Jessica Webb
editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com
Western North Carolina’s young Congressman who quickly rose to national attention lost in the primary election Tuesday. Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-11, gained an endorsement by former President Donald Trump but was also mired in controversy recently.
Cawthorn conceded to Sen. Chuck Edwards around 10:20 Tuesday night with a phone call when 80% of the vote was collected, his spokesperson Luke Ball told news outlets. Although Cawthorn was favored in far-West counties, including Swain County, where he got 42.19% of the vote, Henderson and Buncombe voters gained Edwards the nomination.
Edwards earned 33.4% of the votes against Cawthorn’s 31.9%. Matthew Burril was the third most popular with 9.44%.
Edwards will compete with newcomer Democrat Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, of Asheville, in the general election, after she earned 59.61% of the votes.
Senate
Cheri Beasley breezed into the Democratic nomination as anticipated Tuesday night, earning 81.12% of the vote with no other contestant coming close. She will face Republican Ted Budd in the general election. Budd, who was endorsed by Trump, outpaced his competitors by a healthy margin, earning 58.63% of votes across the state. Pat McCrory, former governor, came in second with 24.59%.