The Republican ticket has a run-off between two candidates who are heating up the Second Primary which will bring voters to the polls on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, voting at precincts will begin at 6:30 a.m. and will last until 7:30 p.m.
Republicans Richard Hudson and Scott Keadle are squaring off for their chance to run against Democratic Congressman Larry Kissell in November, to represent the 8th Congressional District.
Early voting, which is going on now, will end Saturday at 1 p.m.
“Thus far, Republicans are outnumbering the Democrats on early voting, with 61 Republicans, 41 Democrats, and 17 unaffiliated,” said Connie Kelly, director of the Richmond County Board of Elections. “The unaffiliated voters seem to be voting Republican as well.
“Statewide, early voting numbers are low and the expectations for Tuesday are that the turnout will be typically very low, which is unfortunate,” said Kelly. “These are some very important positions that are being determined by a very small amount of voters. Hopefully, Tuesday will be a beautiful day, and the turnout will surprise us.”
The most talked about candidates on the ticket recently faced each other in a News 14 debate. Hudson said on his website that he, “continued to challenge Keadle on his support for Obama’s Stimulus and failure to stand up for conservative values. Obama’s stimulus wasted taxpayer dollars, will lead to tax increases and failed to create any sustainable jobs. The stimulus was a failure – Keadle voted for it, I will always stand against it,” said Hudson. “You cannot claim to be a fiscal conservative while supporting Obama’s Stimulus – it’s just that simple. The people of North Carolina cannot trust Scott Keadle to vote against the liberals in Washington and his record proves it.”
Keadle wrote in his blog, “I am the only Constitutional conservative with a record of cutting spending and government.”
Because Hudson’s vote didn’t top 40 percent the first time around at the May Primary, this run-off will secure a clear winner who will continue on to the November ballot.
Hudson was born in Franklin, Virginia, on Nov. 4, 1971. From age 4, he was raised in North Carolina, and graduated from Myers Park High School in Charlotte in 1990. He then attended UNC Charlotte, serving as Student Body President and Chairman of the College Republicans at UNC Charlotte before receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History.
In 2008, Keadle was elected to the Iredell County Commission. The Statesville paper called him “the most conservative voice on a board full of conservatives” and “a dominant voice and force on the board since his first meeting.” According to his website, he led a successful fight to reduce spending by more than 12 percent and promoted government accountability to the public, too. He then became regional chairman for the conservative action organization Americans For Prosperity, working for smaller government and more freedom for North Carolina families and businesses.
While both candidates, during the TV debate, attacked each other and accused one another of lying about the other, they do have a few views in common. According to the Laurinburg Exchange, both candidates promise they will “go after the Environmental Protection Agency,” both said they will “try to get seats on committees that deal with balancing the budget” and “both agreed to endorse whomever wins the July 17 runoff.”
On the Republican ticket, you can expect to see five offices which have candidates running for seats. Dan Forest and Tony Gurley are competing for North Carolina Lieutenant Governor. Richard Morgan and Mike Causey are competing for North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance. Kenn Gardner and Ed Goodwin are running against each other for the seat of North Carolina Secretary of State. For North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction, Republicans can choose John Tedesco or Richard Alexander.
On the Democratic ticket, voters can make one choice. For North Carolina Commissioner of Labor, the candidate choices are Marlowe Foster and John C. Brooks.
— Staff writer Dawn M. Kurry can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 15, or by email at dkurry@heartlandpublications.com.
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