(PatriotSpotlight.org) – Kelly Daughtry, who was front-runner in the GOP primary for North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District, has scrapped her campaign before the hotly anticipated May 14 runoff. Her announcement comes after former President Donald Trump publicly endorsed her rival, Brad Knott, a former federal prosecutor.
Daughtry, a Johnston County lawyer, had garnered the highest portion of votes in the first March 5th primary, but he did not secure the 30 percent needed to avoid a runoff. While she had been leading compared to the other 13 candidates, Daughtry stated her withdrawal, stressing that Trump’s support for Knott had slimmed down her prospects of victory. She also said she will “not stop using my voice for the things I believe in,” hinting at her possible future political ambitions.
Writing to social media, Daughtry said she backed the democratic process and Trump’s decision. She also fully endorsed Knott’s candidacy. Knott also secured the backing of third-place finisher Fred Von Canon. Following Daughtry’s backing he warned his supporters against complacency. He stressed the importance of keeping up the momentum for the runoff set to take place on May 14th.
Despite Daughtry suspending her campaign, her name will still appear on the ballot given that early voting for the runoff had already begun, with postal ballots already in circulation. The redrawn 13th Congressional District covers parts of eight counties in a horseshoe-shaped area near Raleigh, the state capital of North Carolina. Its current representative, Democrat Wiley Nickel, said he would not seek reelection following last fall’s boundary changes, which tilted the district in favor of the Republican vote, setting the groundwork for a fiercely contested GOP runoff and general election in November.
Knott is of course still set to face Democratic candidate Frank Pierce in November. Other Democratic incumbents have decided against running due to the redistricting, but the GOP envisions a good chance to preserve its slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives going forward.
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