By L.A. Williams
Christian Action League
August 30, 201
Voters in North Carolina’s 3rd and 9th Congressional Districts who have not cast an early ballot should be sure to vote in the Sept. 10 special election.
Republican Dan Bishop, Democrat Dan McCready, Libertarian Jeff Scott, and Green Party candidate Allen Smith are running for the U.S. House seat in District 9. In District 3, the candidates are Greg Murphy (R), Allen Thomas (D), Tim Harris (L) and Greg Holt (Constitution Party).
While the choices are plentiful, Christian Action League executive director Mark Creech says believers need look no further than Murphy and Bishop to find worthy Congressmen.
“The Christian Action League has made no formal endorsement of the candidates in either the 3rd or 9th District races for Congress. But as far as I am personally concerned, any citizen Christian within these districts who wishes to vote in a manner consistent with Christian values, can vote in good conscience for either Murphy or Bishop,” he said. “I have profound respect for both men. I believe conservative evangelicals will have a seat at the table via their representation. A just society can’t function without courageous and just men. And Murphy and Bishop are both that way.”
A urologist and state representative (Pitt County), Murphy is favored to replace the late Rep. Walter Jones (R), who won in 2018, but passed away in February. Murphy has run on a platform of lower taxes, less government, more liberty and the promotion of personal responsibility. He has been vocal in his opposition to Obamacare and in his support of President Trump, and has spoken out for pro-life issues at the state level.
Murphy has traveled as a medical missionary to India and Africa and was honored by NBC News’ “Person of the Day” for his work in Haiti after their devastating earthquake. On his website, he lists national defense and 2nd amendment rights among his priorities.
His nearest opponent, Allen Thomas, is the former mayor of Greenville and has emphasized economic development and improving access to healthcare. His campaign ads focus on small town revitalization.
District 3 is located in the eastern portion of North Carolina and includes all or parts of Currituck, Camden, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Chowan, Tyrrell, Dare, Hyde, Beaufort, Pamlico, Carteret, Pitt, Craven, Onslow, Jones, Lenoir, and Greene counties. In 2016, Trump won the district with more than 60 percent of the vote.
The NC Faith and Freedom Coalition is circulating the flier below on the contest between Murphy and Thomas:
The President also won in District 9, by 12 percentage points. Stretching from eastern Mecklenburg County across North Carolina’s south central border and up into Robeson and Bladen counties, this district became the focus of an investigation following allegations of absentee ballot fraud in the 2018 race. The seat has been vacant since January.
The NC Faith and Freedom Coalition is circulating the flier below on the race between Bishop and McCready:
A “pro-life, pro-gun, pro-wall” conservative, Bishop points to his record in the State Legislature, which includes helping pass a Voter ID constitutional amendment last year, lowering income taxes, and opposing sanctuary cities. He is a veteran of the N.C. House (District 104) and current member of the state Senate (District 39). Bishop is an attorney from Charlotte. He won the Republican primary against nine other candidates, while McCready was unopposed.
Calling himself a moderate Democrat who disagrees with more liberal concepts such as “Medicare for all,” McCready has vowed to “always put country over party,” saying he would pursue bipartisan legislation on healthcare, taxes and education.
Early voting for the Sept. 10 Special Election began Aug. 21 and Ends on Sept. 6. Check this chart for hours at one-stop voting sites. On Election Day, Sept. 10, polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Learn more at the state Board of Elections web page.