Speaker Moore says he'll vote for GOP Superintendent nominee Morrow, but says her social media posts are 'not appropriate'
North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore said Wednesday that he plans to support all Republican nominees, including recently embattled superintendent candidate Michele Morrow.
Morrow defeated incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt -- whom Moore had endorsed -- in the Republican primary in March. Since then, national news and commentary websites have been digging up social media posts in which Morrow called for the public execution of numerous Democrats and public figures and pushed conspiracy theories about celebrities drinking the blood of children.
Morrow's controversial social media posts and debate statements were previously a campaign issue on a much more local level -- when she ran for Wake County school board in 2022, a race she lost.
Morrow faces Democrat Mo Green in November. Green is a retired Guilford County Schools superintendent and former director of the Z. Smith Reynold Foundation, an organization that provides funding to dozens of causes each year, including progressive causes.
During a visit with reporters Wednesday, Moore, a Cleveland County Republican, was asked whether he would support Morrow.
He said he doesn't support her comments but plans to support all Republican candidates.
"I certainly think any comments [like] the ones that I've seen are not appropriate comments at all, and I'm not going to condone comments like that," Moore said. "I know she has explained some of those. But my plan is to support all the Republican nominees for office, and voters have to make up their own mind on what you think is a good choice for that office."
He continued, "I certainly wouldn't have made those comments, and I'll stand by my comments and comment on mine and not delve and other folks' races. But I'm a good loyal, fellow Republican. I'm going to vote for the Republican nominees for office."
Morrow's primary campaign received endorsements mostly from rural Republicans serving on county school boards and commissions. Truitt, by contrast, raised more than $300,000 -- ten times the campaign cash Morrow did -- and received endorsements from Republicans at local and state levels.
Morrow, a homeschool mother of five children and a former nurse, received some support from private-sector Republicans before her primary victory, including Thales Academy Founder Bob Luddy and real estate developer Jane Kane. Both Kane and Luddy continue to support Morrow, and Kane will be hosting a fundraiser for Morrow at his home Wednesday.
Observers say Morrow likely won her primary by extensively traveling the state and introducing herself to voters.
Morrow campaigned on eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programming and putting more school resource officers in schools, among other things.
Green has campaigned on increasing respect for school employees, teaching children to have good character and pushing lawmakers to boost employee pay, among other things.
