Don Brown (North Carolina)

Don Brown

Republican Party

Candidate, U.S. Senate North Carolina

Elections and appointments

Next election

November 3, 2026

Education

Bachelor's

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1983

Law

Campbell University School of Law, 1987

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Navy

Years of service

1985 - 2001

Personal

Birthplace

Plymouth, N.C.

Religion

Born Again Christian

Profession

Attorney, Small Business Owner

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Don Brown (Republican Party) is running for election to the U.S. Senate to represent North Carolina. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.^[source]

Biography

Don Brown was born in Plymouth, North Carolina. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1985 to 2001. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in 1983, a law degree from the Campbell University School of Law in 1987, and a military citation from the United States War College (Nonresident - International Law) in 1992.

His career experience includes working as an attorney, a small business owner, and an author. He has been affiliated with the Order of St. Johns, of Jersulaem (Ecumenical Branch).

Elections

2026

See also: United States Senate election in North Carolina, 2026

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for U.S. Senate North Carolina

The following candidates are running in the general election for U.S. Senate North Carolina on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Roy Cooper (D)
	Submit photo	Orrick Quick (D)
		Brooks Agnew (R)
		Don Brown (R)
	Submit photo	Michael Whatley (R)
		Shaunesi Deberry (Unaffiliated Independent)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Wiley Nickel (D)
• Andy Nilsson (R)
• Thom Tillis (R)

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

2024

See also: North Carolina's 8th Congressional District election, 2024

North Carolina's 8th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 Republican primary)

North Carolina's 8th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House North Carolina District 8

Mark Harris defeated Justin Dues in the general election for U.S. House North Carolina District 8 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Harris (R)	59.6	238,640
		Justin Dues (D)	40.4	161,709

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 400,349
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Dan Bishop (R)

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Justin Dues advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 8.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Keith Davenport (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 8

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 8 on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Harris	30.4	24,764
		Allan Baucom	27.0	21,964
		John Bradford III	17.8	14,458
		Don Brown	10.5	8,519
		Leigh Brown	9.6	7,845
		Chris Maples	4.7	3,787

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 81,337
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Brown in this election.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Don Brown has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Don Brown asking him to fill out the survey. If you are Don Brown, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

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You can ask Don Brown to fill out this survey by using the buttons below or emailing db@brownfornc.com.

2024

Don Brown completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Brown's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Former U.S. Navy JAG Officer and Constitutional lawyer.

Represented Army Lt. Clint Lorance, securing a pardon from President Donald Trump from political prosecution against Lorance, under the Obama Administration for a battlefield incident during the Afghan War.

Nationally bestselling author - written 15 books on the U.S. military, many with major publishers,  including 3 national bestsellers. Served as subject matter expert on legal and military matters in numerous national interviews on Fox and other networks. 

Served as legal counsel in federal and appellate courts and EEOC against Biden’s mass vaccination mandates. Investigated shootdown of U.S. helicopter in Afghanistan and authored the Book CALL SIGN EXTORTION 17, leading directly to House Investigation and movie FALLEN ANGEL: Extortion 17, distributed by Salem Media, appearing in the movie as principal subject matter expert.

Multiple guest speaking appearances at national venues, including the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, the Richard Nixon Presidential Library, and The National World War II Museum (broadcast by C-Span).

Written numerous national editorials for Fox News, the American Thinker, the New York Post, the Washington Times, and others.

Endorsed for Congress by former Trump National Security Advisor, Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, U.S. Army (retired).

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Restore Constitutional Government
• Seal the Border.
• Reign in the national debt.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Ending political prosecutions and ending the weaponization of government. Restoring sanity to federal spending. Sealing the border and cracking down with federal death penalty legislation for child sex traffickers and fentanyl importers.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

President Ronald Reagan. Rev. Billy Graham. Pope John Paul II. General George S. Patton. Rev. Rick Joyner. Admiral Chester Nimitz. General Douglas MacArthur. President Donald Trump. Senator Jesse Helms. (not necessarily in that order).

All the above epitomize courage, boldness, vision, and fearlessness against great opposition.

These qualities are desperately needed if we are to save our constitutional republic.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I've written 15 books, including three national bestsellers, and would refer readers to two of them. One is CALL SIGN EXTORTION: The Shootdown of SEAL Team Six, by Don Brown (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers).

A second would be TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE: The Shocking Prosecution of Lt. Clint Lorance, by Don Brown (Wild Blue Press Publishers). This book led to a presidential pardon by President Trump.

Reading these books will help folks understand my philosophies.

Two others that I did not write, but which influenced me early on, are FREE TO CHOOSE, by Milton and Rose Friedman, and WHEN FREE MEN SHALL STAND, by U.S. Senator Jesse Helms.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, a relentless work ethic, love and passion for the Constitutional and being sold out for original-intent constitutional rule in government.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Love of God and the United States Constitution. Track record of successfully battling anti-American and unconstitutional policies, sometimes in federal court, of the Obama and Biden administrations.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

First, to defend the Constitution of the United States, against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

To defend constitutional freedom for the people.

To be a responsible steward of the people's money, and to return money to the people.

Nationalism, not globalism.

To ensure a common national defense through a military, in the words of Reagan, that is "so strong that no potential adversary would ever test its strength"

What legacy would you like to leave?

A legacy of helping return America to her constitutional origins, a radical reduction in deep state power, and a renewed national love of country.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Funeral of President John F. Kennedy. I was 3 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Grass-cutting business at age 17. Kept it for four years, while working on tobacco farms also in the summers.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Bible - Why? It's the unadulterated source of all truth.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Forest Gump.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Oh Holy Night.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Sweets.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The U.S. House, constitutionally, is the one body/branch of government with more constitutional responsibilities than any other branch. Its responsibility over the budget, spending, and lawmaking are constitutionally unique.

The House more than any other body/branch, has the power, if it is used wisely and responsibly, to restore constitutional order to the republic.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

No. Not necessarily.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

The National Debt is an existential threat to the Nation. It must be reigned in, immediately, or the U.S. risks its role as an economic superpower, and our children and grandchildren risk a future of economic bondage.

We face a constitutional crisis, described by one phrase, "weaponization of government." Political prosecutions must come to an end, and prosecutors bringing political prosecutions must face the consequences. Alongside this, the deep, administrative state must be reduced. Agencies, such as the federal Department of Education, should be eliminated.

We face a national security crisis, starting with the Democrats' open borders crises. We must use the US military to seal the borders until a well can be built.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes. That's what the Constitution sets forth. I am a constitutional attorney.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I have endorsed a national petition for Term Limits in the United States Congress. Limits are necessary because absolute power corrupts and power corrupts absolutely.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

No.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Is some areas, yes. In other areas, no. It depends on the issue at stake.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

You are correct. That is exactly what the Constitution lays out as part of the House's responsibility and this is one of the particular reasons. This power, the House's ability, and desperate need to get ahold of spending and budgeting would be among my highest priorities if elected.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

In three areas, the powers should be employed, on a case-by-case basis.

First, where there have been violations of the Constitution by United States Agencies.

Second. where there have been apparently violations of the federal law by United States Agencies.

Third to review wasteful spending by United States Agencies.

There may be other situations where investigations are necessary, but these, listed above are my "big three."

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

General Michal Flynn - former Trump National Security Advisor

The Hon. Lynn Wheeler - former Mayor Pro Tem, City of Charlotte
The Hon. Jim Bell - Mayor of Waxhaw

Working Mothers for Donald Trump

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Don Brown campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2026*	U.S. Senate North Carolina	Candidacy Declared general	$69,514	$26,706
2024*	U.S. House North Carolina District 8	Lost primary	$90,298	$89,457
Grand total			$159,812	$116,164
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

See also

2026 Elections

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Candidate

U.S. Senate North Carolina

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Footnotes

[show]

North Carolina's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Ted Budd (R)

Thom Tillis (R)

Representatives

District 1

Donald Davis (D)

District 2

Deborah Ross (D)

District 3

Gregory Murphy (R)

District 4

Valerie Foushee (D)

District 5

Virginia Foxx (R)

District 6

Addison McDowell (R)

District 7

David Rouzer (R)

District 8

Mark Harris (R)

District 9

Richard Hudson (R)

District 10

Pat Harrigan (R)

District 11

Chuck Edwards (R)

District 12

Alma Adams (D)

District 13

Brad Knott (R)

District 14

Timothy Moore (R)

Republican Party (12)

Democratic Party (4)