Beasley vs. Budd: A Decision for North Carolinians with Consequences Reaching Well Beyond the Tarheel State
This photo from Charlotte’s WFAE shows both U.S. Senate hopefuls speaking to constituents on the campaign trail. Republican Ted Budd is pictured on the right while Democrat Cheri Beasley is on the left.
This upcoming election cycle, North Carolina voters will be asked to choose between Republican Ted Budd and Democrat Cheri Beasley for their open U.S. Senate seat. While this decision for voters is mainly about choosing a representative for the Tarheel state, this Senate seat could be the linchpin crucial to either party gaining control of the U.S. Senate. North Carolinians could ultimately “quietly determine the balance of power in the Senate” as they enter the voting booth this November. While Democrats haven’t won a U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina since 2008, a partisan flip in the battleground state could allow Democrats to have a comfortable majority in the U.S. Senate, compared to their current 51/50 split including Vice President Harris.
Similar to nationwide sentiments, North Carolina voters likely have two major issues on their mind this election cycle: abortion and the economy. The prevelence of abortion in current campaign discourse nationwide almost certainly stems from the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade. North Carolina doesn't currently have any ‘trigger laws’—laws designed to be passed after the court’s overturning of the right to abortion that are typically meant to restrict access to abortion. However, the right to abortion in the state will be in danger if Republicans gain a supermajority in the state legislature come November. Additionally, the importance of economic policies in the voting booth in November is due to high rates of inflation, affecting everything from gas to food prices. These two issues will be critical factors in the race between Ted Budd and Cheri Beasley.
Ted Budd has noticably grounded himself and his campaign in strong conservative values. He claims his upbringing in rural Davie county and life as the child of small business owners taught him that “hard work, family, and faith are the building blocks to success.” He attended Appalachian State University before earning a masters degree from Wake Forest University. Budd went on to be elected to represent North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District in the U.S House of Representatives in 2017 and has continued to serve in this position throughout his campaign.
Concerning his political stances, Budd refers to himself as a “liberal agenda crusher” who is “gravely concerned about our country’s future.” These self-proclaimed titles are certainly reflected in Budd’s stances on many of the issues taking center stage in this race. Regarding abortion, Budd claims to be a “conscious-driven advocate for the unborn” and boasts a legislative history of supporting pro-life agendas. On economic issues, Budd claims he will fight for major tax cuts for the middle class. He also aims to defend against overspending and cut the national debt. To accomplish this, Budd says the federal government should “live within its means, just like North Carolina families and small businesses do.”
Budd’s Democratic competitor, Cheri Beasley, brings a different history and a plethora of experience to her spot on North Carolinian’s voting ballot. Beasley describes herself as being raised by “a trailblazing mother” who taught her the values of “hard work, integrity, and justice from a young age.” She has an impressive resume filled with state-wide experience as both a public defender and judge. In 2019, Democratic Governor Roy Cooper appointed her to be the first African American woman to serve as the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.
Politically, Beasley wants to serve as “an independent voice who stands up for North Carolina and what’s right for our state—regardless of the politics.” Although Beasley makes it clear she wants to act independently of partisan whims, her political philosophies are certainly in line with the Democratic Party. On abortion, Beasley staunchly supports codifying women’s right to abortion into federal law. She is a champion of the Women’s Health Protection Act and vows to “protect reproductive rights so that women can get the care they need no matter where they live.” On economic issues, Beasley wants to increase North Carolina’s minimum wage as well as create high-paying jobs for North Carolina workers. She also specifically mentions supporting labor movements and the Pro Act on behalf of North Carolina workers.
Both Budd and Beasley have been traveling all throughout North Carolina in an attempt to win over middle ground voters. Cheri Beasley seems to be taking a note from the Obama administration and focusing on more than just Democratic strongholds like Mecklenburg and Wake county. She is said to be “looking for votes in all 100 counties.” Ted Budd is also campaigning across the state, even bringing his most famous endorsement, former President Donald Trump, to a rally in Wilmington. Recent polls show an extremely tight race, with Budd winning by less than one percentage point. This could change, of course, after the two face each other in an upcoming debate and put together last-ditch efforts to win over unsure voters leading up to November 8th. Beasley’s success in winning over these voters could easily determine the overall success of the Democratic party for the next two years. The Democratic Party picking up a Senate seat with a Beasley win would allow them to retain control of the chamber and have sufficient numbers to pass important Democratic initiatives – the first that comes to mind being the Women’s Health Protection Act. No matter the national attention surrounding this race, the future of this U.S. Senate seat will ultimately lie in the hands of North Carolina voters who show up on Election Day and cast an informed vote for the candidate they believe to best represent their home state.