll of 899 likely voters showing Ted Budd with 49%, Cheri Beasley with 45%, and 5% undecided. The margin of error was ± 4.2 percentage points.[12]

* October 25, 2022: Cygnal released a poll of 650 likely voters showing Ted Budd with 47%, Cheri Beasley with 43%, and 7% undecided. The margin of error was ± 3.79 percentage points.[13]

* October 19, 2022: The Trafalgar Group released a poll of 1,081 likely voters showing Ted Budd with 48%, Cheri Beasley with 44%, and 5% undecided. The margin of error was ± 2.9 percentage points.[14]

* Click to expand a timeline of earlier election updates

* October 17, 2022: ECU's Center for Survey Research released a poll of 902 likely voters showing Ted Budd with 50%, Cheri Beasley with 44% and 7% undecided. The margin of error was ± 3.8 percentage points.[15]
* October 15, 2022: Quarterly campaign finance filings were due. Beasley reported raising $29.4 million and spending $26.0 million and Budd reported raising $11.3 million and spending $9.4 million in 2021 and 2022.[16][17]
* October 14, 2022: Wick Insights released a poll of 1,009 likely voters showing Ted Budd with 49%, Cheri Beasley with 44%, and 7% undecided. The margin of error was ± 3.1 percentage points.[18]
* October 7, 2022: Beasley and Budd participated in a debate sponsored by Spectrum News 1 North Carolina.[19]
* October 4, 2022: SurveyUSA released a poll of 650 likely voters showing Cheri Beasley with 44%, Ted Budd with 40%, and 14% undecided. The margin of error was ± 5.1 percentage points.[20]
* September 20, 2022: Emerson College Polling released a poll of 1,000 likely voters showing Ted Budd with 46%, Cheri Beasley with 43% and 9% undecided. The margin of error was ± 3 percentage points.[21]
* September 13, 2022: ECU's Center for Survey Research released a poll of 1,020 likely voters showing Ted Budd with 49%, Cheri Beasley with 46% and 6% undecided. The margin of error was ± 3.6 percentage points.[22]
* August 18, 2022: Cygnal released a poll of 615 likely voters showing Ted Budd with 42%, Cheri Beasley with 42%, and 13% undecided. The margin of error was ± 3.9 percentage points.[23]
* August 2, 2022: Senate Majority PAC announced that they would spend $700,000 on television ads opposing Budd.[24]
* July 15, 2022: Quarterly campaign finance filings were due with the Federal Election Commission. Beasley reported raising $16.0 million and spending $11.2 million and Budd reported raising $6.5 million and spending $5.8 million over the course of the election cycle.
* July 1, 2022: The Trafalgar Group released a poll of 1,068 likely voters showing Ted Budd with 48%, Cheri Beasley with 45%, and 3% undecided. The margin of error was ± 2.9 percentage points.[25]
* June 19, 2022: Cygnal released a poll of 600 likely voters showing Ted Budd with 45%, Cheri Beasley with 40%, and 11% undecided. The margin of error was ± 3.95 percentage points.[26]
* June 13, 2022: SurveyUSA released a poll of 650 likely voters showing Cheri Beasley with 44%, Ted Budd with 40%, and 14% undecided. The margin of error was ± 5.1 percentage points.[27]
* May 23, 2022: ECU's Center for Survey Research released a poll of 635 registered voters showing Ted Budd with 47%, Cheri Beasley with 39% and 12% undecided. The margin of error was ± 4.5 percentage points.[28]
* May 17, 2022: Cheri Beasley won the Democratic primary and U.S. Rep. Ted Budd won the Republican primary

## Candidates and election results[edit]

#### General election

##### General election for U.S. Senate North Carolina

Ted Budd defeated Cheri Beasley, Shannon Bray, Matthew Hoh, and Michelle Lewis in the general election for U.S. Senate North Carolina on November 8, 2022.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

| Ted Budd (R) |

50.5

| 1,905,786

| Cheri Beasley (D) |

47.3

| 1,784,049

| Shannon Bray (L) |

1.4

| 51,640

| Matthew Hoh (G) |

0.8

| 29,934

| Michelle Lewis (Independent) (Write-in) |

0.0

| 137
|  | Other/Write-in votes|

0.1

| 2,378

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 3,773,924

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

#### Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

* Michele Parks (Independent)
* Marc White (Independent)
* Charles Roberson (Independent)
* Susan Gaddy (Independent)
* Brenda Rodriguez (Independent)
* Hayden Boyette (Independent)
* Barry Caulder (Independent)
* Kimrey Rhinehardt (Independent)
* Adrien Meadows (Independent)

#### Democratic primary election

#####  Democratic primary for U.S. Senate North Carolina

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate North Carolina on May 17, 2022.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

| Cheri Beasley|

81.1

| 501,766

| James Carr Jr. |

3.5

| 21,903

| Alyssia Hammond|

3.4

| 21,005

| Marcus Williams|

2.8

| 17,446

| Constance Johnson |

2.0

| 12,500

| Everette Newton|

1.6

| 10,043

| Chrelle Booker|

1.6

| 9,937

| Brendan K. Maginnis |

1.1

| 7,044

| Robert Colon|

1.1

| 6,904

| Greg Antoine|

0.8

| 5,179

| Tobias LaGrone|

0.8

| 5,048

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 618,775

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

#### Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

* Jenna Hamrick (D)
* Richard Watkins (D)
* Keith Davenport (D)
* Erica Smith (D)
* Jeff Jackson (D)
* Ava Edwards (D)

#### Republican primary election

#####  Republican primary for U.S. Senate North Carolina

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate North Carolina on May 17, 2022.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

| Ted Budd|

58.6

| 448,128

| Pat McCrory|

24.6

| 188,135

| Mark Walker|

9.2

| 70,486

| Marjorie K. Eastman |

2.9

| 22,535

Submit photo

| David Flaherty|

1.0

| 7,265

| Kenneth Harper Jr.|

0.9

| 7,129

| Jennifer Banwart|

0.4

| 3,088

Submit photo

| Charles Moss|

0.4

| 2,920

| Leonard L. Bryant |

0.4

| 2,906

| Benjamin Griffiths |

0.4

| 2,870

| Debora Tshiovo|

0.4

| 2,741

| Lee Brian|

0.3

| 2,232

| Lichia Sibhatu |

0.3

| 2,191

Submit photo

| Drew Bulecza|

0.3

| 2,022

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 764,648

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

#### Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

* Rene Borghese (R)
* James Gaghan (R)
* Carlton Ellerby (R)
* Marty Cooke (R)
* Jon Warren (R)
* Len McBride (R)

#### Libertarian primary election

The Libertarian primary election was canceled. Shannon Bray advanced from the Libertarian primary for U.S. Senate North Carolina.

## Voting information[edit]

See also: Voting in North Carolina

Election information in North Carolina: Nov. 8, 2022, election.

What was the voter registration deadline?

* In-person: Oct. 14, 2022
* By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 14, 2022
* Online: Oct. 14, 2022

Was absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

N/A

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

* In-person: Nov. 1, 2022
* By mail: Received by Nov. 1, 2022
* Online: Nov. 1, 2022

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

* In-person: Nov. 8, 2022
* By mail: Postmarked by Nov. 8, 2022

Was early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What were the early voting start and end dates?

Oct. 20, 2022 to Nov. 5, 2022

Were all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, was a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When were polls open on Election Day?

N/A

## Candidate comparison[edit]

### Candidate profiles[edit]

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Cheri Beasley

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office:

* North Carolina Supreme Court chief justice (2019-2021)
* North Carolina Supreme Court associate justice (2012-2019)

* North Carolina Court of Appeals justice (2009-2012)
* North Carolina District Court judge (1999-2008)

Biography: Beasley received a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University, a J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law, and a Master of Laws from Duke University. Her professional experience includes serving as a North Carolina supreme court, court of appeals, and district court justice and a partner at McGuireWoods LLP.

* * *

Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

* * *

Beasley's campaign website said, "Cheri supports expanding the Affordable Care Act with a public option, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, and protecting coverage for pre-existing conditions."

* * *

On her campaign website, Beasley listed her top priorities, saying that "she’ll fight to lower costs, create good-paying jobs and expand access to affordable, quality health care in every part of North Carolina."

* * *

Beasley listed creating jobs as a campaign priority on her website, saying, "Cheri will fight for investments in infrastructure and renewable energy to create good-paying jobs, increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour and expanding training, certification and apprenticeship programs."

* * *

Show sources

Sources: Cheri Beasley, U.S. Senate, "Issues," accessed August 2, 2022; Cheri Beasley, U.S. Senate, "Home," accessed August 2, 2022; ; Linkedin, "Cheri Beasley," accessed August 2, 2022; Cheri Beasley, U.S. Senate, "Meet Cheri Beasley," accessed August 2, 2022;

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. Senate North Carolina in 2022.

Ted Budd

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office:

U.S. House of Representatives \- North Carolina's 13th Congressional District (Assumed office: 2017)

Biography: Budd received a B.S. from Appalachian State University, an M.A. from the Dallas Theological Seminary, and an M.B.A. from Wake Forest University. He owned a shooting range and gun store in Rural Hall, North Carolina.

* * *

Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

* * *

Budd's campaign website said, "As the owner of ProShots gun store and range, Ted is tired of politicians treating law-abiding gun owners like criminals. He will never waver in defense of the Second Amendment and our hunting heritage."

* * *

In a campaign ad, Budd said, "As your Senator, I won’t back down until our border is secured and the wall is finished. That’s a promise."

* * *

Budd's campaign website said, "As a small business owner who knows how hard it is to make payroll and provide for your own family, Ted has the back of every job creator in the state. High taxes and debilitating, unnecessary red tape kill jobs."

* * *

Show sources

Sources: Ted Budd U.S. Senate, "CUTTING TAXES, WASTE, AND RED TAPE," accessed April 6, 2022; Ted Budd U.S. Senate, "DEFENDING THE SECOND AMENDMENT," accessed April 6, 2022; Facebook, Ted Budd, March 23, 2022; Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "BUDD, Theodore Paul," accessed April 6, 2022; Twitter, Ted Budd's campaign account, accessed April 6, 2022

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. Senate North Carolina in 2022.

Shannon Bray

Party: Libertarian Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography: "Shannon Bray is a veteran of the US Navy. After leaving the service, Shannon invested his education in information technology serving many roles through software development to management. He is known in the cryptography and blockchain spaces. He is an author, speaker, and professional coach now living in Apex, NC with his wife, Stephanie, and his 3 children: Eden, Hayden, and Kenna. Shannon is a big advocate in limited the power of the government and hopes to introduce technological ideas to help make government more transparent."

* * *

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

* * *

Economy/Inflation

* * *

Transparency in Government

* * *

End involvement in foreign wars

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. Senate North Carolina in 2022.

Matthew Hoh

Party: Green Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography: "I am a disabled Marine Corps combat veteran running as a first-time candidate to represent the people of North Carolina in the US Senate."

* * *

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

* * *

It is hard to think of a problem that doesn't have a solution in our country. However, solutions can't be enacted because of the political and financial corruption endemic in our two-party system. 62% of Americans want a third party in power, so please join and support this campaign for political independence from the lesser of two evils political racket to build expansive, fair and inclusive democracy.

* * *

For decades, government policies have made corporations and the wealthy richer while working-class families struggle. We must reverse these policies and give working families ownership in their lives. All Americans should have a foundation of equality and equity that begins with healthcare, education, housing and livable wages as human rights. This includes a universal and comprehensive single-payer health care system, a Green Reconstruction, student and medical debt cancellation, a guarantee of housing as a human right, free higher education, and wages that allow families to thrive and stay consistent with inflation increases, especially housing costs, and productivity gains.

* * *

We have witnessed no accountability or justice for the overseas wars of the last two decades; the failed War on Drugs, which now delivers 100,000 dead Americans through overdoses every year; a criminal for-profit healthcare system that was broken and failing before the pandemic; an existential climate crisis; and on and on. We must hold accountable those who have been in power and brought us to this point. We must heal, rebuild, and provide for the people, including future generations. Actual ownership of our political system by the people necessarily involves seeking justice and responsibility for past crimes and wrongdoing, something that has not occurred under either Democrat or Republican governments.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. Senate North Carolina in 2022.

Michelle Lewis

Party: Independent

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography: "Michelle is from the Outer Banks of North Carolina. She is a former Law Enforcement Officer and completed her undergraduate degree at Elizabeth City State University, and a Master of Arts Degree from Regent University, Master of Environmental Science Degree from Yale School of the Environment, Master of Divinity Degree from Yale Divinity School and, completed her doctoral work at Emory University."

* * *

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

* * *

Let's bring North Carolina together. Every person has the right to have their voice heard, and their vote counted.

* * *

Comprehensive Criminal Justice Reform is necessary to make our communities safer.

* * *

Clean water is a necessity for every person.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. Senate North Carolina in 2022.

### Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses[edit]

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Expand all | Collapse all

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Shannon Bray (L)

Economy/Inflation

Transparency in Government

End involvement in foreign wars

Matthew Hoh (G)

It is hard to think of a problem that doesn't have a solution in our country. However, solutions can't be enacted because of the political and financial corruption endemic in our two-party system. 62% of Americans want a third party in power, so please join and support this campaign for political independence from the lesser of two evils political racket to build expansive, fair and inclusive democracy.

For decades, government policies have made corporations and the wealthy richer while working-class families struggle. We must reverse these policies and give working families ownership in their lives. All Americans should have a foundation of equality and equity that begins with healthcare, education, housing and livable wages as human rights. This includes a universal and comprehensive single-payer health care system, a Green Reconstruction, student and medical debt cancellation, a guarantee of housing as a human right, free higher education, and wages that allow families to thrive and stay consistent with inflation increases, especially housing costs, and productivity gains.

We have witnessed no accountability or justice for the overseas wars of the last two decades; the failed War on Drugs, which now delivers 100,000 dead Americans through overdoses every year; a criminal for-profit healthcare system that was broken and failing before the pandemic; an existential climate crisis; and on and on. We must hold accountable those who have been in power and brought us to this point. We must heal, rebuild, and provide for the people, including future generations. Actual ownership of our political system by the people necessarily involves seeking justice and responsibility for past crimes and wrongdoing, something that has not occurred under either Democrat or Republican governments.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Shannon Bray (L)

I am passionate about how money flows through our systems and how fiat money supplied by the government is often manipulated to support government overprinting. I believe the state of our current crisis' are due to a lack of government transparency, the influence of big pharma on government, and the government putting extra cash into the economic system and expecting the lower and middle class to pick up the tab through inflation and recession. Both democratic and republican parties believe the Fed is the right answer; the fed raises rates making it harder for poor people to pay their bills. I would like to return cash back to the middle and lower classes through tax reduction. Inflation is a tax on the lower and middle class that is imposed on them through the mishandling of an economy. It take many years to end up in our current state. We need new ideas on how we choose our currencies. We need to decentralize our money from government to achieve personal liberty from government control.

Matthew Hoh (G)

First, it is holding elected and government officials, including generals and admirals, accountable.

Second, it is ensuring all Americans have a lifetime foundation of healthcare, education, housing and livable wages as human rights.

Third, it is the understanding that without protecting the planet and our shared future, none of this has any meaning.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Shannon Bray (L)

In our current government, I look to follow Thomas Massie, Ron Paul, and Justin Amash. These gentlemen are leaders in personal liberty and understand the challenges we face in our future. Each have their own set of winning traits and each have shown incredible leadership. If they were on my ballot, I would not challenge them; they represent the best of our representatives.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Matthew Hoh (G)

I have been positively influenced by many works of art, philosophy and history, as well as by historical events. What stands out in my mind as I answer this question are: John Brown's speech at his trial in 1859; Leo Tolstoy's The Kingdom of God is Within You; Martin Luther King's Beyond Vietnam sermon; TH White's The Once and Future King/The Book of Merlyn; Franklin Roosevelt's call for a Second Bill of Rights; Roxanna Dunbar-Ortiz's An Indigenous People's History of the United States; the Proclamation of Irish Independence in 1916; and Bree Newsome's removal of the Confederate Flag in South Carolina in 2015.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Matthew Hoh (G)

The first characteristic for me is integrity. An elected official must also have a purpose based on well-stated and clearly expressed principles and political philosophy. Integrity and purpose must be informed by life experience with significant hardships and suffering that have taught the elected official humility and compassion while strengthening their will and ability to overcome moral and political challenges.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Matthew Hoh (G)

Punch up and not down.

A US senator should represent and defend the public, including the public's air, water and land, the working family, and the individual. This has not been the case in the past and is undoubtedly not today's reality.

As North Carolina's US senator, I will be unrecognizable from the other 99 men and women in the US Senate. I will protect and promote the people of North Carolina while holding accountable members of Congress and the President. I will perform critical and harsh oversight on federal agencies, especially the Pentagon, the intelligence agencies and federal law enforcement, and I will always put workers, their families and our planet before any corporation or bank.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Shannon Bray (L)

The first historical event, outside being born of course, is the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan which happened on March 21, 1981. I was 9 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Shannon Bray (L)

My first job was at Rouses Supermarket in Thibodaux, Louisiana. I started working while in high school.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Matthew Hoh (G)

Due to my experiences in the Iraq war and my time in the Marine Corps, I suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other "invisible" wounds. I have spoken openly and honestly about these issues for many years. I have found that talking publicly about my struggles with these disabilities has strengthened me. Speaking publicly has also helped others, just as I have been helped by others sharing about their disabilities and recoveries.

The TBI was very debilitating. Due to daily migraines, extreme fatigue and cognitive dysfunction, among other symptoms, I was unable to earn a paycheck for nearly five years. This was a very humbling and trying experience; however, thanks to my doctors and therapists and supportive family and friends, I have made a recovery that allows me to run for this office.

Though those years were incredibly difficult, I am stronger for them. I come into this campaign with an appreciation for the suffering and struggles of others, a better understanding of myself mentally, physically and spiritually, and a commitment to make the most of my life through service to others.

I am blessed to have recovered in the manner I have and I am grateful, beyond words, to all who have helped me heal and rebuild my life.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Shannon Bray (L)

Our economy and the technical decisions we make around blockchain. Data privacy is also something we need to get under control.

Matthew Hoh (G)

We must end the political corruption that dominates and controls Congress and the White House. We are faced with the very real apocalyptic dangers of climate change and nuclear war. We are suffering the consequences of decades of overseas wars and the War on Drugs. Working families are overwhelmed with the costs of housing, education, healthcare and consumer goods, all while their wages decline. We are a bitterly divided society consumed with identity politics and culture war; meanwhile, real racial injustices, such as the massive wealth gap between white and Black, Native and Latino families, continue to harm so many of our brothers and sisters.

There is so much to add to the above, but these problems worsen every year and go unresolved because of the United States’ two-party duopoly that is beholden to corporate and Wall Street money. A majority of Americans recognize this as the problem. The answer is not to continue participating in and prolonging the two-party system but to assert political independence. To achieve political independence and reimagine, remake and rebuild our political system and rescue our country, we must end political corruption. To do that, we must end the lesser evil two-party system.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Shannon Bray (L)

100% All federally elected offices should have term limits.

Matthew Hoh (G)

I believe term limits are necessary and practical. I also think we need not just term limits for members of Congress, but also to change the length of term for members of the House of Representatives while changing the presidential term to one six-year term. In addition to getting money out of politics, and other reforms, such as preventing members of Congress from becoming lobbyists, it is necessary to stop politicians from constantly campaigning.

My thoughts are that House members should be able to serve for two terms of three years each, Senators for two terms of six years each, and the President for one six-year term. These changes will reduce the constant campaign cycle that House members are obliged to participate in and cause the President to concentrate on executing their vision in a single term, rather than worrying about re-election. These term limits give elected leaders six years to accomplish their goals; if someone cannot complete their intentions in six years, they should not be in public office.

In addition to term limits, I will work for many other substantive and meaningful electoral reforms that will strengthen and expand our democracy. These reforms include: abolishing the electoral college, adopting ranked-choice voting, enacting proportional representation, and establishing public financing of campaigns as the only source of money in politics. Please see the issues page on my website for more information on my vision for strengthening and expanding our democracy.

https://www.matthewhohforsenate.org/issues/

What qualities does the U.S. Senate possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Shannon Bray (L)

Shannon Bray has a master's degree in cyber security and has been a leader in creating technological solutions for decades. In his career, he has worked for large companies such as Visa and Microsoft and the federal government working in a number of agencies. Shannon believes the federal government is wasting resources on problems trying to force the wrong solutions and that his experience can help strengthen better policies in Washington.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for senators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Shannon Bray (L)

No; in fact the longer someone is in office, the tighter they are with special interest groups like big pharma.

What do you think of the filibuster?

Shannon Bray (L)

The filibuster is needed. I would like to see the old style brough back.

Matthew Hoh (G)

Quite simply, the filibuster needs to end.

Whatever (dubious) usefulness it may have served in centuries past has long been lost. Most importantly, members of Congress utilized the filibuster in the 20th century to block civil rights and restrict liberties. Today it is nothing more than an anti-democratic mechanism meant to maintain legislative gridlock and prevent progress, and both major parties use it for this purpose. It is important to remember the filibuster's historical legacy and modern reasons. The Constitution gives the power of veto to the President and not the Senate.

I will work and vote not to amend or adjust the filibuster but to end it.

### Campaign advertisements[edit]

This section includes a selection of up to three campaign advertisements per candidate released in this race, as well as links to candidates' YouTube, Vimeo, and/or Facebook video pages. If you are aware of other links that should be included, please email us.

####  Cheri Beasley[edit]

August 7, 2022

August 1, 2022

View more ads here:

* YouTube
* Facebook
* Twitter

####  Ted Budd[edit]

July 15, 2022

View more ads here:

* YouTube
* Facebook
* Twitter

### Debates and forums[edit]

This section includes links to debates, forums, and other similar events where multiple candidates in this race participated. If you are aware of any debates or forums that should be included, please email us.

#### October 7 debate[edit]

On October 7, 2022, Beasley and Budd participated in a debate sponsored by Spectrum News 1 North Carolina.[29]

* Click here to watch a recording of the event

Click on the link below for a summary of the event:

* The New York Times

## Election competitiveness[edit]

### Polls[edit]

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

Polls are conducted with a variety of methodologies and have margins of error or credibility intervals.[30] The Pew Research Center wrote, "A margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level means that if we fielded the same survey 100 times, we would expect the result to be within 3 percentage points of the true population value 95 of those times."[31] For tips on reading polls from FiveThirtyEight, click here. For tips from Pew, click here.

Below we provide results for polls that are included in polling aggregation from FiveThirtyEight and RealClearPolitics, when available. Click here to read about FiveThirtyEight's criteria for including polls in its aggregation. We only report polls for which we can find a margin of error or credibility interval.

U.S. Senate election in North Carolina, 2022: general election polls

Poll  | Date  |  Beasley  |  Budd  |  Bray  |  Hoh  | Undecided/
Other  | Margin of error  | Sample size[32] | Sponsor[33]
The Meredith Poll | October 27-30, 2022 | 43 % | 44 % | 4% | 1 % | 9 %[34] | +/- 3.4 | 724 LV | \

Cygnal | October 20-22, 2022 | 43 % | 47 % | 2 % | - % | 7 %[35] | +/- 3.79 | 650 LV | John Locke Foundation
Marist Institute for Public Opinion | October 17-20, 2022 | 45 % | 49 % | - % | - % | 5 %[36] | +/- 3.8 | 899 LV | \

The Trafalgar Group | October 16-19, 2022 | 44 % | 48 % | 2 % | 1 % | 5 %[37] | +/- 2.9 | 1,081 LV | \

ECU Center for Survey Research | October 10-13, 2022 | 44 % | 50 % | - | - % | 7 %[38] | +/- 3.8 | 902 LV | \

Click [show] to see older poll results

Poll  | Date  |  Beasley  |  Budd  |  Bray  |  Hoh  | Undecided/
Other  | Margin of error  | Sample size[39] | Sponsor[40]
Wick Insights | October 8-14, 2022 | 44 % | 49 % | - % | - % | 7 %[41] | +/- 3.1 | 1,009 LV | \

Survey USA | September 28-October 2, 2022 | 42 % | 43 % | 2 % | - % | 13 %[42] | +/- 4.4 | 677 LV | WRAL News
Emerson College Polling | September 15-16, 2022 | 43 % | 46 % | - | - % | 9 %[43] | +/- 3 | 1,000 LV | \

ECU Center for Survey Research | September 7-10, 2022 | 46 % | 49 % | - | - % | 6 %[44] | +/- 3.6 | 1,020 LV | \

Cygnal | August 13-15, 2022 | 42 % | 42 % | 2 % | 1 % | 13 %[45] | +/- 3.9 | 615 LV | John Locke Foundation
The Trafalgar Group | June 29 - July 1, 2022 | 45 % | 48 % | 2 % | - % | 5 %[46] | +/- 2.9 | 1,068 LV | \

Cygnal | June 17-19, 2022 | 40 % | 45 % | 3 % | 1 % | 11 %[47] | +/- 3.95 | 600 LV | \

Survey USA | June 8-12, 2022 | 44 % | 40 % | 2 % | - % | 14 %[48] | +/- 5.1 | 650 LV | WRAL News
ECU Center for Survey Research | May 19-20, 2022 | 39 % | 47 % | - | - % | 14 %[49] | +/- 4.5 | 635 RV | \

The chart below shows RealClearPolitics polling averages in this race over time.

### General election race ratings[edit]

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

* Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
* Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
* Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[50]
* Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[51][52][53]

Race ratings: U.S. Senate election in North Carolina, 2022

Race tracker| Race ratings
| November 8, 2022| November 1, 2022| October 25, 2022| October 18, 2022
The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter| Lean Republican| Lean Republican| Lean Republican| Lean Republican
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales| Tilt Republican| Tilt Republican| Tilt Republican| Tilt Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball| Lean Republican| Lean Republican| Lean Republican| Lean Republican
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week.

## Noteworthy endorsements[edit]

This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please email us.

Noteworthy endorsements

Endorser |  Cheri Beasley |  Ted Budd
Individuals
Frmr. Pres. Barack Obama source | ✔ |
Frmr. Vice President Mike Pence source |  | ✔
Frmr. President Donald Trump source |  | ✔
Newspapers and editorials
The Charlotte Observer Editorial Board source | ✔ |

## Election spending[edit]

### Campaign finance[edit]

This section contains campaign finance figures from the Federal Election Commission covering all candidate fundraising and spending in this election.[54] It does not include information on fundraising before the current campaign cycle or on spending by satellite groups. The numbers in this section are updated as candidates file new campaign finance reports. Candidates for Congress are required to file financial reports on a quarterly basis, as well as two weeks before any primary, runoff, or general election in which they will be on the ballot and upon the termination of any campaign committees.[55] Click here to view the reporting schedule for candidates for U.S. Congress in 2022.

U.S. Congress campaign reporting schedule, 2022

Report  | Close of books  | Filing deadline
Year-end 2021 | 12/31/2021 | 1/31/2022
April quarterly | 3/31/2022 | 4/15/2022
July quarterly | 6/30/2022 | 7/15/2022
October quarterly | 9/30/2022 | 10/15/2022
Pre-general | 10/19/2022 | 10/27/2022
Post-general | 11/28/2022 | 12/08/2022
Year-end 2022 | 12/31/2022 | 1/31/2023

Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date

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Cheri Beasley | Democratic Party | $38,947,127 | $38,899,622 | $47,356 |  As of December 31, 2022
Ted Budd | Republican Party | $14,904,163 | $15,702,973 | $272,188 |  As of December 31, 2022
Shannon Bray | Libertarian Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available***

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2022. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.
*** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

### Satellite spending[edit]

See also: Satellite spending

Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[56][57][58]

If available, links to satellite spending reports by the Federal Election Commission and OpenSecrets.org are linked below. Any satellite spending reported in other resources is displayed in a table. This table may not represent the actual total amount spent by satellite groups in the election. Satellite spending for which specific amounts, dates, or purposes are not reported are marked "N/A." To help us complete this information, or to notify us of additional satellite spending, email us.

By candidate  | By election

|

* Cheri Beasley
* Ted Budd
* Matthew Hoh
* Shannon Bray
* Michelle Lewis
* Kimrey Rhinehardt
* Brenda Rodriguez
* Marc White

* U.S. Senate election in North Carolina
* U.S. Senate election in North Carolina

Satellite spending in North Carolina U.S. Senate election, 2022

Organization | Amount | Date | Purpose
Senate Majority PAC| $700,000| August 2, 2022| Ads against Republican Ted Budd[59]

## Election analysis[edit]

Click the tabs below to view information about demographics, past elections, and partisan control of the state.

* Presidential elections \- Information about presidential elections in the state.
* Statewide elections \- Information about recent U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections in the state.
* State partisanship \- The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.
* Demographics \- Information about the state's demographics and how they compare to the country as a whole.

# Presidential elections[edit]

See also: Presidential voting trends in North Carolina and The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

### Cook PVI by congressional district[edit]

Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index for North Carolina, 2022

District | Incumbent | Party | PVI
North Carolina's 1st | Open |  Democratic | D+2
North Carolina's 2nd | Deborah Ross  |  Democratic | D+12
North Carolina's 3rd | Greg Murphy  |  Republican | R+15
North Carolina's 4th | Open |  Democratic | D+16
North Carolina's 5th | Virginia Foxx  |  Republican | R+13
North Carolina's 6th | Kathy Manning  |  Democratic | D+4
North Carolina's 7th | David Rouzer  |  Republican | R+8
North Carolina's 8th | Dan Bishop  |  Republican | R+20
North Carolina's 9th | Richard Hudson  |  Republican | R+6
North Carolina's 10th | Patrick McHenry  |  Republican | R+22
North Carolina's 11th | Madison Cawthorn |  Republican | R+8
North Carolina's 12th | Alma Adams  |  Democratic | D+13
North Carolina's 13th | New Seat | N/A | R+2
North Carolina's 14th | New Seat | N/A | D+6

### 2020 presidential results by 2022 congressional district lines[edit]

2020 presidential results in congressional districts based on 2022 district lines, North Carolina[60]

District  | Joe Biden | Donald Trump
North Carolina's 1st | 53.2% | 45.9%
North Carolina's 2nd | 63.6% | 34.8%
North Carolina's 3rd | 36.7% | 62.0%
North Carolina's 4th | 66.9% | 31.9%
North Carolina's 5th | 38.8% | 60.1%
North Carolina's 6th | 55.6% | 43.2%
North Carolina's 7th | 43.1% | 55.8%
North Carolina's 8th | 32.4% | 66.5%
North Carolina's 9th | 45.3% | 53.3%
North Carolina's 10th | 29.7% | 69.2%
North Carolina's 11th | 44.3% | 54.4%
North Carolina's 12th | 64.4% | 34.2%
North Carolina's 13th | 50.1% | 48.4%
North Carolina's 14th | 57.5% | 41.1%

### 2012-2020[edit]

How a state's counties vote in a presidential election and the size of those counties can provide additional insights into election outcomes at other levels of government including statewide and congressional races. Below, four categories are used to describe each county's voting pattern over the 2012, 2016, and 2020 presidential elections: Solid, Trending, Battleground, and New. Click [show] on the table below for examples:

County-level voting pattern categories

Democratic
Status  | 2012  | 2016  | 2020
Solid Democratic | D | D | D
Trending Democratic | R | D | D
Battleground Democratic | D | R | D
New Democratic | R | R | D
Republican
Status  | 2012  | 2016  | 2020
Solid Republican | R | R | R
Trending Republican | D | R | R
Battleground Republican | R | D | R
New Republican | D | D | R

Following the 2020 presidential election, 47.1% of North Carolinians lived in one of the state's 22 Solid Democratic counties, which voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election from 2012 to 2020, and 46.3% lived in one of 68 Solid Republican counties. Overall, North Carolina was Solid Republican, having voted for Mitt Romney (R) in 2012, Donald Trump (R) in 2016, and Donald Trump (R) in 2020. Use the table below to view the total number of each type of county in North Carolina following the 2020 election as well as the overall percentage of the state population located in each county type.

North Carolina county-level statistics, 2020

Solid Democratic | 22 | 47.1%
Solid Republican | 68 | 46.3%
Trending Republican | 6 | 2.7%
New Democratic | 1 | 2.2%
Battleground Democratic | 1 | 0.9%
Trending Democratic | 1 | 0.5%
New Republican | 1 | 0.3%
Total voted Democratic | 25 | 50.7%
Total voted Republican | 75 | 49.3%

### Historical voting trends[edit]

North Carolina presidential election results (1900-2020)

* 18 Democratic wins
* 13 Republican wins

Year  | 1900  | 1904  | 1908  | 1912  | 1916  | 1920  | 1924  | 1928  | 1932  | 1936  | 1940  | 1944  | 1948  | 1952  | 1956  | 1960  | 1964  | 1968  | 1972  | 1976  | 1980  | 1984  | 1988  | 1992  | 1996  | 2000  | 2004  | 2008  | 2012  | 2016  | 2020

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Winning Party | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | R | R | R

# Statewide elections[edit]

This section details the results of the five most recent U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections held in the state.

### U.S. Senate elections[edit]

See also: List of United States Senators from North Carolina

The table below details the vote in the five most recent U.S. Senate races in North Carolina.

U.S. Senate election results in North Carolina

Race  | Winner  | Runner up
2020 | 48.7% | 46.9%
2016 | 51.1% | 45.3%
2014 | 48.8% | 47.3%
2010 | 55.0% | 42.9%
2008 | 52.7% | 44.2%
Average  | 51.3  | 45.3

### Gubernatorial elections[edit]

See also: Governor of North Carolina

The table below details the vote in the five most recent gubernatorial elections in North Carolina.

Gubernatorial election results in North Carolina

Race  | Winner  | Runner up
2020 | 51.5% | 47.0%
2016 | 49.0% | 48.8%
2012 | 54.6% | 43.2%
2008 | 50.3% | 46.9%
2004 | 55.6% | 42.9%
Average  | 52.2  | 45.8

# State partisanship[edit]

### Congressional delegation[edit]

The table below displays the partisan composition of North Carolina's congressional delegation as of November 2022.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from North Carolina, November 2022

Party | U.S. Senate | U.S. House | Total
Democratic | 0 | 5 | 5
Republican | 2 | 8 | 10
Independent | 0 | 0 | 0
Vacancies | 0 | 0 | 0
Total | 2 | 13 | 15

### State executive[edit]

The table below displays the officeholders in North Carolina's top four state executive offices as of November 2022.

State executive officials in North Carolina, November 2022

Office | Officeholder
Governor |  Roy Cooper
Lieutenant Governor |  Mark Robinson
Secretary of State |  Elaine Marshall
Attorney General |  Josh Stein

### State legislature[edit]

The tables below highlight the partisan composition of the General Assembly of North Carolina as of November 2022.

#### North Carolina State Senate[edit]

Party  | As of November 2022

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| Democratic Party | 22
| Republican Party | 28
| Vacancies  | 0
Total |  50

#### North Carolina House of Representatives[edit]

Party  | As of November 2022

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| Democratic Party | 51
| Republican Party | 69
| Vacancies  | 0
Total |  120

### Trifecta control[edit]

As of November 2022, North Carolina was a divided government, with Democrats controlling the governorship and Republican majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. The table below displays the historical trifecta status of the state.

North Carolina Party Control: 1992-2022
Fourteen years of Democratic trifectas • Four years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year  | 92  | 93  | 94  | 95  | 96  | 97  | 98  | 99  | 00  | 01  | 02  | 03  | 04  | 05  | 06  | 07  | 08  | 09  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | 19  | 20  | 21  | 22

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Governor | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D
Senate | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R
House | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R

# Demographics[edit]

The table below details demographic data in North Carolina and compares it to the broader United States as of 2019.

Demographic Data for North Carolina

| North Carolina | United States
Population | 9,535,483 | 308,745,538
Land area (sq mi) | 48,622 | 3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White | 68.7% | 72.5%
Black/African American | 21.4% | 12.7%
Asian | 2.9% | 5.5%
Native American | 1.2% | 0.8%
Pacific Islander | 0.1% | 0.2%
Other (single race) | 3.1% | 4.9%
Multiple | 2.7% | 3.3%
Hispanic/Latino | 9.4% | 18%
Education
High school graduation rate | 87.8% | 88%
College graduation rate | 31.3% | 32.1%
Income
Median household income | $54,602 | $62,843
Persons below poverty level | 14.7% | 13.4%
Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2010). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2014-2019).
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

## Election context[edit]

### Ballot access requirements[edit]

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in North Carolina in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in North Carolina, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2022

State  | Office  | Party  | Signatures required  | Filing fee  | Filing deadline  | Source
North Carolina | U.S. Senate | Ballot-qualified party | N/A | $1,740.00 | 3/4/2022 | Source
North Carolina | U.S. Senate | Unaffiliated | 1.5% of all registered voters who voted in the most recent election for governor | $1,740.00 | 5/17/2022 | Source

### Election history[edit]

#### 2020[edit]

See also: United States Senate election in North Carolina, 2020

United States Senate election in North Carolina, 2020 (March 3 Republican primary)

United States Senate election in North Carolina, 2020 (March 3 Democratic primary)

#### General election

##### General election for U.S. Senate North Carolina

Incumbent Thom Tillis defeated Cal Cunningham, Shannon Bray, and Kevin E. Hayes in the general election for U.S. Senate North Carolina on November 3, 2020.

Candidate

Votes

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| Thom Tillis (R) |

48.7

| 2,665,598

| Cal Cunningham (D) |

46.9

| 2,569,965

| Shannon Bray (L) |

3.1

| 171,571

| Kevin E. Hayes (Constitution Party) |

1.2

| 67,818

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 5,474,952

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

#### Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

* Jeremy Thomas (Independence Party)

#### Democratic primary election

#####  Democratic primary for U.S. Senate North Carolina

Cal Cunningham defeated Erica Smith, Trevor Fuller, Steve Swenson, and Atul Goel in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate North Carolina on March 3, 2020.

Candidate

Votes

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| Cal Cunningham|

56.9

| 717,941

| Erica Smith|

34.8

| 438,969

Submit photo

| Trevor Fuller|

3.8

| 48,168

Submit photo

| Steve Swenson|

2.7

| 33,741

| Atul Goel|

1.8

| 22,226

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 1,261,045

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

#### Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

* Steve Williams (D)
* Eva Lee (D)
* Eric Mansfield (D)
* Katherine Bell-Moore (D)

#### Republican primary election

#####  Republican primary for U.S. Senate North Carolina

Incumbent Thom Tillis defeated Paul Wright, Larry Holmquist, and Sharon Hudson in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate North Carolina on March 3, 2020.

Candidate

Votes

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| Thom Tillis|

78.1

| 608,943

| Paul Wright |

7.6

| 58,908

| Larry Holmquist |

7.4

| 57,356

| Sharon Hudson |

7.0

| 54,651

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 779,858

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#### Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

* Sandy Smith (R)
* Garland Tucker III (R)

#### Constitution primary election

The Constitution primary election was canceled. Kevin E. Hayes advanced from the Constitution primary for U.S. Senate North Carolina.

#### Libertarian primary election

The Libertarian primary election was canceled. Shannon Bray advanced from the Libertarian primary for U.S. Senate North Carolina.

#### 2016[edit]

U.S. Senate, North Carolina General Election, 2016 Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes

|
|
|

| Republican  | Richard Burr Incumbent | 51.1% | 2,395,376
| Democratic  |  Deborah Ross  | 45.4% | 2,128,165
| Libertarian  |  Sean Haugh  | 3.6% | 167,592
Total Votes | 4,691,133
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections
U.S. Senate Republican Primary, 2016 Candidate | Vote % | Votes
Richard Burr Incumbent | 61.4% | 627,354
Greg Brannon  | 25.2% | 257,331
Paul Wright  | 8.5% | 86,940
Larry Holmquist  | 4.9% | 50,507
Total Votes | 1,022,132
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections

U.S. Senate Democratic Primary, 2016 Candidate | Vote % | Votes
Deborah Ross | 62.4% | 607,802
Chris Rey  | 16.5% | 160,663
Kevin Griffin  | 11.7% | 114,180
Ernest Reeves  | 9.4% | 91,694
Total Votes | 974,339
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections

#### 2014[edit]

U.S. Senate, North Carolina General Election, 2014 Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes

|
|
|

| Democratic  |  Kay Hagan Incumbent | 47.3% | 1,377,651
| Republican  | Thom Tillis | 48.8% | 1,423,259
| Libertarian  |  Sean Haugh  | 3.7% | 109,100
| Write-in  |  John Rhodes  | 0% | 621
| Write-in  |  David Waddell  | 0% | 201
| Write-in  |  Barry Gurney  | 0% | 142
| Write-in  |  Write-in (miscellaneous)  | 0.1% | 4,307
Total Votes | 2,915,281
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections
U.S. Senate, North Carolina Democratic Primary, 2014 Candidate | Vote % | Votes
Kay Hagan Incumbent | 77.2% | 372,209
Will Stewart  | 13.9% | 66,903
Ernest Reeves  | 9% | 43,257
Total Votes | 482,369
Source: Results via the North Carolina State Board of Elections

U.S. Senate, North Carolina Republican Primary, 2014 Candidate | Vote % | Votes
Thom Tillis | 45.7% | 223,174
Greg Brannon  | 27.1% | 132,630
Mark Harris  | 17.5% | 85,727
Heather Grant  | 4.7% | 22,971
Jim Snyder  | 1.9% | 9,414
Ted Alexander  | 1.9% | 9,258
Alex Bradshaw  | 0.7% | 3,528
Edward Kryn  | 0.4% | 1,853
Total Votes | 488,555
Source: Results via the North Carolina State Board of Elections

#### 2010[edit]

On November 2, 2010, Richard Burr (R) won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated Elaine Marshall (D) and Michael Beitler (L) in the general election.[61]

U.S. Senate, North Carolina General Election, 2010

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Republican  | Richard Burr incumbent | 54.8% | 1,458,046
| Democratic  |  Elaine Marshall  | 43% | 1,145,074
| Libertarian  |  Michael Beitler  | 2.1% | 55,687
| N/A  |  Write-in  | 0% | 1,272
Total Votes | 2,660,079
United States Senate, Democratic Primary Democratic Primary, 2010

Candidate | Vote % | Votes
Elaine Marshall | 36.3% | 154,605
Cal Cunningham | 27.2% | 115,851
Ken Lewis  | 17% | 72,510
Marcus W. Williams  | 8.5% | 35,984
Susan Harris  | 7% | 29,738
Ann Worthy  | 3.9% | 16,655
Total Votes | 425,343
United States Senate, Democratic Primary Runoff Democratic Primary, 2010

Candidate | Vote % | Votes
Elaine Marshall | 60% | 95,390
Cal Cunningham  | 40% | 63,691
Total Votes | 159,081
United States Senate, Republican Primary, 2010

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Republican  | Richard Burr | 80.1% | 297,993
| Republican  |  Brad Jones  | 10.1% | 37,616
| Republican  |  Eddie Burks  | 5.9% | 22,111
| Republican  |  Larry Linney  | 3.8% | 14,248
Total Votes | 371,968
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections

## 2022 battleground elections[edit]

See also: Battlegrounds

This election was a battleground race. Other 2022 battleground elections included:

* Florida gubernatorial election, 2022 (August 23 Democratic primary)
* Idaho Secretary of State election, 2022 (May 17 Republican primary)
* Minnesota gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022
* North Carolina's 13th Congressional District election, 2022 (May 17 Republican primary)
* United States Senate election in Iowa, 2022 (June 7 Democratic primary)

## See also[edit]

North Carolina | 2022 primaries | 2022 U.S. Congress elections

|
|

North Carolina congressional delegation
Voting in North Carolina
North Carolina elections:
2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 |  Democratic primary battlegrounds
Republican primary battlegrounds
U.S. Senate Democratic primaries
U.S. Senate Republican primaries
U.S. House Democratic primaries
U.S. House Republican primaries |  U.S. Congress elections
U.S. Senate elections
U.S. House elections
Special elections
Ballot access

## External links[edit]

* Search Google News for this topic

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "BUDD, Theodore Paul," accessed April 6, 2022
2. ↑ Ted Budd - U.S. Senate, "Why I'm running," accessed September 27, 2022
3. ↑ Linkedin, "Cheri Beasley," accessed August 2, 2022
4. ↑ Cheri Beasley - U.S. Senate, "Meet Cheri Beasley," accessed August 2, 2022
5. ↑ Cheri Beasley - U.S. Senate, "Issues," accessed August 2, 2022
6. ↑ Inside Elections, "Senate Ratings," March 8, 2021
7. ↑ The special Senate election in California was for the same seat up for regular election. There were, then, 36 total Senate elections for 35 total seats.
8. ↑ Two independents who caucus with Democrats are included with Democrats in the 50-50 split count.
9. ↑ Meredith College, "Meredith Poll Examines N.C. Voter Opinions in Final Days of 2022 Mid-terms Campaign," November 1, 2022
10. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Cheri Beasley-Financial summary," accessed November 1, 2022
11. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Theodore P Budd-Financial summary," accessed November 1, 2022
12. ↑ Marist Poll, "Budd Edges Beasley Among Definite Voters in North Carolina Senate Race," October 26, 2022
13. ↑ John Locke Foundation, "Budd leads Beasley in the closing days," October 25, 2022
14. ↑ The Trafalgar Group, "North Carolina Statewide Survey," accessed November 2, 2022
15. ↑ ECU Center for Survey Research, "ECU Poll: Budd Widens Lead over Beasley in NC Senate Race," October 17, 2022
16. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Cheri Beasley-Financial summary," accessed October 20, 2022
17. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Theodore P Budd-Financial summary," accessed October 20, 2022
18. ↑ Wick Insights, "NC Battleground Survey, Oct 2022," accessed November 2, 2022
19. ↑ Elon News Network, "NC Senate candidates Ted Budd, Cheri Beasley debate for first time," October 7, 2022
20. ↑ The Hill, "New poll shows tight Senate race in North Carolina," October 4, 2022
21. ↑ Emerson College Polling, "North Carolina 2022: Three Point Race For US Senate; Overturning of Roe v. Wade Makes Majority More Likely to Vote in 2022," September 20, 2022
22. ↑ Digital Journal, "ECU Poll Shows Budd With Narrow Lead Over Beasley," September 13, 2022
23. ↑ John Locke Foundation, "Budd and Beasley in dead heat," August 18, 2022
24. ↑ NBC News-Meet the Press Blog, "Democratic group targets Ted Budd on abortion," August 2, 2022
25. ↑ The Trafalgar Group, "North Carolina Statewide Survey," July 1, 2022
26. ↑ Cygnal, "Survey of Likely General Election Voters," June 19, 2022
27. ↑ SurveyUSA, "Dem Beasley Has Slight Advantage Over GOP Budd for US Senate, Fueled by High Projected Turnout Among Those Supporting Assault Rifle Ban," June 13, 2022
28. ↑ The Hill, "Budd holds eight-point lead over Beasley in North Carolina Senate race: poll," May 23, 2022
29. ↑ Elon News Network, "NC Senate candidates Ted Budd, Cheri Beasley debate for first time," October 7, 2022
30. ↑ For more information on the difference between margins of error and credibility intervals, see explanations from the American Association for Public Opinion Research and Ipsos.
31. ↑ Pew Research Center, "5 key things to know about the margin of error in election polls," September 8, 2016
32. ↑ RV=Registered Voters
LV=Likely Voters
33. ↑ The sponsor is the person or group that funded all or part of the poll.
34. ↑ 7% Don't Know;
2% Someone else
35. ↑ Undecided
36. ↑ Undecided
37. ↑ Undecided
38. ↑ 5% Undecided;
2% Other
39. ↑ RV=Registered Voters
LV=Likely Voters
40. ↑ The sponsor is the person or group that funded all or part of the poll.
41. ↑ 5% Undecided
2% Someone else
42. ↑ Undecided
43. ↑ Undecided
44. ↑ 4% Undecided;
2% Other
45. ↑ Undecided
46. ↑ 3% Undecided;
2% Other
47. ↑ Undecided
48. ↑ Undecided
49. ↑ 12% Undecided;
2% Some other candidate
50. ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
51. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
52. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
53. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
54. ↑ Fundraising by primary candidates can be found on the race's respective primary election page. Fundraising by general election candidates can be found on the race's general election page.
55. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "2022 Quarterly Reports," accessed March 2, 2022
56. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed December 12, 2021
57. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed December 12, 2021
58. ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," December 12, 2021
59. ↑ NBC News-Meet the Press Blog, "Democratic group targets Ted Budd on abortion," August 2, 2022
60. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' presidential results by congressional district for 2020, 2016, and 2012," accessed September 9, 2022
61. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013

[show]

North Carolina's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Ted Budd (R)

Thom Tillis (R)

Representatives

District 1

Donald Davis (D)

District 2

Deborah Ross (D)

District 3

Gregory Murphy (R)

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Valerie Foushee (D)

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District 6

Addison McDowell (R)

District 7

David Rouzer (R)

District 8

Mark Harris (R)

District 9

Richard Hudson (R)

District 10

Pat Harrigan (R)

District 11

Chuck Edwards (R)

District 12

Alma Adams (D)

District 13

Brad Knott (R)

District 14

Timothy Moore (R)

Republican Party (12)

Democratic Party (4)

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