Last week, Congressman Budd’s campaign refused to say if they would participate in any U.S. Senate campaign debates. The campaign has been MIA through the summer – even worrying some Republicans, including former Governor Pat McCrory who accused Budd of “hiding.” During the primary, Budd declined to attend four separate debates with his Republican opponents.

North Carolinians deserve to hear from Ted Budd. Will he continue to hide from them or will he finally show up and debate? 

Read more recent coverage about Budd’s “quiet” campaign: 

News & Observer: Where’s Ted? The Budd Senate campaign quietly rides his Trump endorsement

• Republican North Carolina Rep. Ted Budd opened his U.S. Senate bid in April, 2021 with a video of a roaring monster truck rolling over a pile of old cars identified as “the liberal agenda.” But ever since then, Budd’s campaign has sounded more like an electric car.
• Budd’s strong pro-life stance wins him favor among conservatives, but the overturning of Roe v. Wade has made that position a liability among some women who might have otherwise supported him and the ruling may bring out more Democratic voters. 
• If he loses, it may well be because he never did take the wheel of that monster truck to steer a real campaign of his own. Instead he opted to be towed to November by Trump, who broke down along the way.

FOX8: Democrat Beasley announces North Carolina Senate debate, but Republican Budd bides time

• Democrat Cheri Beasley’s staff announced Thursday afternoon that she had agreed to participate in a debate this October sponsored by the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters.
• Budd’s communications director, Samantha Cotton, said there wouldn’t be an announcement anytime soon.
• Budd had declined to participate in four statewide debates when he beat former Gov. Pat McCrory, former Rep. Mark Walker and newcomer Marjorie Eastman – all of whom participated in debates – in a field of 14 to win the GOP nomination.

###