In a big win for both President Donald Trump and national Republicans, North Carolina GOP state Sen. Dan Bishop triumphed in a tough special election for a House seat in the 9th District on Tuesday night — a battle that had been seen as a “bellwether for the president’s chances in the 2020 election,” as Fox News noted.
Bishop, 55, had been a state senator since 2017.
Another Republican House candidate as well, Greg Murphy, a physician and state House member, also won a separate special election in the 3rd District earlier in the evening.
The wins for both men occurred despite the fact that Democrats spent millions trying to take those seats.
Even Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Chairwoman Cheri Bustos acknowledged that Trump contributed to Bishop’s win, saying in a statement that “we fell an inch short tonight, but it took more than $6 million in outside Republican spending and a last-minute Trump rally” to triumph over Democratic candidate Dan McCready in the 9th District.
McCready’s campaign spent approximately $4.7 million on the race, reported Fox News — while Bishop spent only $1.9 million.
WE DID IT #NC09!!!! Thank you North Carolina!!! ???????? pic.twitter.com/hMohQZGl4w
— Dan Bishop (@jdanbishop) September 11, 2019
Outside spending primarily from national party committees helped Bishop to the tune of $5.8 million, though — compared to McCready’s roughly $1.4 million, the outlet also noted.
The wins on Tuesday night were a big boost for the president, who has long mentioned the importance of these local elections.
During his packed rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on Monday night, the president told supporters in attendance that “to stop the far-Left, you must vote in tomorrow’s special election.”
That effort, Trump said late on Tuesday, clearly paid off.
BIG NIGHT FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 11, 2019
Greg Murphy and Dan Bishop—welcome to the NC delegation!!Thrilled to have you both. Let’s get to work.
— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) September 11, 2019
Here are two Trump tweets on Tuesday night, before all the election results were in:
Dan Bishop was down 17 points 3 weeks ago. He then asked me for help, we changed his strategy together, and he ran a great race. Big Rally last night. Now it looks like he is going to win. @CNN & @MSNBC are moving their big studio equipment and talent out. Stay tuned!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 11, 2019
One down, one to go – Greg Murphy is projected to win in the Great State of North Carolina! #NC03
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 11, 2019
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BREAKING: Republican Dan Bishop has defeated Democrat Dan McCready in #NC09 Special Election.
The seat has been in Republican hands since 1963. #abc11 pic.twitter.com/Llxn02qrv6— Joel Brown (@JoelBrownABC11) September 11, 2019
Greg Murphy won big, 62% to 37%, in North Carolina 03, & the Fake News barely covered the race. The win was far bigger than anticipated – there was just nothing the Fakers could say to diminish or demean the scope of this victory. So we had TWO BIG VICTORIES tonight, Greg & Dan!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 11, 2019
.@CNN & @MSNBC were all set to have a BIG victory, until Dan Bishop won North Carolina 09. Now you will hear them barely talk about, or cover, the race. Fake News never wins!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 11, 2019
Congratulations to Dan Bishop on his win in #NC09!
Despite being massively outspent by Democrats, @realDonaldTrump rallied voters and put Bishop over the top.
A huge win for the president and our grassroots field program that's working hard to elect Republicans in 2020!
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) September 11, 2019
Republican Dan Bishop defeated Democrat Dan McCready for a North Carolina congressional seat in a special election scheduled after claims of ballot tampering in 2018. President Trump hosted an election-eve rally in an attempt to put Bishop over the top. https://t.co/ecsF0DdbGX
— The Associated Press (@AP) September 11, 2019
One has to acknowledge that @realDonaldTrump has the guts to put political capital on the line to help candidates like Dan Bishop in NC and it paid off. He fights for his team! Thanks, @POTUS as this kind of fight will be the winning formula in 2020.
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) September 11, 2019
Tonight, Republican Dan Bishop won Cumberland County, North Carolina—a county with a 35% black population, by .3%
Donald Trump lost Cumberland County in 2016 by over 20,000 votes
Tonight Republicans won it back.
Black America is waking up
This is HISTORIC
RT!
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) September 11, 2019
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