Ted Budd

In the 2022 Senate race for NC Senate seat, Ted Budd (R) won with 50.5% of the vote, defeating Cheri Beasley (D) who received 47.3%. 4 additional candidates split the remaining vote. The 3.2-point margin made this one of the more competitive races of the cycle.

This was an open-seat race with no incumbent running — Thomas Roland Tillis (R) previously held the seat. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. As a Republican, Ted Budd benefited from the historical midterm penalty against the president's party — with a Democrat in the White House, the opposition typically gains seats. This seat will likely stay on party watch lists as potentially competitive in future cycles.

In the 2018 House race for NC-13, Ted Budd (R) won with 51.5% of the vote, defeating Kathy Manning (D) who received 45.5%. 2 additional candidates split the remaining vote. Ted Budd's 6.0-point lead over the runner-up showed solid but not overwhelming support.

As the incumbent, Ted Budd benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. As a Republican, Ted Budd won despite the historical midterm penalty against the president's party (Republican Trump was in office).

In the 2016 House race for NC-13, Ted Budd (R) defeated Bruce Davis (D) 56.1% to 43.9%. Ted Budd received 199,443 votes compared to 156,049 for Bruce Davis, a comfortable 12.2-point margin indicating a moderately safe district.

This was an open-seat race with no incumbent running — George Holding (R) previously held the seat. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. The 2016 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.