That premise, of course, sidesteps the notion that most counties in the district other than Robson, including Bladen, Columbus and Brunswick, have been represented by Lowther since he took office in 2015. 63{ea2cba5bdf6fe62bbe85e24807814144a71e77d3ae7311fbc27a008558d1372c} and 64{ea2cba5bdf6fe62bbe85e24807814144a71e77d3ae7311fbc27a008558d1372c} respectively. (Rep. Dan Bishop, a Republican who represented Robson County in 2020, ran the district with his 58{ea2cba5bdf6fe62bbe85e24807814144a71e77d3ae7311fbc27a008558d1372c} of the vote.)
However, these communities are not familiar with Graham.
Perhaps that’s why Graham is leaning toward working with conservatives in the state legislature.of his latest broadcast ad, When he was inaugurated on Friday, he introduced himself as an “educator and business owner” who had “worked across party lines for 12 years” and never mentioned being a Democrat. did not do it.
‘Working across party lines’ helped pass controversial House Bill 2, which would ban transgender people in the state from using restrooms that correspond to their gender identity also meant Graham has since apologized for taking that vote after meeting with members of the trans community. announced last year “We should have done more research to fully understand the impact of the bill,” he said.
He explains that offices and homes were flooded with hearing from concerned voters that “men shouldn’t be in the bathroom with my kids or wives.” “My people were telling Charles Graham to vote yes on the bill. And what do you think Charles Graham did? I voted for the bill because it said, ‘No. This is another sign that a Republican wave is coming.
Although he doesn’t mention this in his latest ad, Lowther voted against recognizing Biden’s election victory the day after the US Capitol was attacked by a pro-Trump mob on Jan. 6. He said he was among the 121 congressmen who were elected. He used it many months ago at last year’s Battle of Hayes Pond.
The riot was “another reason why I decided to take this step and join this fight,” says Graham.
However, some battles cost money. Rouzer has his $1.3 million in the bank, and Graham is just short of his $300,000, according to the latest campaign filings. Democrats are offering lip service about recruiting and backing viable candidates in rural areas, but the party is launching precision strikes focused on voting in urban areas like Raleigh and Charlotte. doing.
“We’re disappointed that our…Democrats of North Carolina, people across the country aren’t doing more,” says Graham. “I don’t want to take it for granted, but I think our Democrats fall short in promoting what they can do for rural economies.”
campaign stop Graham’s retail policy skills are on full display one Friday night in downtown Fayetteville. While he’s running as a politician who doesn’t polarize voters, he’s probably one of the last viable Democrats with his ID in the name to win in this reddened district. .
He stopped at an open-air festival celebrating his Hispanic heritage.A dance troupe was performing at one end of the off-limits road, and a mariachi band was performing at the other.
A little overdressed for this occasion Dressed in black slacks and crisp button-downs, Graham methodically surveyed the crowd and slowly approached several vendors pitching their wares. He shines a light on his Secia Covarrubias sitting in a booth advertising his services as a real estate agent. For Latino clients. She happened to be set up across the street from the Lambie Guaranteed Bank, where the sun was just beginning to set and brighten behind the three-story building.
Graham sees an opportunity and speaks to her. And at one point he stops to awkwardly gesture toward the bank’s sign, pointing to himself as if to say, “I’m Lambie, just like the bank.” Covarrubias smiles politely as he takes the campaign documents he hands her. Then Graham turned off and disappeared into the crowd.
Without campaign t-shirts and aides holding signs emblazoned with Graham’s logo, festival-goers would have virtually no chance of knowing they were in the midst of candidates who could make history. Is possible.
Covarrubias says he can’t remember if he ever saw a billboard for Graham’s campaign. But Covarrubias, who usually votes Democrat, says talking to Graham cemented her vote.
“I could actually have an honest conversation with him and really see how he treats other people.” He definitely looked me in the eye. It worked and I was definitely upset.”
It’s unclear if Graham had enough interactions to overturn this district two days from now. and sells the message that he is the perfect person to represent the .
“It is an honor to bring the voice of my home county and the voice of Southeast North Carolina together to Washington,” he says.
JC Whittington contributed to this report.
