Former NC governor Pat McCrory announces run for U.S. Senate

CHEROKEE, N.C. (WLOS) — A former North Carolina governor has put his hat into the race for U.S. Senate, looking to fill the seat that will be vacated in 2022 by Republican Senator Richard Burr.

Pat McCrory officially launched his campaign on Wednesday morning with a video saying he couldn't "sit on the sidelines anymore" and that it was time to "take back the Senate from Kamala Harris."

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McCrory served as mayor of Charlotte for 14 years and as governor from 2012-2016. With North Carolina's open Senate seat being closely watched in 2022, the former governor pleads with the public in his campaign video, claiming there is a need for conservative leadership in Washington, outside of "DC establishment."

“I have a conservative track record of standing firm; a record built in North Carolina, not Washington DC," McCrory says.

The campaign also released a polling memo which conducted 500 interviews among likely Republican primary voters in North Carolina. The memo states McCrory has "a significant lead over both Mark Walker and Ted Budd in a three-way race, and jumps to an even bigger lead in two-way ballot match-ups against each."

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In the Republican primary, McCrory joins one other former state politician who has officially launched his campaign for North Carolina's open Senate seat, former NC-6 Representative Mark Walker.

Several other people have publicly expressed interest in running on the Republican ballot, including former President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump.

Upon McCrory's campaign announcement, the North Carolina Democratic Party released the following statement:

North Carolinians remember exactly who Pat McCrory is -- a failed politician who signed hateful and divisive legislation into law, hurt our national reputation, and damaged our state’s economy. From his toxic record blocking Medicaid expansion, signing a monster voter suppression bill, and serving his wealthy special interest donors over hardworking North Carolinians, to his multiple statewide losses, it’s clear that Pat McCrory is wrong for our state. North Carolinians voted him out of office in 2016 because of that failed record. We have some free advice -- don’t quit your day job, Pat.

In 2016, Senator Burr announced he would not be running for reelection in 2022.

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