Former Gov. Pat McCrory lost the Republican US Senate primary, but in his concession speech on Tuesday night, May 17, he sounded like he’s still running.
According to media reports it was supposed to be a close race, but McCrory got wiped out by 13th District Congressman Ted Budd in the Republican Senate primary. Budd more than doubled McCory’s vote total winning with 58.5 percent of the vote to 25.6 for McCrory.
McCrory managed to win Mecklenburg County where he had been mayor of Charlotte for 14 years, but only by 100 votes. Budd won pretty much everywhere else.
What was missing from McCrory’s concession speech was an endorsement of his fellow Republican, Budd, in his race against Democrat Cheri Beasley, who is a former chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme.
With the US Senate currently split with 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats, each Senate race in November is considered critical by both parties.
But McCrory indicated he’s not sure who is going to support in the fall. He congratulated Budd for his victory but in the same breath congratulated Beasley for hers.
McCrory said, “First of all I want to congratulate Congressman Budd. I also want to congratulate Cheri Beasley.”
McCrory said, “Right now we have to do an evaluation of our party. I want to let you know that you have leverage in this race coming up. You have leverage because our party has got to recognize you as being commonsense conservatives, like I am.”
McCrory even took a swipe at Budd for not participating in the debates. McCrory had attempted to make that into a campaign issue, but judging from the vote totals it didn’t resonate with the voters.
Voters had a host of choices in the primary – 14 Republicans and 11 Democrats on the ballot. But in November it’s going to come down to the Republican Budd and the Democrat Beasley.
So far McCrory hasn’t said who he is going to support.
Poor Pat. Early in the primary contest I was one of a large number of people that were willing to give him a further look. Once his campaign committee, with his approval, along with outside interest money, began to sling mud against both Ted Budd and Mark Walker, (Mark Walker, really? We ALL knew he was running a distant third but I guess they had to spend their millions somewhere) we quickly looked to someone else that seemed to reflect our values, and principles
The public, me in particular, are extremely tired of dirty tricks, misleading ads, and downright ugly mis-truths.
Cheri Beasley ran a clean, value based, campaign, she deserves her party’s nod, but she doesn’t reflect conservative values. Shame on Pat for even teasing the idea of favoring someone besides his party’s choice, Ted Budd.
This merely enforces what I thought: Mr. McCrory is a RINO, and, he has no class. Charlotte can have him.
Not a surprise to me. McCorey was never about America or even North Carolina. He was and is a typical politician – all about himself. Damn glad he did not get my vote in this election.
McCroy is a jerk
Before the GOP Primary, I had hard time deciding between Budd and McCrory, but McCrory’s failure to endorse the clear winner of the GOP Primary means I will NEVER vote for McCrory in any future primary.
But isn’t that a Trump thing to do? Not endorse the winner of a free and fair election? Thought you modern republicans loved all things Trump. LOL
Do you go along with all things Biden? Don’t paint with too broad a brush.
Chris what exactly does McCory have to do with Trump
You must have a grinding wheel in your home to use in sharpening your comments, and can’t wait to trash any conservative who makes a comment.
McCrory will probably vote for Beasley. He’s is such a POS, and everyone knows it. That’s why he got blew out by Budd.
RINO McCRORY shows his true colors! ” Ya know, I just might vote for the Democrat in the general election” – Strange that he never said that while he was running, isn’t it?
All fake conservatives are disingenuous weasels, and deserve our unqualified contempt.
Despicable creeps.
McCrory is toast. Irrelevant. Whiner. I supported him as Gov. Never again.
Another “Sour Grapes” candidate that can’t believe that he was not elevated to the status he felt
entitled to have. The people spoke, so get over yourself.
Yeah, just like Trump.
I agree with Gary,I voted for McCrory for governor,but no more will I ever consider voting for him .Even if he ran for Dog-catcher,.I was so disappointed in him when as governor he tried to veto a Republican house and senate.But we had a veto proof senate and house at the time.In this run for Senate he threw so much mud .Thanks McCrory for showing your true colors,now I don’t have to worry about him at any time at any future elections.Goodbye McCrory go on into retirement.
“Right now we have to do an evaluation of our party” says McCrory.
The correct response is to decide if he is a Republican or Democrat, and for my way of thinking he needs to be in the losing party. . .the Democrats.
I take from his quote McCrory expects the Republican party to incorporate a little of what he and his voters consider as “commonsense conservatism.” They sleep in a memory bubble of a bygone era. It’s all Trump and Trumpism since 2016. Wake up.
McCrory? Oh yes, he’s the guy who decided to go along with the bathroom law letting men go into women’s bathrooms, and women go into men’s bathrooms.
The whole bathroom issue is a farce. If a man thinks he a woman, all he (she) has to do is look down below between his legs and the problem is solved. If not, then it’s not about his sex (er, um, gender), but is a problem of the mind that needs serious help.