What To Know About Far Right Extremist Congressman Ted Budd & The “Ugly” #NCSEN Primary

Trump-Aligned Budd Joining McCrory and Walker in NC Senate Race Guarantees “Divisive” GOP Primary

Freedom Caucus Congressman Ted Budd, a far-right extremist who voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results and pushed false election fraud conspiracy theories that helped fuel the deadly January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, entered the already “ugly” North Carolina GOP Senate primary today. 

After a recent trip to Mar-a-Lago to lobby for Donald Trump’s support and an immediate endorsement from the ultra-conservative Club for Growth, Congressman Budd’s foray into this race will only escalate already deep divisions within the Republican Party.

“Congressman Budd’s only claim to fame is that he’s been Donald Trump’s number one cheerleader in North Carolina’s congressional delegation — even after Trump’s outrageous voter fraud lies helped fuel a violent mob that attacked the Capitol and tried to overthrow the results of an election,” said DSCC spokesperson Stewart Boss. “During his unremarkable half decade in office, Congressman Budd has opposed critical coronavirus relief for North Carolinians, given tax breaks to his rich friends at the expense of working families, and tried to spike health care costs while gutting protections for those with pre-existing conditions. North Carolina is a top 2022 battleground and Congressman Budd’s announcement now makes it one of the most divisive Republican primaries in the country.”

Here’s what you need to know about far-right extremist Congressman Ted Budd:

• Budd championed Trump’s false election conspiracy theories. Even after the violent mob attack against the U.S. Capitol, Budd doubled down and voted not to certify the 2020 election results. Budd spent months repeating and spreading baseless accusations of fraud for his own political gain.

• After voting with Trump 92% of the time, Budd voted against critical coronavirus relief for North Carolinians. Despite overwhelming support from North Carolinians, Budd voted against a relief package that delivered $1,400 direct relief checks to those hit hardest by COVID-19. The widely popular American Rescue Plan Budd tried to block increased vaccinations, provided billions to help local schools safely reopen, sent aid to state and local governments across North Carolina, extended emergency unemployment insurance, boosted small business assistance, and is poised to cut child poverty nearly in half.

• Budd is a Washington politician out for himself. While Budd voted against pandemic relief for North Carolinians who need it most, his wealthy family business was taking advantage of a $10 million PPP loan, the maximum possible amount from the federal government. Budd also voted to gut the Affordable Care Act and helped pass massive tax cuts for the rich and giant corporations in the 2017 GOP tax law, prioritizing his special interest allies over North Carolina’s working families.

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