Trouble in NC-13 Waters: Local Conservatives Enraged by Their Messy GOP Primary

Republicans’ battle with dysfunction and disarray in the competitive NC-13 primary was unveiled further today, when POLITICO highlighted local Republicans’ frustration with Trump-endorsed Bo Hines.

Hines already faced backlash this week for his conservatism flip-flop – and now, his candidacy is the source of intraparty fighting as Republicans fail to find a consensus candidate in this crowded primary.

Among the highlights from POLITICO: 

• “Through newspaper advertisements, email blasts and door-knocking, some local Republicans are trying to spread the word that Hines, Trump’s favored candidate in the 13th Congressional District, is a carpetbagger.”

• “In their view, the former president was misguided in endorsing Hines over homegrown conservatives invested in local party politics.”

• “‘It feels like it’s incumbent on us to make sure everybody understands that Bo Hines may be a fine fellow — I don’t know him — but the truth of it is he’s not a resident of the district,’ said Linwood Parker, chair of the Johnston County Republican Men’s Organization and former mayor of Four Oaks. ‘He’s coming in, just trying to cherry pick a district he can win.’”

• “Earlier in the election cycle, Hines campaigned for other congressional seats elsewhere in the state. He filed to run in the newly redrawn 13th district on March 2; less than two weeks later, Trump issued his endorsement, describing the 26-year-old as an ‘unwavering America First patriot.’”

• “‘WE CAN’T SUPPORT Bo Hines, a candidate from WESTERN N.C. for our congressman,’ it [a print advertisement] continued.”

• “A second local group, Citizen Advocates for Accountable Government, […] began dispatching members two weeks ago to knock on doors and talk to voters about Hines.”

• “‘We’re all America First people, but we don’t need Mr. Trump or anybody else bringing candidates in who don’t know nothing about farming, don’t know anything about agriculture and the roads here and the needs we have,’ Lands said.”

• “‘Bo-flex’ ads, a term some local GOP operatives have jokingly used to describe B-roll of the former athlete pumping iron and jumping rope, have already begun airing in the district, paid for by Hines’ campaign and the House Freedom Caucus’ super PAC.”

• “A super PAC for the Club for Growth, which has endorsed Hines, has also just launched a $1.2 million ad buy to support him in the primary, a spokesperson confirmed.”

• “Hines attended an event held March 19 by the Harnett County Republican Party, but left prior to a candidate forum that his campaign agreed he would participate in, according to a person with knowledge of the event.”

• “Renee Ellmers, a former North Carolina congresswoman who represented part of Harnett County and is now running for the new congressional seat, said she plans to attend the weekend Trump rally and make her case to voters there, despite Hines’ endorsement and his coveted speaking slot.”

“North Carolina Republicans might squabble over their differences, but they have far more in common than not: All candidates in this primary are pushing an extreme agenda that would leave working families behind,” said DCCC spokesperson Monica Robinson.

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