Cheri Beasley Coverage

SETH EFFRON: Win elections by getting fewer people to vote?

Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023 -- Will that potential dampening of voter enthusiasm - because of uncontested local races - aid Republicans in statewide races? Could uncontested Republicans in two congressional districts diminish engagement among significant blocks of GOP voters?

'People are fed up': As NC Democrats reflect on election missteps, a party shake-up is underway

While Democrats in other swing states scored big victories, the party struggled in North Carolina. Political strategists say geography, money and recruiting troubles are to blame.

Paul Specht, WRAL state government reporter

'We're not flashy.' How Ted Budd won NC's US Senate seat

Ted Budd's win can be attributed to savvy political networking and disciplined campaigning in a voting environment that favored Republican candidates, experts say.

Paul Specht, WRAL state government reporter

Beasley speaks to supporters after Senate loss

Democrat Cheri Beasley lost a closely watched Senate race to Ted Budd.

Budd beats Beasley in NC Senate rate

Republican Ted Budd will fill the Senate seat vacated by the departing Richard Burr.

Budd defeats Beasley in North Carolina's US Senate race, helping GOP hold key seat

Republican U.S. Rep. Ted Budd beat Democrat Cheri Beasley, a former state Supreme Court Chief Justice, in the race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Richard Burr.

Paul Specht and Bryan Anderson, WRAL state government reporters

Cast your vote: Polls now open

Tuesday is Election Day, with a U.S. Senate seat and 14 congressional seats up for grabs in North Carolina--races that could play a role in shifting the balance of power in Washington.

Decision 2022: US Senate candidates make final push throughout NC before election day

U.S. Senate candidates Ted Budd and Cheri Beasley campaigned Thursday throughout the state of North Carolina.

North Carolina's US Senate candidates make final push before election day

U.S. Senate candidates Ted Budd and Cheri Beasley campaigned Thursday throughout the state of North Carolina.

Aaron Thomas, WRAL reporter

SETH EFFRON: Voter enthusiasm in key groups critical to election outcome

Nov. 3, 2022 -- When voting ends and the winners of next Tuesday's election in North Carolina are determined, the most significant factor in the outcomes may be who DIDN'T cast ballots.Voting does matter! Voter enthusiasm - the personal drive to make sure a vote is cast - is what counts.

Pence visits Raleigh for GOP fundraiser as Budd seeks final-week edge over Beasley in close Senate race

The visit from former Vice President Mike Pence could help U.S. Rep. Ted Budd gain votes with anti-Trump Republicans, political observers say.

Travis Fain, WRAL state government reporter

Fact check: Ad says Beasley wants to raise taxes on people making $75,000

In the television ad commissioned by the Senate Leadership Fund, a Republican-backed political action committee, a narrator says Cheri Beasley "backs tax hikes -- even on families making under $75,000.' PolitiFact checks that claim.

Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter

From the bench and in Congress: The decisions that define Beasley and Budd

The leading candidates for North Carolina's open U.S. Senate seat have sizable public records. But comparing the candidates' records can be tricky. We asked the candidates themselves to drill down on their records, and their opponents.

Travis Fain, WRAL state government reporter

On the Record: The race for US Senate

Election season wraps up in a little more than a week, and at the top of your ballot there's a U.S. Senate race that could decide party control in Congress.

Beasley takes $2M cash advantage over Budd as election nears, but outside spending favors Republicans

North Carolina Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Cheri Beasley entered the final weeks of the campaign with more money than her Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Ted Budd, but continues to face sizable opposition from outside groups.

Bryan Anderson, WRAL state government reporter

Cheri Beasley responds to questions from Pitt County voters

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Cheri Beasley responds to questions from Pitt County voters during an Oct. 27, 2022, event in Greenville. (photo by Bryan Anderson)

North Carolina's US Senate race remains tight, new polls show

New polls 'are good for Budd, but they do not say this race is over,' one political observer says.

Bryan Anderson, WRAL state government reporter

Big names visit North Carolina ahead of midterm elections

On Tuesday, Republicans held a rally at The Farm at 42 in Selma for a get-out-the-vote rally. Several prominent Republicans are attending, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Republican Senate candidate Ted Budd and 13th congressional district candidate Bo Hines. On Tuesday night in Raleigh, jam band star Dave Matthews is headlining a free get-out-the-vote concert rally with Cheri Beasley and the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Jaime Harrison.

Fact check: Budd says Beasley was 'encouraging' riots after George Floyd's death

In the Oct. 7 U.S. Senate debate, Republican Ted Budd said "I have denounced violence from Day 1, whether it's at Washington, D.C., or whether it's the riots that my opponent was encouraging all across our state and all across our country in 2020." PolitiFact checks his claim.

Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter

Fact check: Beasley says Budd opposed a combined $32M for North Carolina police over 'four separate occasions'

In a debate for North Carolina's U.S. Senate candidates, Democrat Cheri Beasley said Republican U.S. Rep. Ted Budd "on four separate occasions voted against funding for police here in North Carolina to the tune of more than $32 million." PolitiFact checks her claim.

Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter

Democrats outraise Republicans in key NC races, but conservative groups are bolstering GOP prospects

Democrat Cheri Beasley raised nearly three times more than Republican Ted Budd in a close U.S. Senate race. But conservative groups are outspending Democratic ones 4-to-1.

Bryan Anderson, WRAL state government reporter

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Trump's rubber stamp in N.C.

Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022 -- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist.

Editorial: Debate exchange on drugs shows Budd's more about rhetoric than solutions

Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022 -- Never, in the course of U.S. Senate candidate Ted Budd's discussion of illegal drugs did he mention the HUGE toll that drug addiction is taking on the state, any concern for those who struggle with addiction or who are its victims. Nor did he make any mention of efforts to address this.

Beasley, Budd square off as polls show close race for open senate seat

Cheri Beasley and Tedd Budd are in a tight race for the open seat for North Carolina Senate.

Beasley, Budd tangle over economy, abortion, other policies in US Senate debate

Republican Ted Budd and Democrat Cheri Beasley highlighted differences over the economy, abortion and other issues during Friday's U.S. Senate debate.

Bryan Anderson, WRAL state government reporter