State of North Carolina secondary Archives: on Principles & Values
Al Pisano:
Keep God in the public sphere
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Keep God in the public sphere"?
A: Support
Source: OnTheIssues 2020 interview on North Carolina Governor race
Apr 30, 2020
Cheri Beasley:
Washington responding only to well-connected needs to end
[Campaign announcement]: "For too many families across North Carolina, the doors of opportunity have been closed," said Beasley in a video. "They've been left behind and ignored for too long. I'm running for Senate because it's time for that to change."
"Whether it's health care, education, the ability to find work that supports a family, or retire with dignity, too often Washington only responds to the well-connected, and as we come out of this pandemic, that needs to end," she added.
Source: CNN Politics on 2022 North Carolina Senate race
Apr 27, 2021
Cheri Beasley:
First black female chief justice of state Supreme Court
The first Black woman to serve as chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court wants to make history again--as the first Black U.S. senator from North Carolina. She has won two statewide judicial elections--for the court of appeals in 2008 and for
the Supreme Court in 2014. In 2019, she was tapped to lead the court. "No door should ever be closed to you. With hard work and determination, you can accomplish anything," Beasley says to open her campaign launch video.
Source: The Raleigh News-Observer on 2022 North Carolina Senate race
Apr 27, 2021
Dan Forest:
Country has kicked God out schools, courts, nation
North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest spoke at the Faith and Freedom Coalition's 2014 Road to Majority conference. Forest said, "America is at a great crossroads where it must decide for or against God. The heart of the matter is we have forgotten God.
We have kicked him out of our house, out of our schoolhouse, out of our courthouse, and out of our statehouse, and now, out of our nation. We call it everything but what it is, we call it everything but sin, the turning away from God."
Source: RightWingWatch.org on 2020 North Carolina gubernatorial race
Oct 9, 2019
Dan Forest:
Nation founded on the principles of Jesus Christ
"No other nation, my friends, has ever survived the diversity and multiculturalism that America faces today, because of a lack of assimilation, because of this division, and because of this identity politics,"
Forest claimed. "But no other nation has ever been founded on the principles of Jesus Christ, that begin the redemption and reconciliation through the atoning blood of our savior," he added.
Source: ThinkProgress.org on 2020 North Carolina gubernatorial race
Jun 28, 2019
Dan Forest:
Freedom of religion--not freedom from religion
Q: Do you promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles?A: Yes.
Q: What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
A: The term "separation of church and state" isn't found anywhere
in the Constitution and was never intended to be a Constitutional argument. The phrase comes from a personal letter from Thomas Jefferson, later taken out of context in the 20th century when a Supreme Court justice used that letter to infer that there
should be such separation. Our Founding Fathers never believed that. Our Constitution enshrines freedom of religion--of all faiths. It does not require freedom from religion.
Q: Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values?
A: God loves us,
created each of us in his image, and has a plan for us. But due to sin, we have become separated from God. Out of love, God sent His Son to earth to die for our sins. The blood he shed atones for the sins of all those who accept him as their Lord.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2020 North Carolina Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
Erica Smith:
I earned my stripes; paid my dues; played by the rules
I've been working towards this goal since 2005, really all of my adult life. The Congressional Black Caucus sent me to a political boot camp so that I could work my way up through grassroots leadership to party leadership to local elected office to
statewide elected office to the congressional level. I followed that plan and earned my stripes and paid my dues and played by all the rules.
People want bold ideas that can actually improve their everyday lives. If we're gonna build a winning coalition, we have to talk about health care for all and about clear goals for addressing climate change. That was very important for people in
North Carolina. A livable wage. These are the things we need to be running on, not running from. There was no one to speak to the agenda, whether you want to call it progressive or just a survivor's agenda, which is what I prefer to call it.
Source: The American Prospect on 2022 North Carolina Senate race
Nov 30, 2020
Erica Smith:
Black women come from hard work; should have more value
Financial support has been cited as a barrier by some Black women candidates. Smith agrees that wealth remains an issue and believes the party should reexamine the value of the number of dollars raised. "I didn't come from wealth,
I came from hard work and that is a valuable currency that the political culture has not yet had a reckoning with," said Smith. "Black women, we operate under a different kind of currency that should have more value."
Source: The Charlotte Post on 2022 North Carolina Senate race
Nov 29, 2020
Garland Tucker:
Was less pro-Trump than anti-Clinton
In a column published in The News & Observer before the 2016 election, Tucker outlined his reluctance to Trump's campaign, but ultimately supported him over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Tucker expressed concern, as a Christian, about voting for
Trump, whom he described as "a twice-divorced, self-acknowledged adulterer who has, in the course of this campaign, uttered some of the most unkind, disgusting comments ever made by any American politician."
Source: Raleigh News-Observer on 2020 North Carolina Senate race
May 6, 2019
Garland Tucker:
Delighted and amazed at Trump's commitment to conservatives
In 2016, during the Presidential primary, like other conservatives I had my doubts about Mr. Trump. Without a policy record, I questioned whether he would govern as a conservative. Like millions of Americans, I could not more delighted, and frankly
amazed, at how he has transformed this country in the last two years. His policies and leadership have more than fulfilled his commitment to conservatives and to the American people and I proudly stand with him in his initiatives.
Source: The American Spectator on 2020 North Carolina Senate race
Apr 9, 2019
Greg Brannon:
Tea Party supporter of constitutional conservative fighters
Brannon surprised political observers when he launched a campaign to unseat U.S. Sen. Richard Burr with just hours to go in the campaign finance period. Brannon, a Republican aligned with the Tea Party movement, ran for U.S. Senate last year.
He came in second to Thom Tillis with about 27 percent of the vote in the GOP primary."We're facing the greatest threat to liberty in our lifetime," Brannon tweeted shortly after he filed at the State Board of Elections in
Raleigh. "Now is not the time for go-along-to-get-along Republicans."
While Brannon's candidacy wasn't announced publicly before Monday, he's been criticizing Burr on his Facebook page. "Senator Richard Burr has repeatedly refused to take on
President Obama and the Democrats in Washington, but boy does he love to undercut and smear constitutional conservative fighters like Senator Ted Cruz at every opportunity," he wrote last week.
Source: Raleigh News-Observer on 2016 North Carolina Senate race
Dec 21, 2015
Holly Grange:
Leaders bring people together to get things done
Leaders bring people together to get things done and that's exactly what I will do as Governor. My administration will work with the legislature, not pick fights. My administration will balance budgets, not bloat them. My administration will give
teachers raises, not veto them. My administration will stand up for our veterans and their families, not hold their scholarships hostage. My administration will be transparent and serve with honor, not hide millions of dollars in a pipeline slush fund.
Source: News & Observer on 2020 North Carolina gubernatorial race
Feb 18, 2020
Ken Spaulding:
Land development lawyer; served six years in the state House
Spaulding is the son of a former president of N.C. Mutual Life Insurance, once one of the largest black-owned businesses in the country.
He spent six years in the state House, and is a land development lawyer who was involved in two projects that redefined Durham and surrounding areas: the Treyburn development and Southpoint Mall.
Spaulding said, "I'm looking for North Carolinians to vote for me because I am the best qualified and capable candidate, who can help pull this state back together and who has a record of experience."
Spaulding just turned 71, and says he thinks voters want maturity and responsibility in a candidate. "They are looking for seasoned people," he said.
Source: News-Observer on 2016 North Carolina gubernatorial race
Dec 3, 2015
Marjorie K. Eastman:
Endorsed by Republican women's VIEWPAC
Value In Electing Women Political Action Committee (VIEWPAC) has officially endorsed Marjorie K. Eastman in the race for North Carolina's U.S. Senate seat.
VIEWPAC was founded in 1997 by female Republican members of Congress and professional women to elect Republican women to Congress.
Source: VIEWPAC on 2022 North Carolina Senate endorsements
Oct 12, 2021
Mark Walker:
Judeo-Christian framework is moral; Shariah is a threat
Q: Efforts to bring Islamic law (shariah) to America do not pose a threat to our country and its Constitution?WALKER: Strongly Disagree
Q: Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government?
WALKER: Strongly Agree
Q: Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values?
WALKER: I believed that all men are born with a sin nature in need of forgiveness. I believe the Jesus lived a sinless life on earth, died and rose again and is the mediator between God the Father and man.
I believe salvation is available for all men.
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 North Carolina House race
Sep 30, 2014
Mark Walker:
A record of being both a conservative and a bridge builder
Walker said in the interview, "We have an established record of being both a conservative and a bridge builder.""I think that's something that's easy to be able to identify with the work that we've done,
both for our people who believe in the ideology of limited government, but never getting past the place that we forgot about all of the communities that I represent."
Source: Politico.com on 2022 North Carolina Senate race
Dec 1, 2020
Pat McCrory:
When you try to appease everyone, you satisfy no one
Tonight, you will hear a sobering assessment of our state, but also some recommended actions that will get our economy and state moving again. I already know that during my short tenure here,
I've already stepped on some toes on both the left and the right. I am not doing it to cause pain, but to get us to stand up and recognize that we must solve our serious problems now to prevent pain for future generations.
That's why we're here tonight.But one thing I've learned, I learned during my fourteen years as a mayor, when you try to appease everyone, you satisfy no one.
What motivates me every morning, when I'm so privileged to get up here in Raleigh as your governor, is the opportunity to be part of long term solutions.
Source: 2013 North Carolina State of the State Address
Feb 18, 2013
Pat McCrory:
How do we leave this place better than when we arrived?
I'm doing a lot of thinking about my next moves in my twilight years, in the last quarter of my life. How do we be relevant? How do we make a difference?
How do we leave this place a better place than when we arrived? How can we be an influencer in leaving this Earth a better place than when we arrived? And that's part of my faith responsibility.
Source: The Charlotte Observer on 2022 North Carolina Senate race
Apr 14, 2021
Pat McCrory:
Impeachment: would have voted against convicting Trump
The former governor-turned-radio-host argued that conservative values would guide Republicans in rebuilding the party's path back to power. But he did emphasize he was "a strong supporter" of the former
President, and said he disagreed with North Carolina GOP Sen. Richard Burr's vote to convict Trump for inciting the January insurrection at the Capitol.
Source: CNN.com on 2022 North Carolina Senate race
Apr 12, 2021
Roy Cooper:
Common Ground Solutions instead of either/or choices
The budget I shared two weeks ago reflects the priorities of North Carolina's hard-working people. It contains no increase in taxes. It rejects the false "either/or" choice of either saving or investing. Instead, my budget puts millions in our rainy day
fund while committing to a future of growth.I call this budget "Common Ground Solutions" because it contains many areas of agreement. In Raleigh, partisan battles, power struggles and lawsuits might grab the headlines, but we have to work together
where we can. To look beyond ourselves to see what's right for the state, regardless of who's in power.
That's what the people of North Carolina want us to do, and what common sense demands us to do. So let's get to work. Job recruitment, raising
teacher pay, fighting the opioid crisis, and boosting our infrastructure: these are areas where we already agree more than we disagree. These tasks don't come with a party label for a reason. They are priorities we all share.
Source: 2017 North Carolina State of the State address
Mar 13, 2017
Roy Cooper:
Cast aside notions of red counties or blue counties
Let's cast aside notions of red counties or blue counties and recognize that these are artificial divisions. Let's place integrity at the forefront. We are all North Carolinians. These times of triumph and trial have
shown us that we are more connected than we ever imagined. And one thing is clear, just as we did one hundred years ago--North Carolina is ready to roar again.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address (North Carolina inaugural)
Jan 9, 2021
Sean Haugh:
YouTube-based campaign as Libertarian party nominee
Most evenings, Sean Haugh is a pizza deliveryman. But every other week or so, the Libertarian Party's Senate nominee in North Carolina opens a few craft beers on the counter of the bar in his campaign manager's basement. He takes deep gulps from a pint
glass bearing an image of Austrian-school economist Murray Rothbard and expresses his Everyman frustrations with the current political system into a video camera.So far, Haugh's campaign barely exists anywhere but on YouTube.
But it is doing surprisingly well in a high-stakes Senate contest in which candidates and outside groups have already spent more than $15 million.
Four polls lately put his support somewhere between 8 and 11 percent--not enough to suggest
a realistic possibility of winning, but conceivably enough to affect the outcome of the race. The same surveys show the margin between incumbent Democrat Kay Hagan and her GOP challenger, state House Speaker Thom Tillis, at six points or less.
Source: Washington Post on 2014 North Carolina Senate race
Jul 6, 2014
Sean Haugh:
The spoiler argument is bogus on every level
Asked how he could prevent voters from choosing him over Dr. Greg Brannon (R) if both were on the ballot, D'Annunzio said "if it looked like it was going to be a very tight race, and I was going to wind up being the cause of Greg Brannon to lose to Kay
Hagan, I would endorse him, not withdraw." D'Annunzio views his strategy "as an insurance policy" to ensure there would be "at least one person who believed in liberty on the ballot in the general election."Haugh was not impressed with his opponent's
reasoning. "I have no respect, none, for the spoiler argument," Haugh said. "It is bogus on every level." Haugh believes it is "absolutely vital to have a Libertarian voice in every election possible, especially at the top of the ticket." He said he
would be excited to debate Brannon if both men won their parties' nominations "because there are some stark differences" between them on the issues and their brand of libertarianism. Political science has disproven there is a spoiler effect, Haugh said.
Source: Carolina Journal on 2014 North Carolina Senate debate
Apr 8, 2014
Ted Budd:
Running to stop US from becoming woke, socialist wasteland
A video announcing his campaign features a monster truck referred to as the "liberal agenda crusher," and Budd jokingly saying he doesn't need the monster truck, a marching band or a dog in sunglasses to amplify his campaign
announcement. "We all know
Source: Politico.com on 2022 North Carolina Senate race
Apr 28, 2021
Thom Tillis:
Moral Mondays are for whining losers who oppose GOP agenda
N.C. House Speaker Thom Tillis described opponents of the Republican agenda in the General Assembly as "losers" in an interview. "I think for the most part, what I see from the folks who are opposing our agenda is whining coming from losers," Tillis told
Politico.com when asked about the current political environment. "They lost, they don't like it, and they are going to try to do everything they can to cast doubt on things that I think are wise and that the average citizen will like."
Tillis is one of Gov. Pat McCrory's closest allies and helped engineer majorities in the state House and Senate for the GOP in 2010. McCrory is the state's first Republican governor since 1993.
Democrats and others frustrated by the sharp turn
to the right participated in a series of protests dubbed "Moral Mondays" throughout the General Assembly session. Ministers, teachers and other activists participated in the protests, which migrated to Charlotte and other cities.
Source: Charlotte Business Jnl. on 2014 North Carolina Senate race
Dec 12, 2013
Thom Tillis:
Served on town commission; ousted sitting State House Rep.
More than a decade ago, a push for a mountain bike trail in his hometown of Cornelius led Thom Tillis to politics, first leading him to serve on a park board and then a year later on the town commission.The Republican is returning to the story of his
political roots as he campaigns for the US Senate. "I've only been in office since 2007," he said after filing his candidacy papers last week. "I served for a small time in the town of Cornelius. I was PTA president 8 years ago."
The effort is designed
to portray Tillis as the candidate who can deliver results and push back against his label as the establishment candidate. But it also highlights his start in state politics in 2006 when he ousted a conservative lawmaker in a GOP primary, 2-term
Republican state Rep. John Rhodes. The Tillis-Rhodes race is seared into the minds of some conservative activists; the the leader of the Charlotte Tea Party, said Tillis' effort to beat Rhodes helped sow "a level of distrust among conservatives."
Source: Charlotte Observer on 2014 North Carolina Senate race
Mar 5, 2014
Thom Tillis:
A self-made man who grew up in a trailer park
Tillis' spokesman countered Hagan's attacks by noting that that tax cuts and regulatory changes passed by the General Assembly since Republicans gained power in 2010 have boosted middle-class families and small businesses.Tillis aides concede that
Hagan has gotten a head start raising money and making her pitch to voters, but said voters would come to respect his life story. Tillis, they said, grew up in a trailer park and is a "self-made man."
"Only one candidate has been telling a story,"
said a Tillis strategist. "The Thom Tillis story has yet to be told."
Tillis's campaign, meanwhile, has called Hagan a "rubber stamp" for Obama's policies, chiding her for her vote supporting the president's health-care overhaul.
The voters' negative feelings toward Obama, Tillis aides say, will help mobilize the Republican base. "North Carolinians are really not happy with the direction our country is going in," Keylin said.
Source: Washington Post on 2014 North Carolina Senate race
Aug 13, 2014
Thom Tillis:
Judeo-Christian values established our government framework
Question topic: Efforts to bring Islamic law (shariah) to America do not pose a threat to our country and its Constitution.Tillis: Disagree.
Question topic:
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.
Tillis: Strongly Agree.
Question topic: Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Tillis: Catholic.
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 North Carolina Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
Thom Tillis:
Outspoken in my defense of our freedom of religion
Q: Do you promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles?A: Yes.
Q: What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
A: I have been outspoken in my defense of our freedom of religion.
One example of my commitment to this cause was when Pastor Andrew Brunson was being held in a Turkish prison for practicing his faith and
I helped free him and get him returned safely to America.
Q: Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values?
A: I am Catholic, which informs my belief in the dignity of work and that every life is a precious gift from God.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2020 North Carolina Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
Ted Budd:
Biden is president, but "constitutional concerns" about 2020
On January 6, 2021, Budd voted to object to the congressional certification of Biden's victories in Pennsylvania & Arizona. Budd also expressed support in December 2020 for the Texas-led lawsuit that sought to overturn Biden's win. And three days after
the election in November 2020, Budd joined some of his House Republican colleagues in sending a letter to the US attorney general demanding action in relation to "widespread reports of irregularities, particularly in the vote counting process."
When asked later in 2021 if Biden won the election fair and square, Budd responded, "He did. He's the legitimate president." But after the clip of Budd's comments was circulated in early 2022 by backers of one of his opponents in the
Republican Senate primary, Budd claimed he had been taken out of context. In April 2022 [Budd said] that Biden "is the president, but I have tremendous constitutional concerns about how the election of 2020 happened."
Source: CNN on 2020 Election Denial: 2022 North Carolina Senate race
Sep 15, 2022
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023