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United States Senate election in North Carolina, 2020 (March 3 Democratic primary)

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U.S. Senate, North Carolina
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: December 20, 2019
Primary: March 3, 2020
Primary runoff: June 23, 2020
General: November 3, 2020
Pre-election incumbent:
Thom Tillis (Republican)
How to vote
Poll times: 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Voting in North Carolina
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Inside Elections: Tilt Democratic
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Lean Democratic
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2020
See also
U.S. Senate, North Carolina
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th • 13th
North Carolina elections, 2020
U.S. Congress elections, 2020
U.S. Senate elections, 2020
U.S. House elections, 2020

Cal Cunningham defeated four candidates in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in North Carolina on March 3, 2020.[1][2] With all precincts reporting, Cunningham received 57% of the vote, followed by Erica Smith with 35%.

Cunningham, a member of the Army Reserve and a former state senator (2000-2002), was endorsed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. He focused on expanding Medicaid, lowering prescription drug costs, and eliminating corruption in Washington.

Smith, a state senator since 2015, said she helped bridge the rural-urban divide through economic partnerships with urban centers. She said her platform, which included healthcare for all and a Green New Deal, would energize the base and young people to turn out in November.

Cunningham and Smith both said they would not accept money from corporate PACs. Cunningham raised $4.7 million and had $1.5 million on hand as of February 12. Smith raised $252,000 and had $128,000 on hand.

Through mid-February, satellite spending topped $13 million. VoteVets Action Fund had spent $7.4 million and Carolina Blue had spent $3.2 million on ads supporting Cunningham. Faith and Power PAC spent $2.9 million on ads and other activities supporting Smith. Smith's campaign disavowed the group following media reports that it had Republican connections. Click here to learn more.[3][4][5]

Also running in the primary were Trevor Fuller, Atul Goel, and Steve Swenson.

A candidate needed more than 30 percent of the vote to win the primary outright. Otherwise, a runoff for the top two would have been held May 12 if the second-place finisher requested one.[6]

Incumbent Sen. Thom Tillis (R) was elected to the Senate in 2014, when he defeated then-incumbent Kay Hagan (D) 48.8 percent to 47.3 percent. Republicans held a majority in the Senate during the 116th Congress with 53 seats to Democrats' 45. Two independents caucused with Democrats. Click here to learn more about what's at stake in the general election.

Click on candidate names below to view their key messages:


Cunningham
Smith


This page focuses on North Carolina's United States Senate Democratic primary. For more in-depth information on the state's Republican primary and the general election, see the following pages:

Election procedure changes in 2020

See also: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.

North Carolina modified its primary election process as follows:

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.


Candidates and election results

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate North Carolina

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Cal Cunningham
Cal Cunningham
 
56.9
 
717,941
Image of Erica Smith
Erica Smith
 
34.8
 
438,969
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Trevor Fuller
 
3.8
 
48,168
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Steve Swenson
 
2.7
 
33,741
Image of Atul Goel
Atul Goel
 
1.8
 
22,226

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 1,261,045
Candidate Connection = 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

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways. Either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey or Ballotpedia staff created a profile after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.[7] Ballotpedia staff compiled profiles based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements.

Cal Cunningham

Image of Cal Cunningham

WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

Biography:  Cunningham received a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a master's from the London School of Economics, and a law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law. He served as vice chairman of the Governor’s Crime Commission under Gov. Roy Cooper (D). As of the 2020 election, Cunningham had been a member of the Army Reserves since 2002, an attorney since 2003, and vice president of the company WasteZero since 2013.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Cunningham said he would prioritize his constituents’ interests over those of satellite influencers and partisan politics. He said he would not accept corporate PAC money.

Cunningham said he would work to lower prescription drug costs, strengthen the Affordable Care Act, and expand Medicaid. He said Thom Tillis (R) voted to take away coverage protections for people with pre-existing conditions.

Cunningham said his economic agenda included supporting the creation of high-paying jobs, reducing the costs of healthcare and education, supporting workplace protections, and raising the minimum wage.

Show sources

Sources: Cal Cunningham's 2020 campaign website, "Priorities," accessed October 4, 2020; YouTube, "Listening to North Carolina," June 17, 2019; YouTube, "Time and Again," February 5, 2020; Vote Smart, "Cal Cunningham's Biography," accessed February 10, 2020

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. Senate North Carolina in 2020.

Erica Smith

Image of Erica Smith

WebsiteFacebook

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

North Carolina State Senate (2015-2020)

Biography:  Smith received a bachelor's degree from the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and a master's from the Howard University School of Divinity. Her experience included working in aerospace engineering at Boeing, serving on Northampton County’s Board of Education, and serving as chairwoman of the Northampton County Democratic Party. As of the 2020 election, Smith was a clergywoman and a science and math teacher. She was also co-chair of the Women’s Caucus and a vice chair of the Legislative Black Caucus in the state legislature.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Smith said her record in the state Senate included bridging the rural-urban divide. She said she was "a steadfast advocate for our rural citizens, economic partnerships with urban centers, expansion of high-speed internet across all regions and increasing access to equitable healthcare."

Smith stated that, to beat Tillis in November, Democrats needed a candidate who could inspire turnout among the young and people of color. She said her progressive platform of healthcare for all and a Green New Deal would engage people.

Smith said she was not accepting corporate PAC donations and would only be accountable to her constituents.

Show sources

Sources: Erica Smith's 2020 campaign website, "Why Am I Running?" accessed February 12, 2020,  WUNC, "Erica Smith Says SHE Is The Frontrunner In The Democratic Senate Primary,"  January 28, 2020, Erica Smith's 2020 campaign website, "Home," accessed February 12, 2020; Erica Smith's 2020 campaign website, "North Carolina’s Erica Smith Files Candidacy For U.S. Senate to Unseat Thom Tillis," November 4, 2019, Vote Smart, "Erica Smith's Biography," accessed February 12, 2020

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. Senate North Carolina in 2020.

Endorsements

This section lists endorsements issued in this election. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please email us.


Click on the links below to explore each candidate's full list of endorsements on their campaign websites:

Democratic primary endorsements
Endorsement Cunningham Smith
Newspapers and editorials
The Charlotte Observer editorial board[8] ✔
The INDY editorial board[9] ✔
The Charlotte Post editorial board[10] ✔
Elected officials
State Sen. Floyd McKissick (D) ✔
State Sen. Henry Michaux, Jr. (D) ✔
State Rep. Scott Brewer (D) ✔
State Rep. Kelly Alexander (D) ✔
State Rep. Cecil Brockman (D) ✔
State Rep. Jeff Jackson (D) ✔
State Rep. Grier Martin (D) ✔
State Rep. Ray Russell (D) ✔
Watauga County Board of Commissioners Chairman John Welch ✔
New Hanover County Board of Commissioners Chairman Jonathan Barfield, Jr. ✔
Wake County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Jessica Holmes ✔
Wake County Commissioner Vickie Adamson ✔
Durham County Commissioner Brenda Howerton ✔
Watauga County Commissioner Billy Kennedy ✔
Wake County Commissioner Susan Evans ✔
Wake County Commissioner Sig Hutchinson ✔
Orange County Commissioner Penny Rich ✔
Guilford County Commissioner Carlvena Foster ✔
West Jefferson Mayor Dale Baldwin ✔
Boone Mayor Pro Tem Loretta Clawson ✔
North Wilkesboro Mayor Robert Johnson ✔
Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan ✔
Greensboro Mayor Pro Tem Yvonne Johnson ✔
Winfall Mayor Fred Yates ✔
10 city councilmembers (hover over for list) ✔
2 city councilmembers (hover over for list) ✔
Individuals
Former U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan (D) ✔
Former U.S. Rep. Eva Clayton (D) ✔
Former North Carolina Treasurer Janet Cowell (D) ✔
6 former state senators (hover over for list) ✔
7 former state representatives (hover over for list) ✔
Former state Rep. Linda Coleman ✔
Former North Carolina Democratic Party Chairwoman Betty Ray McCain ✔
Former Forsyth County Democratic Party Chairwoman Berni Gaither ✔
Former Union County Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy Rorie ✔
Former U.S. Ambassador to Austria William Eacho ✔
Former U.S. Ambassador to Barbados,
Dominica, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Antigua,
Grenada, and St. Kitts-Nevis Jeanette Hyde		 ✔
Co-Founder of Lillian’s List of North Carolina Laura Edwards ✔
Co-Founder of Pride PAC Jesse L. White Jr. ✔
Former Executive Director, National Education Association John I. Wilson ✔
Former Chairwoman fo Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People E. Lavonia Allison ✔
Former NC-09 candidate Dan McCready (D) ✔
Organizations
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ✔
Brady Campaign ✔
End Citizens United ✔
International Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers ✔
Carolinas Electrical Workers Association ✔
JStreetPAC ✔
League of Conservation Voters ✔
North Carolina AFL-CIO ✔
The Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics of North Carolina ✔
Teamsters Local 391 ✔
Communications Workers Of America Local 3611 ✔
The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare ✔
VoteVets ✔
Voter Protection Project ✔
North Carolina Association of Educators[11] ✔
Brady PAC[12] ✔
Build The Wave ✔
Democracy Works for NC ✔
Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People ✔
Equality North Carolina PAC ✔
Flip The Senate ✔
People’s Alliance PAC ✔
State Employees Association of North Carolina ✔
Raleigh Wake Citizens Association ✔
Gaston Progressives United[13] ✔
North Carolina Public Service Workers Union[14] ✔

Campaign finance

This section contains campaign finance figures from the Federal Election Commission covering all candidate fundraising and spending in this election.[15] It does not include information on fundraising before the current campaign cycle or on spending by satellite groups. The numbers in this section are updated as candidates file new campaign finance reports. Candidates for Congress are required to file financial reports on a quarterly basis, as well as two weeks before any primary, runoff, or general election in which they will be on the ballot and upon the termination of any campaign committees.[16] The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission.

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Cal Cunningham Democratic Party $52,569,134 $52,395,430 $173,704 As of December 31, 2020
Trevor Fuller Democratic Party $31,598 $30,038 $458 As of September 30, 2019
Atul Goel Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Erica Smith Democratic Party $239,740 $220,409 $19,331 As of December 31, 2020
Steve Swenson Democratic Party $2,500 $1,965 $535 As of December 31, 2019

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2020. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.
*** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.


Campaign themes

See also: Campaign themes

The following campaign themes were found on candidates' campaign websites.

Cal Cunningham

“

Here are Cal’s priorities as North Carolina’s next Senator. As he travels the state meeting with North Carolinians, Cal will seek input and feedback on the issues that matter most to folks across the state, which will help guide his vision for moving our state forward.

Lower Cost, Accessible Health Care

One of the most frequent issues Cal hears about as he travels across the state is the urgent need to improve access and bring down the cost of health care for families – and that is exactly what he will fight for in the U.S. Senate. North Carolinians continue to struggle with the rising cost of premiums, co-pays, and prescription drugs, and there are still more than 1 million people in our state without any coverage at all.

Cal knows our health care system isn’t perfect and there are real issues Congress needs to work together to fix. In the Senate, Cal will fight to strengthen and extend coverage under the Affordable Care Act, expand Medicaid in North Carolina, create a public health insurance option, support rural hospitals, address doctor shortages, support life-saving research to prevent and treat diseases like cancer and HIV/AIDS, and ensure no one loses their employer-sponsored coverage who wants to keep it. Cal will also work to lower the cost of prescription drugs through efforts like allowing Medicare to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies.

Cal will oppose any effort in Washington to cut Medicare benefits, and he will stand up against the politicians and special interests that want to repeal the Affordable Care Act, gut protections for people who have a pre-existing medical condition, and allow big insurance companies to impose what the AARP calls an “age tax” on older North Carolinians that could cost them thousands of dollars more. In the Senate, Cal will also do everything he can to stop the dangerous lawsuit pushed forward by Washington Republicans that would dismantle the Affordable Care Act and its protections.

Economic Opportunity for All

Cal believes that the only economy that truly works is an economy that generates opportunities for everyone. Right now, though, the economy is steeply tilted in favor of the wealthy few and against regular families struggling to keep up with the rising cost of college, housing, and medical care and still make ends meet. Growing income and wealth inequality in our country is being fueled by the recent tax law that overwhelmingly benefits the largest corporations and the ultra-wealthy while leaving middle-class and poor families further behind and leaving us with a pile of debt for future generations.

Cal will fight for a more equitable economy and living wage in every community by standing with workers to support efforts to promote good-paying full-time jobs with benefits, rein in the cost of higher education and health care, defend workplace protections, and finally raise the minimum wage. And at a time when women in North Carolina and across the country still don’t earn equal pay for equal work, Cal will support efforts to close the wage gap and ensure paycheck fairness for all women.

Agriculture is one of the most important parts of North Carolina’s economy, and Cal will work in the Senate to defend North Carolina’s farming families against reckless tariffs and revitalize rural communities through economic development and investments in priorities like expanding access to rural broadband.

Cal recognizes that too many communities across North Carolina have seen generations of economic inequality due to institutionalized racial discrimination and the resulting disparities in inter-generational wealth. He believes we need innovative policies that break down historical barriers and encourage capital investment in communities of color and minority-owned businesses to reverse the legacy of economic injustice.

Cal also believes we need to make investments in our nation’s infrastructure, in the research and development that drives innovation, in North Carolina’s growing technology and biotechnology sectors, and in our human capital by supporting strong public education.

Improving Education

The quality of our children’s education shouldn’t depend on where they grow up, their family circumstances, their race, their wealth, or a disability, and Cal believes that public education—and the investments we make in our children through schools—should be an engine of opportunity for all North Carolinians.

Cal will fight to pay teachers what they deserve, to develop, respect, and strengthen the profession, and to recruit, train, and retain the best educators for our students. This means doing more to make sure the profession is reflective of the diversity of the students and families it serves, with particular emphasis on recruiting African American and Latinx people into the profession.

Cal also knows how critical it is that our students have the support they need to pursue their dreams, and Cal supports a national strategy to invest in opportunity through public schools including by fully funding Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, to provide schools the resources they need to succeed and close significant funding gaps between districts. In addition, rural districts need stable and reliable funding to deliver supplemental support services to meet their special needs. Cal also supports investment in specialized instructional support personnel — the counselors, psychologists, and other professionals—who address children’s unique academic and developmental needs, so every child can thrive in school.

Cal is a longtime supporter of early childhood education, including having voted in the state Senate to start what is now North Carolina Pre-K, and is committed to investment in our children through Head Start and other early childhood programs that address the needs of the whole child. To build capacity to deliver early childhood education, we need to develop a more robust pipeline of early childhood educators.

The opportunity to pursue higher education should be available to anyone who seeks it and not just a privilege for those who can afford it. In the Senate, Cal will lead the fight to lower the cost of college, expand access to community college and technical training, and reduce the burden of student loan debt. North Carolina also has a proud tradition of strong public universities and our Historically Black Colleges and Universities are a critical part of our higher education system. Cal will work to ensure the federal government increases investment and support for these important institutions.

Cal is also proud of the policy work his wife Elizabeth has done to advance high-quality public education in North Carolina. He trusts the education of his own two children to the public schools of North Carolina and wants all of North Carolina’s children to experience the best our state’s public schools have to offer.

Taking on Climate Change & Protecting North Carolina’s Environment

North Carolina has seen the effects of climate change firsthand through the historic storms and flooding that have ravaged our state — which is why Cal knows this is one of the most urgent issues facing us. He believes that in order to combat this crisis, we need to invest in a clean energy economy that will create good-paying jobs, reduce carbon pollution, and make North Carolina a leader. Solar energy is already spreading across this state, providing good-paying jobs for our workers and economic investment in rural areas. North Carolina has the research facilities to design the next generation solar panels and the manufacturing base to lead on solar energy and Cal intends to help that happen.

North Carolina has also seen coal ash spills, drinking water tainted by GenX, and rapid loss of open space, and Cal believes we need to do more to protect North Carolina’s environment and natural resources. As a State Senator, Cal helped pass landmark clean air legislation that reduced harmful pollutants from coal-fired power plants by over 80%, and key land preservation legislation. In the private sector, Cal has helped lead an award-winning environmental company that works with communities to reduce waste and boost recycling.

Cal is proud to have been endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters, who recognize his strong commitment to fighting climate change and building a clean energy economy.

Protecting Women’s Health & Rights

Cal believes that a woman’s choice is a woman’s right. That’s why he will always defend Roe v. Wade against partisan attacks and knows there is no place for a politician in a conversation between a woman and her doctor. Cal believes in ensuring women have access to reproductive care, and he is strongly opposed to partisan efforts in Washington to attack and defund Planned Parenthood, which provides health care services to thousands of North Carolinians.

Preventing Gun Violence

As an Army veteran who has been trained to use a firearm, Cal understands the responsibility that comes with carrying a weapon. He also knows, as the father of two, the fear that parents experience when they drop their kids off at school and wonder if they will come home safe.

Cal believes there are commonsense steps we can take to protect our communities from gun violence while protecting the rights of law-abiding citizens. Cal will work to keep our kids safe and to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, criminals, and terrorists by supporting efforts to expand background checks, ban the sale of high-capacity magazines, pass red flag laws, and fund gun violence research on an issue that has become a public health crisis. He is also proud of his work on Governor Cooper’s Crime Commission creating recommendations to curb the risk of school shootings.

Fixing Our Broken Immigration System

As an Army veteran, Cal takes the safety and security of North Carolinians seriously, including border security. He also knows we can keep America safe without compromising America’s values to be a leader to the world when it comes to freedom and liberty.

Cal believes we must pass comprehensive immigration reform that fixes our broken system and modernizes it for the economy of today, grows North Carolina’s economy, protects DREAMers, and provides a fair pathway to citizenship. Instead of separating families and caging children, we should be investing in the necessary technology and trained staff to secure our borders. What we need are leaders with the courage to reject the politics of fear and work across party lines to pass comprehensive reform.

Reforming Broken Washington

Cal believes that political corruption in Washington is a fundamental barrier to progress for our state and country.

As North Carolina’s next Senator, Cal will fight for campaign finance reform, fair maps, independent redistricting, and a political system that empowers voters to make their voices heard. Cal has pledged not to accept any corporate PAC money, and he supports overturning the Supreme Court’s disastrous Citizens United decision that has allowed unlimited dark money to pour into our elections. He also believes the Senate should reform the filibuster rule that is too often abused by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to promote gridlock and stop votes on important legislation that would help North Carolina’s hardworking families. Cal has personally pledged never to become a lobbyist after serving in the Senate and believes we need to end that revolving door.

Cal is proud to have been endorsed by End Citizens United and the Voter Protection Project because of his strong support for fixing our democracy and getting big money out of politics.

Respecting Our Veterans

Cal believes we owe our men and women in uniform, and their families, a debt that can never fully be repaid, and there can be no excuses when it comes to fighting for their well-being, both on and off the battlefield.

Cal is an Army veteran who has served three active duty tours, including in Iraq and Afghanistan, and still serves in the Army Reserves. Looking out for North Carolina’s veterans and military families is personal to him.

Military service is also part of North Carolina’s DNA, and our leaders in Washington should be unwavering in their support of our service members and military families. To Cal, that means fighting for military project funding in North Carolina, working to ensure the Veterans Administration runs efficiently and leaves no veteran behind, supporting our troops who are wrestling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in order to lower the suicide rate among those who served, and expanding educational and job opportunities for veterans when they return to civilian life. In particular, the VA needs additional resources to support the growing ranks of women who serve, including to address incidences of domestic and sexual assault.

Protecting and Expanding Voting Rights

The right for citizens to make their voices heard at the ballot box is fundamental to our democracy, and Cal will work to protect and expand the right to vote so that all eligible, law-abiding citizens can participate in our elections.

Cal supports efforts to expand access to voting and prevent voter suppression, like restoring the Voting Rights Act, extending early voting, and making it easier to register to vote by enacting reforms like automatic voter registration and making Election Day a federal holiday. He will also oppose efforts that restrict the right to vote, like unnecessarily purging voters from the rolls.

Cal is endorsed by the Voter Protection Project because of his commitment to making sure every eligible North Carolinian has the right to cast a ballot.

Equal Rights

Cal believes that the story of North Carolina belongs to all of us. The story of North Carolina is still being written, and we must make the next chapter as one that fairly includes everyone, no matter who they are, who they love, or the color of their skin.

For Cal, that means standing with the LGBTQI community and communities of color in the fight against regressive policies. Cal supports advancing the long-overdue passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), passing the Equality Act to protect LGBTQI North Carolinians from discrimination in housing and the workplace, reforming our criminal justice system, and restoring the Voting Rights Act so that our elected representatives reflect the will of the people.

Cal also believes we need vigorous enforcement of our nation’s civil rights laws to tear down the vestiges of discrimination and open the doors of opportunity to all North Carolinians.

Reforming our Criminal Justice System

Cal is committed to criminal justice reform. More than 2 million Americans are in prison and another 5 million are in jail or on parole on any given day. That exacts a tremendous social and economic cost from this country, which is why Cal believes we should revisit mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent offenders.

Because prisons and jails are not a substitute for mental health and substance abuse services, Cal is in favor of refocusing efforts on preventing violent crime instead of locking up people who, more than anything, need mental health or addiction treatment. Cal draws inspiration from the recommendations in the Task Force on Twenty-First Century Policing for ways to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and the communities it serves.

We should also work to reduce recidivism by investing in programs and supports that give people who have paid their debt to society the opportunity to re-enter their communities with dignity and contribute to their families and neighborhoods. Cal also supports innovations in restorative justice, curbing the abuse of cash bail, eliminating for-profit prisons, and allowing states to develop their own regulation and taxation of cannabis, while putting resources into public health and substance abuse treatment.

As a former Army prosecutor who litigated cases of sexual assault and as a former Vice Chairman of Governor Cooper’s Crime Commission, Cal understands that too often, our justice system has failed many North Carolinians, especially young people of color and those with limited means. Cal is proud of his work on the Governor’s Crime Commission, where he served as chair of the Task Force to Improve Staffing and Security in North Carolina’s Prisons. He also helped lead the Commission’s work to address the “school-to-prison pipeline” and advocated for better funding and coordination of multi-disciplinary programs to support at-risk youth.

Keeping Our Country Safe

Cal believes there is nothing more important to ensuring the safety of our nation than smart diplomacy and a forward-thinking foreign policy strategy that ensures we’re working with our global allies and staying tough on our adversaries like North Korea, Iran and Russia.

After the attacks on September 11, 2001, Cal volunteered to join the U.S. Army Reserve and has since served three active duty tours, including overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was awarded the Bronze Star and the prestigious General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award, in part for groundbreaking work prosecuting contractors for criminal misconduct, and the last three years he has trained special operations forces at Fort Bragg.

As someone who served and who comes from a long line of veterans, he understands the consequences that a reckless foreign policy can have on our military personnel and their families. Whether it’s investing in securing our electric grid, bolstering cybersecurity, or defending our elections against foreign interference, Cal believes we need a strong national defense that is focused on what we need to do to protect ourselves in the 21st century. As North Carolina’s next Senator, Cal will work to invest in the training and professional development of our service members who keep us safe and secure around the world, and he will never allow military project funding that benefits troops and their families to be raided by politicians in Washington for partisan purposes.[17]

”
—Cal Cunningham's 2020 campaign website[18]

Erica Smith

“

Economic Expansion

As an engineer by training – I firmly believe that systems should be analyzed and re-engineered for optimization and enhancing outcomes. Our nation was built from rural investments to urban industrialism. In the last three decades – declining population, loss of manufacturing jobs, lowering prices of agriculture commodities and more recently – tariffs, have placed the rural regions of our country in economic distress. I support targeted and strategic investments in water and sewer infrastructure, broadband, agriculture innovation, biofuels, clean energy options of wind, solar, and our highway system in order to revitalize rural economies. In closing the rural-urban divide through these re-investments – we will be able to create jobs while stabilizing underserved communities and strengthen our economy. In promoting economic development, we must work closely with our community colleges for building a skilled workforce and k-12 education systems for promoting career ready graduates. Main street revitalization and access to federal incentive programs are key contributors to growing corporate and small businesses, creating 21st century jobs and securing prosperity for all Americans. The formulas we write in Washington DC should work in all areas of our Union.

We are at a critical juncture in our nation where we must use our economic tools to promote job creation through ensuring a healthy environment for growth and support of small businesses. Our economic policies, tax and spend planning and regulations should be constructed in a manner that provides businesses with certainty and incentives, and consumers with confidence and more income. Tax cuts, government spending and fiscal policy should build the middle class and benefit more than the wealthy. I favor conservative fiscal principles and believe that retooling our formulas for business incentives should prioritize job creation.

  • SB 137 – Surcharge Transparency
  • SB 174 – Economic Security Act of 2017
  • SB 236 – Efficient and Affordable Energy Rates
  • SB 255 –
  • SB 329 – Econ. Dev./Renewable Energy Credit
  • SB 335 – Budget Technical Corrections & Study
  • SB 340 – Econ. Dev./Job Catalyst Fund
  • SB 354 – North Carolina Healthcare Jobs Initiative
  • SB 170 – Remove Limits on Light Rail Funding
  • SB 171 – Remove Limits on Light Rail Funding
  • SB 172 – Remove Limits on Light Rail Funding
  • SB 174 – Economic Security Act of 2017
  • SB 592 – Small Business Access to Capital Act
  • ^SB 615 – Rural Broadband/Infrastructure
  • ^SB 137 – Economic Security Act
  • SB 310 – Electric Co-Op Rural Broadband Services
  • SB 315 – North Carolina Farm Act of 2019
  • SB 505 – Rural Job Retention Act
  • SB 591 – One NC Funding for Small Businesses
  • SB 627 – Expand GREAT Grant Program
  • SB 652 – Small Business Capital Improvement Account
  • ^SB 665 – Omnibus Rural Investment Act
  • ^SB 666 – Cybersecurity and Robotics Funds

^Primary Sponsor

Environmental Stewardship

Our state and nation is rich with agriculture, eco-tourism, natural resources, including mountains, beautiful lakes, rivers, streams and coastal beaches. I support environmentally responsible growth that harnesses these resources toward promoting clean energy initiatives, fishing and wildlife protections as well as our state’s number 1 industry “farming”. I support solar and wind energy installations, broadband expansion and environmental justice for land owners.


A Green New Deal Promoting Environmental Stewardship!


Currently, I represent several counties in northeastern NC that experienced major impacts from Hurricanes Matthew and Florence. I learned, first-hand, the importance of providing responses to natural disasters with an organized, comprehensive and structured response that address immediate emergency needs and sets resiliency planning. The types of 100-year, and 500-year floods that we have experienced in two years across this nation is a warning to America that we must have a more proactive plan to deal with global warming, climate control and disaster responsiveness. Communication is a key component in responding to disasters. In this vain, we must continue to invest in satellite and communications technology that provide early prediction and monitoring of storm patterns in order to evacuate as many people as possible out of the eye of the storm. We must further perform analysis of climate change and implement policy and target goals for reducing emissions and carbon-power generation. Other necessary steps would be to re-locate threatening industries outside of the flood plains so that we can limit pollution to our clean water supplies that result from spillage, pond overflow, and flooding. Our local, state and federal planners must optimize engineering designs for emergency structures that withstand category 2, 3, 4 winds and stop relying on schools – many of which are in no condition to safely house residents in a storm. There must be federal, state and local efforts to audit regulations, policies and statutes with various EPA, Emergency Management and FEMA related to crisis response and modify any current practices for more optimized results.

  • ^SB 236 – Efficient and Affordable Energy Rates
  • ^SB 257 – Steel Manufacturing Slag.
  • SB 447 – Energy Investment Act
  • SB 372 – Renewable Energy Safe Harbor
  • ^SB 236 – Efficient and Affordable Energy Rates
  • SB 657 – Study Hexavalent Chromium in Groundwater
  • ^SB 2 – School Calendar and Pay/ Hurricane Florence
  • ^SB 3 – 2018 Hurricane Florence Disaster Recovery Act
  • SB 77 – Ag Disaster Fund/Certain Counties
  • SB 511 – EV Charging Station/Parking
  • SB 513 – State Clean Energy Goal for 2050
  • SB 648 – Support Shellfish Aquaculture
  • SB 651 – Polluter Pays
  • SB 653 – Add'l Measures for Emerging Contaminants
  • SB 655 – Ban PFAS in Fire Retardant Foam
  • ^SB 663 – Agricultural Relief Act

^Primary Sponsor

Education Equity

I believe it is time to bring a universally progressive, business-minded and workforce connected emphasis to K-12 education. My unique experiences as a secondary STEM educator and former school board member empower me with the understanding of optimizing stakeholder connections. If we are to regain our standings as international leaders in public education promoting career and college readiness curriculum, then we must retool our public education system. With the Federal Every Student Succeeds Acct (ESSA), we finally have the flexibility to implement an accountability program that promotes problem-based learning over high stakes testing. We can better prepare workers for the 21st century by aligning our curriculum with enhanced Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.) in companion with multidisciplinary ‘whole-child’ curriculum. We should further tailor individualized education plans that prepare every student for a brighter future regardless of their choice of learning environment (Traditional, Home, Virtual, Charter, Nonpublic, hybrid). I will work to provide a quality K-12 education for students and the resources they need to acquire this in the learning environment most conducive for their progress, with a priority on strengthening the public schools of our nation.

Community Colleges with strong curriculum programs and short-term workforce training offer the optimized option for retooling our workforce and ensuring the security of America with an educated citizenry and large pool of skilled labor. We must make Community College as affordable as possible, or at minimal cost of less than $500 in tuition per term. While I am an engineer by training, I warn against having an over-emphasis on S.T.E.A.M. that discounts the need for skilled trade and fastest growing professions of personal care, wind turbine and solar panel maintenance and installation. Through apprenticeship programs – we can enhance the workforce needed for 21st century jobs and professions that do not require a four-year, Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree.

  • ^SB 5 – Public School Building Bond Act of 2018
  • SB 30 – Value Student Learning Act
  • SB 31 – Restore Teaching Fellows Program
  • SB 107 – Restore Masters-Degree Pay for All Teachers
  • SB 147 – Reenact School Sales Tax Holiday
  • SB 149 – Modify School Performance Grades
  • SB 153 – Military Retiree State Income Tax Relief
  • SB 154 – Charitable Fund-Raising for Nonprofit Orgs
  • ^SB 259 – School Calendar Flex./ Certain School Systems
  • SB 121 – The Excellence in School Leadership Act
  • ^SB 226 – School Calendar Flex./Certain School Systems
  • SB 228 – Voter Freedom Act
  • ^SB 233 – Permit Align School/Comm. College Calendar
  • SB 234 – SBA Pay/Needs-Based Pub. Sch. Capital Fund
  • ^SB 259 – Restore Master’s Degree Pay for All Teachers
  • SB 283 – Classroom Experience for School Personnel
  • SB 301 – Need-Based Scholarships/Private Colleges
  • SB 312 – Surplus Computers for Low-Income Students
  • ^SB 318 – School Calendar Flexibility/PED Report
  • ^SB 321 – School Calendar Flexibility/PED Report
  • SB 332 – Repeal HB 2
  • SB 384 – Increase Pay/Experienced Teachers
  • SB 409 – Need-Based Scholars/Private Colleges
  • SB 418 – Dyslexia Kindergarten Screening
  • ^SB 447 – Turning TAs Into Teachers
  • SB 448 – Professors in the Classroom
  • SB 449 – Early Ed Articulation Agreement
  • SB 706 – HBCU Innovation Fund
  • SB 401 – Pilot/Sports for Students w/ Disabilities
  • ^SB 855 – Modify School Performance Grades
  • SB 149 – Modify School Performance Grades
  • SB 301 – Need-Based Scholarships/Private Colleges
  • SB 418 – Dyslexia Kindergarten Screening
  • SB 438 – Allow Senior Citizens to Audit UNC/CC Courses
  • SB 439 – Funds/Eliminate NC Pre-K Waitlist Statewide
  • SB 442 – Study/Expand Computer Science to All Students
  • ^SB 447 – Turning TAs Into Teachers
  • ^SB 466 – CIHS Funds
  • SB 652 – Increase Access to Higher Education
  • SB 319 – Modify Weighting/School Performance Grades
  • SB 298 – Private IHE/Campus Police/Need-Based Schol.
  • SB 329 – K-3 Reading and Literacy Improvement Act.
  • ^SB 389 – Surplus Computers for Public Schools
  • SB 399 – Rehire High-Need Teachers
  • SB 487 – Student Meal Debt Policy
  • ^SB 500 – Modify Advanced Math Course Enrollment
  • ^SB 582 – NC Comprehensive School Accountability
  • SB 602 – NC Hope Tuition Program
  • SB 654 – Charter Schools Provide Transp. & Food
  • ^SB 661 – UNC HBCU Funding Parity/NC A&T Doc. Programs
  • ^SB 48 – Permit Align School/Comm. College Calendar

^Primary Sponsor

Equitable Healthcare

North Carolina and Congress has a duty to our citizens to provide access to health care, whether long term care and assisted living for senior citizens through Medicare or by expanding Medicaid for those who struggle and cannot afford access. According to a recent Health Insurance Org study, NC’s failure to expand Medicaid has resulted in denied coverage for over 800,000 eligible patients, rejection of approximately $40 billion dollars over the next decade, a denial of over 40,000 health care jobs that could be created and the likely more than 1000 deaths per year due to lack of access to care. Our citizens pay taxes that fund Medicaid expansion in other states. This is not right, and we can do better than this.

Improved Medical Care / Healthcare for all!

When elected to serve as your next US Senator, I will fight to maintain affordable healthcare for all Americans, prescription drug price controls, advancing medical research for curing cancer, HIV/AIDS, and access to Women’s Reproductive Healthcare.

In addition, I am committed to improving health ratings in low scoring regions and populations in our country through coordinated strategies for improving ratings. I will work hard as your US Senator to increase access to preventative health, increase recreation access and fitness awareness and promote access to healthy food options. Nationally – we can seek more resources through Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for funding programs to address these disparities through community health partnerships. Providing more access to preventative care by closing the healthcare coverage gap through expansion of affordable healthcare for all would make a tremendous impact with reducing high costs of patient emergency care and provide early diagnosis and prevention of serious illness. Addressing food deserts and consequent lack of healthy options through farm-to-table initiatives, community gardens. USDA grants, and healthy eating public service programs. Promoting ecotourism and recreation through expanding development of walking, biking and scooter trails across underserved communities. I will also work to revise our elementary and secondary education standards of learning to include an increase in physical education requirements for students K-12, revising FDA, USDA, regulations to promote healthier national standards would also be an effort I would promote on the Hill to improve the lives of North Carolinians and all Americans.

  • SB 152 – NC Cancer Treatment Fairness
  • SB 305 – Raise Awareness About Alzheimer’s & Dementias
  • SB 311 – DHHS Study/Maternal and Neonatal Care
  • SB 328 – Lower Cost of Cataracts for Seniors Act
  • SB 339 – Healthy Families and Workplaces/Paid Sick Days
  • ^SB 610 – Healthy Pregnancies/Prisoners and Detainees
  • ^SB 522 – Raise Awareness of Lupus
  • SB 152 – NC Cancer Treatment Fairness
  • SB 328 – Lower Cost of Cataracts for Seniors Act
  • SB 424 – Increase Funding for Behavioral Health Svcs.
  • SB 458 – Increase Inmate Health Care
  • ^SB 472 – Streamline CAP/CDSA Services Pilot
  • ^SB 483 – NC Comprehensive School Accountability
  • ^SB 639 – Healthy Mother, Healthy Child
  • SB 3 – Close the Medicaid Coverage Gap
  • SB 439 – PED Study-DPS/Health Services/Funds for FTE
  • ^SB 501 –
  • SB 558 – Enact NC Healthy Pregnancy Act
  • SB 601 – School-Based Mental Health
  • ^SB 787 – Small Farms to Healthier School Initiative
  • ^SB 658 – Prescription Drug Pricing
  • SB 296 – Healthy Food Small Retailer/Corner Store Act

^Primary Sponsor

Equal Justice, Access, Opportunity, Protection And Reform

I firmly believe that the way our laws are written, implemented and applied have a disparate impact on poor people and minorities. While my list is not comprehensive, the following are initiatives that I seek to balance with fairness, equity, public safety and justice.

  • I support Senator Corey Booker’s Marijuana Justice Act. Marijuana should be legalized and the prison sentences for same should be reduced or commuted commensurate with decriminalization of opioids and more compassionate approaches to victims of the opioid epidemic;
  • I support implementation of 2012 and 2014 Department of Justice Community Policing Recommendations and Guidelines for Implementation of School Discipline Policies that enhance nondiscrimination protections of Title IV and Title VI Protections under the 1964 Civil Rights Act
  • I support reinstatement of Section V of the 1965 Civil Rights Act, universal and automatic voter registration, Election Day Holiday and protection of our electoral process from interference from foreign governments
  • Equal Pay for Equal Work, Closing the gender and demographic earnings gaps
  • Common Sense gun control that bans bump stocks and assault rifles and enhances universal background checks
  • Gender equity and protections for LGBTQ communities from harassment and discrimination
  • No money bonds for misdemeanors and low level felonies in advancing the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment
  • Sentence restructuring for non-violent, low level drug offenders
  • Strengthening laws against human trafficking, opioid trafficking and prescription controls
  • SB 3 – Close the Medicaid Coverage Gap
  • SB 103 – Notice to Vote Absentee Ballot W/out Photo ID
  • ^SB 167 – Healthy Mother, Healthy Child
  • SB 173 – Housing Juveniles Under 18 in County Facility
  • SB 175 – Strengthen Opioid Misuse Prevention (STOP) Act
  • SB 179 – Recognize Chowanoke Tribe
  • SB 310 – Domestic Violence/Bail and Aggravating Factor
  • SB 352 – State Crime Lab Capacity Act/Funds
  • SB 445 – Expungement Process Modifications
  • SB 532 – Eugenics Amendments/County Victims
  • ^SB 612 – Nondiscrimination in Public Employment
  • SB 613 – Prohibit Discriminatory Profiling
  • ^SB 611 – The I WILL Act
  • SB 175 – Strengthen Opioid Misuse Prevention (STOP) Act
  • SB 228 – Voter Freedom Act
  • SB 302 – Concussion Protocol/County Rec.
  • SB 332 – Repeal HB 2
  • SB 456 – Increase De-Escalation Training for LEOs
  • SB 537 – North Carolina Equal Pay Act
  • SB 554 – Fair Redistricting/Postmark and Absentee Ballots
  • SB 564 – Juvenile Justice Reinvestment Act
  • ^SB 638 – Funds to Enhance Tribal Recognition
  • ^SB 639 – SB 167 – Healthy Mother, Healthy Child
  • SB 663 – The I. Beverly Lake, Jr., Fair Trial Act
  • SB 452 – Expand Allowable Medical Uses of CBD Oil
  • SB 550 – Modernization of Drug Court Program
  • SB 579 – The Catherine A. Zanga Medical Marijuana Bill
  • SB 46 – Standing up for Rape Victims Acts of 2019
  • ^SB 184 – NC Adopt Equal Rights Amendment
  • ^SB 209 – Hate Crimes Prevention Act
  • SB 294 – Make General Election Day a State Holiday
  • SB 455 – Equality for All
  • SB 464 – Full Repeal of HB2
  • SB 486 – North Carolina Equal Pay Act
  • SB 502 – "Ban the Box"
  • SB 544 – Establish Non-Opioid Treatment Alternatives
  • SB 561 – Education/Job Readiness in Prisons and Jails
  • SB 562 – The Second Chance Act
  • SB 563 – Right to Revoke Consent
  • SB 565 – Extreme Risk Protection Orders
  • SB 579 – Prison Reform Act of 2019
  • SB 630 – Up SHP Pay & LEO Benefits/Death Penalty
  • SB 656 – Const. Amendment/Repeal Literacy Test
  • ^SB 660 – Gen. Assembly/Prevent Workplace Harassment
  • ^SB 665 – Omnibus Rural Investment Act
  • SB 683 – Combat Absentee Ballot Fraud
  • ^SB 673 – N.C. Citizens Redistricting Commission
  • ^SB 662 – Pilots to Establish "No Money" Bail Bonds
  • ^SB 710 – Service Worker Tax Reduction Act
  • ^SB 789 – Gen Ass/Prevent Workplace Harassment

^Primary Sponsor

Re-engineering Policies For Progress

  • IMMIGRATION – I support the DREAM Act without exiting the country for access to a fair, legal route to citizenship
  • LIVE-ABLE WAGE (increasing the minimum wage) – I support a federal baseline for an incremental increase in the minimum wage, indexed with inflation to $12 by 2020 and $15/hour by 2024
  • TAX TRANSPARENCY – I support NC’s T.R.U.M.P. Act, (Tax Returns Uniformly Made Public) filed by my colleague, Senator Jay Chaudhuri, to require all candidates who run for the Office of President of the United States to release their tax summaries prior to their names being placed on the ballot. A step further – I believe that all federal candidates should report this information.
  • TAX CODE RE-EVALUATION – Many citizens have reached out to me to complain about how much more their tax penalty increased, or how much less they received in tax returns with the 2018 Tax and Jobs Act. Once all of the data from 2018 filings are completed, I support a thorough analysis of the tax burdens on the working middle class and adjustments in tax cuts to the wealthy. I support a Service Worker’s Tax Act and have filed bills each Session I have served in testament to my belief that tip reporting in wages creates a permanent underclass in this category of workers who are overwhelming women.
  • I support enshrining Equal Rights for Women in our United States Constitution
  • As a former union member, and representative, I support the labor movement and its backbone of bargaining in interest of workers who make America work, day in and day out.
  • SB143 – CDBG: Modify Uses to Include Scattered Sites
  • SB 150 – Auto Ins./Notice to Lienholder of Termination
  • SB 155 – ABC Omnibus Legislation
  • SB 177 – Modernize Physical Therapy Practice
  • SB 178 – Ltd. Driving/Remove Wait for First Offense
  • ^SB 180 – 3rd Senatorial District Local Act-1
  • ^SB197 – Adopt Bobcat as State Cat
  • SB 252 – North Carolina Teaching Fellows
  • SB 309 – 9/11 as First Responders Day
  • SB 313 – Increase Small Brewery Limits
  • ^SB 314 – Give Retirees 2% COLA/Funds
  • SB 317 – Hypertension Awareness Day
  • SB 316 – Suicide Prevention/Awareness School Personnel
  • SB 322 – Caregiver Advise, Record & Enable (CARE) Act
  • SB 335 – Budget Technical Corrections & Study
  • SB 337 – Regulation of Fully Autonomous Vehicles
  • ^SB 360 – Municipal Broadband Service Area
  • ^SB 710 – Service Worker Tax Reduction Action
  • ^SB 752 – Small Business Tax Relief
  • SB 446 – LEO Next of Kin Notification
  • SB 452 – Expand Allowable Medical Uses of CBD Oil
  • SB 453 – Driver Instruction/Law Enforcement Stops
  • SB 456 – Increase De-Escalation Training for LEOs
  • SB 457 – Amend Deferred Prosecution Statute
  • ^SB 484 – PARTF Funding Conditions and Match
  • ^SB 347 – Up Minimum Wage With COLA/Const. Amendment
  • SB 50 – Reinstate Earned Income Tax Credit

^SB 470 – Anti-Poverty Program Funds

  • SB 503 – Wage Theft Act
  • SB 586 – Modify Film Grant Incentive
  • SB 615 – DACA Recipients/In-State Tuition
  • SB 616 – Require Paid Work Breaks
  • SB 617 – Tax Returns Uniformly Made Public Act
  • SB 628 – Day Laborer Protection Act
  • SB 657 – Expand Property Tax Homestead Exclusion
  • ^SB 800 – Actually Drain the Swamp

^Primary Sponsor

Gun Control

In my first 100 days as North Carolina’s next U.S. Senator - I commit to file and advance common sense gun control legislation that includes the following provisions:

1. Universal background checks, including components of existing federal proposals with 10-day waiting period for responses;
2. A ban on assault rifles and bump stocks;
3. Closing gun show / retail to owner transfers / owner to owner transfers;
4. Red flag limitations providing access for loved ones and family members to petition to remove firearms from gun owners during periods of incapacitation;
5. Increased funding and resources for a public service campaign for all public buildings, including schools and universities, to advance awareness and embodiment of the Sandy Hook Promise program;
6. Resources and public safety programs for increasing manpower, surveillance/intelligence on domestic terrorism including increased cybercrime monitoring, tracking of manifestos, white nationalist organizations and their members; and
7. Criminal justice reforms as it relates to prosecution and sentencing of domestic terrorists and serial killers. This reform should ensure that punishment is commensurate with the crime by including capital punishment in sentencing discussions.

When we have had more mass shootings than days in the year, everything must be on the table for discussion. I am done with inaction. I am not waiting for another shooting before demanding that the NCGA leadership debate and calendar votes for House Bill 86 and Senate Bill 565. I am further writing Senator Burr and my opponent, Senator Tillis, to call for a Chamber vote on HR 8 and HR 1112.

We have to act. Children are dying and the tears of mothers are met with inaction and political gamesmanship by Thom Tillis, Mitch McConnell and the like. I will work to make this country safer and you will always know where I stand as your U.S. Senator.[17]

”
—Erica Smith's 2020 campaign website[19]


Campaign advertisements

This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.

Democratic Party Cal Cunningham

"Putting the people of NC first" - Cunningham campaign ad, released February 5, 2020
"Susie" - Cunningham/Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ad, released February 5, 2020
"Time and Again" - Cunningham/Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ad, released February 5, 2020
"Oath" - Cunningham campaign ad, released January 27, 2020
"$80 million" - Cunningham campaign ad, released September 9, 2019
"Listening to North Carolina" - Cunningham campaign ad, released June 17, 2019


A sample ad from the candidate's Facebook page is embedded below. Click here to see the candidate's Facebook Video page.


Satellite group ads

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
United States Senate election in North Carolina, 2020: Primary election polls
Poll Date Democratic Party Cunningham Democratic Party Fuller Democratic Party Goel Democratic Party Smith Democratic Party Swenson Undecided None of the above/Other Margin of error Sample size Sponsor
Spry Strategies Feb. 26-27, 2020 45% 2% 1% 23% 1% 28% -- +/-4.1 587 Civitas
NBC News/Marist Feb. 23-27, 2020 51% 3% 1% 18% 2% 25% 1% +/-5.1 568 --
Public Policy Polling Feb. 23-24, 2020 45% 4% 1% 18% 2% 30% -- +/-3.4[20] 852 --
Public Policy Polling Feb. 4-5, 2020 29% 3% 2% 10% 4% 52% -- +/-4.0[21] 604 --
Public Policy Polling Jan. 10-12, 2020 22% 2% 3% 12% 1% 60% -- +/-4.3[22] 509 --


Satellite spending

See also: Satellite spending

Satellite spending, commonly referred to as outside spending, describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[23][24][25]

This section lists satellite spending in this race reported by news outlets in alphabetical order. If you are aware of spending that should be included, please email us.

  • Carolina Blue:
    • The group's total spending on ads reached $3.2 million as of February 18, according to Advertising Analytics.[26]
    • The group spent $1.2 million on advertising supporting Cunningham as of February 13.[27][28]
  • Faith and Power PAC:
    • The group spent $500,000 supporting Smith and opposing Cunningham on February 14.[29]
    • The group spent $2.4 million on TV advertising and other activities in support of Smith as of February 8.[30][31]
  • VoteVets Action Fund:
    • The group spent $1.6 million on an ad buy, bringing its total to about $7.4 million as of February 18.[32]
    • The group spent $2.5 million on an ad to run for two weeks in February.[33]
    • The group spent $3.3 million through January 2020 in support of Cunningam.[34]

Primaries in North Carolina

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. North Carolina utilizes a semi-closed primary system. Parties decide who may vote in their respective primaries. Voters may choose a primary ballot without impacting their unaffiliated status.[35][36]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Runoff elections in North Carolina

In North Carolina, a primary election candidate for congressional, state, or county office must receive more than 30% of the vote to be declared the winner. If no candidate reaches this threshold, and if the second-place finisher requests a runoff, a runoff election is held.[37]

As of 2020, Democracy North Carolina stated the following:

“

You may not vote in the Primary Runoff (also called the Second Primary) unless you were registered at the time of the original Primary, even if you didn’t vote in the Primary.

If you are registered as an Unaffiliated voter and want to vote in a partisan Primary, you can ask for a Republican, Democratic, Libertarian or Nonpartisan ballot. Your choice does not change your Unaffiliated status or obligate you to vote for a party’s candidates in the General Election. However, if there is a Primary Runoff, you can only participate in the Runoff of the same party that you selected in the original Primary."[38][17]

”


Noteworthy events

See also: Noteworthy events

Senate Leadership Fund funded ads supporting Smith

Faith and Power PAC had spent around $3 million through February 14 on ads and activities supporting Smith. Following early February media reports that Faith and Power PAC had Republican ties, Smith's campaign said in a statement, "The Erica for U.S. campaign disavows and disassociates ourselves from the interference of Republicans in the Democratic Senate Primary. This entity is not authorized to represent our views and positions."[5]

On February 20, 2020, Faith and Power PAC reported it received $3 million from the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), a super PAC founded to support a Republican majority in the U.S. Senate.[39]

On February 21, 2020, the SLF released a statement in which Steven Law, the group's president, said the following: "We stole a page out of Chuck Schumer’s playbook, and it’s been more successful than we could have imagined. Democrats are burning cash in a $13 million rescue mission for Cal Cunningham, who has proven to be a lackluster candidate with less money in the bank today than the beginning of the year. If you add in the fact that Cunningham felt pressured to say he would support Bernie Sanders, I’d call this an unqualified success. We got a lot more for our money than when Democrats spent millions in Thom Tillis’ primary six years ago."[40]

Smith posted to Facebook on February 21, "We have the support of the people, and I am here to serve the people not the SuperPACs - CorporatePACs who meddle, interfere and attempt to influence elections with special interest $$$s."[41]

On February 21, Cunningham wrote on Facebook, "Mitch McConnell meddled in our election to try to mislead voters, and it’s clear why—he knows Thom Tillis has failed NC and he’s terrified to face me. I’ve got a message for McConnell and his allies—your scheme won’t work and I’ll see you in November."[42]

What's at stake in the general election?

Sen. Thom Tillis (R) was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014, when he defeated incumbent Kay Hagan (D) by 1.5 percentage points. As of February 11, 2020, the 2020 general election was rated either Toss-up or Lean Republican by three ratings outlets. Max Greenwood of The Hill wrote, "Tillis has the backing of President Trump and may benefit from high Republican turnout in the general election. But Democrats have grown optimistic in North Carolina, as demographic changes and an influx of new residents from out of state have put the Tar Heel State in play."[2]

U.S. Senate elections were held on November 3, 2020, and coincide with the 2020 presidential election. Thirty-three of the Senate's 100 seats were up for regular election in November. There were also two special elections in 2020. The results determined control of the U.S. Senate in the 117th Congress.

At the time of the election, the Republican Party had a 53-seat Senate majority, while Democrats had 45 seats. There were also two independents who caucus with the Democratic Party. Republicans faced greater partisan risk than Democrats in 2020 because they were defending 23 seats compared to 12 for the Democrats. Both parties had two incumbents representing states the opposite party's presidential nominee won in 2016.

In 2018, Democrats and Democratic-caucusing independents defended 26 of the 35 seats up for election, while Republicans defended the other nine. Republicans won 11 seats to the Democrats' 24, for a GOP net gain of two.

In the 24 previous Senate elections that coincided with a presidential election, the president's party had gained Senate seats in 16 elections and lost seats in nine. In years where the president's party gained seats, the average gain was three seats. In years where the president's party lost seats, the average loss was five seats. Click here for more information on presidential partisanship and down-ballot outcomes.


General election race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

  • Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
  • Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
  • Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[43]
  • Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[44][45][46]

Race ratings: U.S. Senate election in North Carolina, 2020
Race trackerRace ratings
November 3, 2020October 27, 2020October 20, 2020October 13, 2020
The Cook Political ReportToss-upToss-upToss-upToss-up
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesTilt DemocraticTilt DemocraticTilt DemocraticTilt Democratic
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallLean DemocraticToss-upToss-upToss-up
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every week throughout the election season.

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Six of 100 North Carolina counties—6 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
Bladen County, North Carolina 9.39% 1.97% 2.07%
Gates County, North Carolina 9.07% 4.11% 5.22%
Granville County, North Carolina 2.49% 4.54% 6.58%
Martin County, North Carolina 0.43% 4.65% 4.64%
Richmond County, North Carolina 9.74% 2.95% 1.50%
Robeson County, North Carolina 4.27% 17.41% 13.78%

In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won North Carolina with 49.8 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 46.2 percent. In presidential elections between 1792 and 2016, North Carolina voted Democratic 53.5 percent of the time and Republican 25 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, North Carolina voted Republican all five times with the exception of the 2008 presidential election.[47]

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in North Carolina. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[48][49]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 40 out of 120 state House districts in North Carolina with an average margin of victory of 38.3 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 44 out of 120 state House districts in North Carolina with an average margin of victory of 36.4 points. Clinton won three districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 80 out of 120 state House districts in North Carolina with an average margin of victory of 22.7 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 76 out of 120 state House districts in North Carolina with an average margin of victory of 27.7 points. Trump won five districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.


Election history

2016

See also: United States Senate election in North Carolina, 2016

On November 8, 2016, incumbent Richard Burr (R) won re-election. He defeated Deborah Ross (D) and Sean Haugh (L).

U.S. Senate, North Carolina General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngRichard Burr Incumbent 51.1% 2,395,376
     Democratic Deborah Ross 45.4% 2,128,165
     Libertarian Sean Haugh 3.6% 167,592
Total Votes 4,691,133
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections

2014

See also: United States Senate elections in North Carolina, 2014

On November 4, 2014, Thom Tillis (R) won election to the United States Senate. He defeated incumbent Kay Hagan (D), Sean Haugh (L), and several write-in candidates in the general election.

U.S. Senate, North Carolina General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Kay Hagan Incumbent 47.3% 1,377,651
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngThom Tillis 48.8% 1,423,259
     Libertarian Sean Haugh 3.7% 109,100
     Write-in John Rhodes 0% 621
     Write-in David Waddell 0% 201
     Write-in Barry Gurney 0% 142
     Write-in Write-in (miscellaneous) 0.1% 4,307
Total Votes 2,915,281
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections

2010

On November 2, 2010, Richard Burr (R) won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated Elaine Marshall (D) and Michael Beitler (L) in the general election.[50]

U.S. Senate, North Carolina General Election, 2010
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngRichard Burr incumbent 54.8% 1,458,046
     Democratic Elaine Marshall 43% 1,145,074
     Libertarian Michael Beitler 2.1% 55,687
     N/A Write-in 0% 1,272
Total Votes 2,660,079

2008

On November 4, 2008, Kay Hagan (D) won election to the United States Senate. She defeated Elizabeth Dole (R) and Christopher Cole (L) in the general election.[51]

U.S. Senate, North Carolina General Election, 2008
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngKay Hagan 52.7% 2,249,311
     Republican Elizabeth Dole 44.2% 1,887,510
     Libertarian Christopher Cole 3.1% 133,430
     N/A Write-in 0% 1,719
Total Votes 4,271,970
Source: [1]

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The News & Observer, "Control of NC government is at stake in the 2020 elections. See who’s running," December 2, 2019
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Hill, "Three Senate primaries to watch on Super Tuesday," February 12, 2020
  3. ↑ WFAE, "Ad Backing Democratic Senate Candidate Could Be Republican Primary Mischief," February 6, 20202
  4. ↑ CNN, "GOP-affiliated group intervenes in Democratic primary for US Senate seat in North Carolina," February 6, 2020
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 ABC11, "Erica Smith upset after TV ad supports her campaign for U.S. Senate," February 7, 2020
  6. ↑ FindLaw, "North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 163A. Elections and Ethics Enforcement Act § 163A-984. Determination of primary results;  second primaries," accessed September 11, 2019
  7. ↑ Candidate Connection surveys completed before September 26, 2019, were not used to generate candidate profiles. In battleground primaries, Ballotpedia based its selection of noteworthy candidates on polling, fundraising, and noteworthy endorsements. In battleground general elections, all major party candidates and any other candidates with the potential to impact the outcome of the race were included.
  8. ↑ The Charlotte Observer, "Our endorsement for the U.S. Senate Democratic primary in North Carolina," February 14, 2020
  9. ↑ The Indy Weekly, "The INDY Endorses Cal Cunningham for U.S. Senate," February 25, 2020
  10. ↑ The Charlotte Post, "Opinion," February 26, 2020
  11. ↑ Twitter, "Cal Cunningham on February 10, 2020," accessed February 11, 2020
  12. ↑ Real Clear Politics, "Brady PAC Backs Cunningham in Divisive North Carolina Senate Primary," February 26, 2020
  13. ↑ Gaston Gazette, "Letter: Gaston Progressives United endorse candidates," February 17, 2020
  14. ↑ Facebook, "Erica Smith on March 2, 2020," accessed March 2, 2020
  15. ↑ Fundraising by primary candidates can be found on the race's respective primary election page. Fundraising by general election candidates can be found on the race's general election page.
  16. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "2022 Quarterly Reports," accessed March 2, 2022
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  18. ↑ Cal Cunningham's 2020 campaign website, "Priorities," accessed February 6, 2020
  19. ↑ Erica Smith's 2020 campaign website, "Platform for Progress," accessed February 11, 2020
  20. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Public Policy Polling's Tom Jensen," February 26, 2020
  21. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Public Policy Polling's Tom Jensen," February 10, 2020
  22. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Public Policy Polling's Tom Jensen," January 21, 2020
  23. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed September 22, 2015
  24. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed September 22, 2015
  25. ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," November 6, 2015
  26. ↑ Twitter, "Advertising Analytics on February 18, 2020," accessed February 20, 2020
  27. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Independent Expenditures, Carolina Blue," accessed February 11, 2020
  28. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Filing FEC-1382017," accessed February 17, 2020
  29. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Filing FEC-1382866," accessed February 19, 2020
  30. ↑ CNN, "GOP-affiliated group intervenes in Democratic primary for US Senate seat in North Carolina," February 5, 2020
  31. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Committee: Faith and Power PAC," February 8, 2020
  32. ↑ Twitter, "VoteVets on February 18, 2020," accessed February 20, 2020
  33. ↑ Politico, "Chaos in Iowa looms over New Hampshire debate," February 7, 2020
  34. ↑ The Hill, "Mystery group backs outsider Democrat challenging Tillis in North Carolina," February 5, 2020
  35. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed October 7, 2024
  36. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Election Information," accessed October 7, 2024
  37. ↑ FindLaw, "North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 163A. Elections and Ethics Enforcement Act § 163A-984. Determination of primary results;  second primaries," accessed September 11, 2019
  38. ↑ NC-Voter, "Voting in North Carolina: Frequently Asked Questions," accessed July 10, 2020
  39. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Report of Receipts and Disbursements: Faith and Power PAC," February 20, 2020
  40. ↑ Senate Leadership Fund, "SLF Statement on Funding Faith and Power PAC: 'An Unqualified Success,'" February 21, 2020
  41. ↑ Facebook, "Erica Smith on February 21, 2020," accessed February 24, 2020
  42. ↑ Facebook, "Cal Cunningham on February 21, 2020," accessed February 21, 2020
  43. ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
  44. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
  45. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
  46. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
  47. ↑ 270towin.com, "North Carolina," accessed June 1, 2017
  48. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  49. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
  50. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
  51. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008," accessed March 28, 2013


North Carolina's current delegation to the United States Congress
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Ted Budd (R)
Thom Tillis (R)
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District 3
District 4
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