2024 Second Republican Primary: Kelly Daughtry vs. Brad Knott for US House District 13

Discover the intense rivalry shaping North Carolina's political landscape as we dissect the Republican runoff for the 13th Congressional District of the US House of Representatives between ardent conservatives Kelly Daughtry and Brad Knott. Both candidates are vying to be the staunchest conservatives, anchoring themselves to a Trumpian vision with bold political pledges to address border security, government spending, and the Biden administration's policies, and their family legacies loom large over their political aspirations.
 
Listen closely as we scrutinize the strategies employed in this race. The Daughtry campaign has attempted to challenge Knott's conservative allegiance due to his former role as a federal prosecutor under three presidents, two of which were democrats. The Knott campaign has done likewise by pointing out Daughtry's past political contributions and stated voting record. Both have family ties to politics and a whole host of political consultants on their side.  Will Knott's endorsements flip the results of the original 2024 Primary? Or might his "tough on crime" stance fall flat with him repeatedly voting using an incorrect address, illegal when done knowingly? Will voters care Knott lives outside the district? Only your vote and time will tell! Join us for this insightful episode that promises not only to enlighten but also to engage you in the drama of a Republican family feud with national implications.
 
 Kelly Daughtry
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Brad Knott
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Campaign Finance Reports
Kelly Daughtry
Brad Knott
Ballotpedia

Voter Information
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Early Voting Locations
April 25th-May 11th

Northern Regional Center - 350 E. Holding Avenue, Wake Forest 27587
Wake County Board of Elections Office - 1200 N. New Hope Road, Raleigh 27610
Wake Tech - Southern Wake Campus - 9101 Fayetteville Road, Raleigh 27603

2024 Second Primary Election Early Voting Bus Route Guide

 ELECTION DAY
Tuesday, March 14th from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM

Transcript

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 0:09

Hello friends, thanks for joining me on the NC Deep Dive. I'm your host, Amanda Benbow Lunn, and we are delving into the 2024 second primary election happening May 14th. There will be three episodes to this segment and, depending on your precinct in Southern Wake County, you may have two or three races on your ballot. Since two of these are state races, they will apply to the entirety of eligible voters in North Carolina, so if you are listening from afar, they still might be useful. Please note that all three of these runoff races are on the Republican ballot because the top vote getter in March's primary did not achieve more than 30% of the vote. When that happens, the runner-up can ask for a second primary runoff election. Those eligible to vote this go-round are as follows 1. All registered Republicans. Two, all those registered as unaffiliated, also known by some as independent, who did not cast a vote in March's primary. And. Three, all those registered as unaffiliated or independent who did vote in March's primary and they selected a Republican ballot. No races fit the criteria for a runoff election for the Democrats or Libertarians. All of those primary winners have moved on to November's general election, so there is not an opportunity to cast your vote this go-round For these segments.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 1:36

I will be reading from each candidate's website, along with anything I feel may be of interest on a simple Google search. Sometimes it's easier for people to digest this stuff audibly, but if you are a visual learner or you are short on time, feel free to skip these episodes and search for yourself Without further ado. My friends, let's dive in. For this episode we will be speaking about Kelly Daughtry and Brad Nott, who are vying for the US congressional seat for District 13. First off, we will start with Kelly Daughtry. Her website is kellyfornc. com, that's K-E-L-L-Y-F-O-R-N-C. com. It starts with send a conservative to Congress, Kelly Daughtry. Kelly Daughtry never backs down from a fight. In Washington. She'll put an end to Joe Biden's reckless agenda and stand up for North Carolina values. The daughter of a veteran farmer and businessman, Kelly Daughtry grew up here in rural North Carolina, where she learned conservative principles and the value of hard work. She spent her career fighting for North Carolina families, farmers and small businesses In Congress. She'll secure the border, get tough on China and put an end to out-of-control government spending. About Kelly Kelly Daughtry, a North Carolina Story.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 2:58

Kelly Daughtry is a born-and-bred North Carolinian, a Christian, a conservative Republican and a political outsider. Kelly has been serving her community and practicing law in her home of Johnston County, North Carolina, for over 25 years. Kelly has fought for families during times when they are most vulnerable. She knows their struggles and has been their strongest advocate. Kelly has also proudly stood up for farmers. When an international Fortune 500 company's product killed North Carolina farmers' tobacco crops, Kelly was not afraid to take on the company and fight for our farmers. Her work helped save family farms. Kelly has worked with countless small businesses and knows the unique problems they face. Having worked with families, farmers and small businesses throughout our region, Kelly knows firsthand the impact the disastrous Biden agenda has had on North Carolina. Their struggle to get by thanks to Joe Biden and the career politicians in Washington is what motivated her to run for Congress and serve her community.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 4:00

As our Congresswoman, kelly will fight for North Carolina values each and every day. That means securing our border once and for all, cutting reckless government spending, getting tough on China and putting an end to Joe Biden's reckless agenda. Kelly's Priorities, her Issues, kelly's Priorities North Carolina Values for Our Family. As our Congresswoman, kelly will fight for North Carolina values each and every day. That means securing our border once and for all, cutting reckless government spending, getting tough on China and putting an end to Joe Biden's reckless agenda. Border security what's happening on our border is a crisis, plain and simple. Joe Biden and the Democrats have opened our borders and drugs and crime are pouring into our communities at record rates. I will hold the Biden administration accountable and use any means necessary, including authorizing the use of military force, to secure our border once and for all.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 4:55

Hold China accountable. Weak on China career politicians have put our economy and our national security at risk. That ends with me as your congresswoman. I'll get tough on China and will stop the Chinese Communist Party and their affiliates from buying farmland in North Carolina or anywhere in the United States. Stop out-of-control spending. Career politicians have spent our country to the brink and North Carolinians are paying the price. Record high inflation rates caused by reckless spending are crushing our families, farmers and small businesses. I'll stop the out-of-control spending coming from career politicians, which will lower gas and grocery costs for working families. End Joe Biden's reckless agenda. Washington is broken and Joe Biden is destroying our country. Biden's reckless agenda has opened our borders, made our nation less secure and made life more expensive. In Congress, I'll stand up for North Carolina and get our nation back on track. There are buttons where you can contribute or join her team. She does have a Facebook page and a Twitter or an X account linked to her website as well, and that is the totality of Kelly Daughtry's website. Moving on to Ballotpedia, it states that Kelly Daughtry earned a Bachelor's of Arts from Dartmouth College in 1992 and a JD from the University of North Carolina in 1995. Daughtry's career experience includes working as a family law attorney.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 6:32

Ballotpedia's summary of this 2024 battleground election for the second primary between Daughtry and Knott Kelly Daughtry and Brad Knott, both Republicans, are running in the Republican primary runoff in North Carolina's 13th congressional district on May 14, 2024. Congressional district on May 14, 2024. Daughtry and Knott were the two top finishers in the March 5 primary, with 27.4% and 18.7% of the vote respectively. Incumbent Wiley Nickel, democrat, did not seek re-election, leaving this district open. According to Meredith College professor David McLennan, the runoff will be a test of who can align him or herself more with Trump, between two candidates, kelly Daughtry and Brad Knott, who run more strongly in different parts of the district. Former President Donald Trump endorsed Knott on April 5th of 2024.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 7:18

Daughtry is an attorney with experience in business disputes and family law. Daughtry says she is running to restore sanity in Washington, defend conservative Christian North Carolina values, secure our border and end Biden's disastrous leadership of our country. Daughtry says that voters are seeking a candidate who will prioritize America first. I will work with Trump when I get to Congress to secure the border, reduce inflation and refocus our foreign policy. As of March 29, 2024, daughtry had raised $2,146,546, including $2,060,132 in self-funding. Knott is a former federal prosecutor. Knott says that he is running because quote I saw firsthand the devastating harm serious crime does to our communities. The laws need to be stronger and more rigid to protect law-abiding Americans. Knott says that he and Trump kept America safe together before Joe Biden. Knott says that he and Trump kept America safe together before Joe Biden took office. Knott says he will work with President Trump to secure our border and to put criminals behind bars. As of March 29, 2024, knott had raised $670,612, including $250,000 in self-funding.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 8:37

The primary runoff is taking place in the context of court-ordered redistricting Under the previous district lines. National political observers described the 13th district as a toss-up. Wiley-nickel defeated Bo Hines, the Republican candidate, 51.6% to 48.4% in 2022. As of March 29, 2024, the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter and Larry J Sabato's Crystal Ball both rated the general election solid-slash-safe Republican. Inside Elections with Nathan L Gonzalez rated the general election likely Republican For the 2024 first primary in March. Kelly Daughtry did get 27.4% of the vote, which was a total of 22,881 votes. Bradnott came in second with 18.7% of the vote, which was 15,613 votes a difference of right around 7,000 votes that Kelly won the primary. But again, because she hit 27.4% and did not hit more than 30%, bradnott did have the ability to ask for a runoff election and he did. With her campaign finance information, this is as of March 31st of this year. Kelly Daughtry receipts totaled just over $4.4 million. Her disbursements are almost $3.1 million. Her cash on hand as of March 31st was just over $1.3 million. Brad Knotts, comparatively he has $1.5 million in receipts, he has dispersed just over $1 million and his cash on hand is $460,452. Again, that's as of March 31st of 2024.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 10:24

Kelly Daughtry did run back in 2022. She was on the Republican primary for the same US House, district 13 for North Carolina. She placed third with 16.9% of the vote, and that two years ago she got 9,300 votes. Both Beau Hines and Devon Barber beat her in that primary so she did not move forth to the general election. She did not fill out the 2024 Ballotpedia survey. There is a campaign ad here. Again, this is Ballotpediaorg. Then you just search for the candidate. It talks a little bit about what her platforms are. That's taken directly from her website and it also talks about what her campaign focus was for her 2022 election. Looking again at some of the campaign finance summary for 2024, she's had a total of just over $4.4 million in contributions and she has spent almost $3.1 million. Back in 2022, the one in which she did lose the primary, she received just over $3.5 million and she actually spent exactly what she had raised in contributions to the dollar. Her grand total for the two years so far, she has raised over $8 million and she has spent $6,667,060 total. And that concludes all the information on Ballotpedia for Kelly Daughtry.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 11:59

I did find at least one article, but there were a couple of articles that did discuss this as well. This is from the Carolina Journal. It was published on Sunday, april 21st. It says Kelly Daughtry and Brad Knott are fighting hard in the last congressional primary runoff here in North Carolina as they compete for the Republican nomination.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 12:18

We've seen lots of ads trying to point out flaws in the other candidates' conservative bona fides no surprise there. Point out flaws in the other candidates' conservative bona fides no surprise there. But one line of attack that is surprising is the Daughtry camp's repeated insistence that Knott was cozy with President Biden, simply because Knott worked as a federal prosecutor for several years across three different presidential administrations. One of the ads from Team Daughtry even featured a doctored photo replacing a law enforcement officer, with President Biden draping his arm across Knott's shoulders. Of course, Knott has never even met President Biden and, in parentheses, much less supported him.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 12:53

The article basically just goes on to say that they find this line of attack troubling because of the chilling effect it may have on qualified, incompetent people serving in critical roles in our government. For fear of future political ramifications, the work of assistant US attorneys, like not myself and countless others, is nonpartisan and apolitical. This article states Federal prosecutors are the ones working day in and day out to enforce our federal laws in court and put serious criminals behind bars, criminals like the ones that not routinely prosecuted, who traffic deadly poison into our communities, often across the border, and who oversee networks that terrorize our communities with violence, when the kingpin whose drug trafficking organization delivered a lethal dose of fentanyl to your child is on trial and you're sitting in the courtroom. Politics don't matter very much. You want the most competent lawyers zealously representing the United States. What our country needs is for our best and brightest of all political stripes to want to do this work at some point in their career.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 13:55

What our country does not need is for sharp and talented young lawyers to think twice about taking a job that safeguards our communities, simply because of who happens to be president at the time. An example helps Imagine with me, if you will, a young woman a few years out of law school. She's sharp, organized, quick on her feet, she's not easily rattled, she gets some experience around the courtroom and she loves it. She's good at it. She's the kind of lawyer we should all want representing us when the most dangerous criminals are on trial, and she may well be the kind of person you'd want to represent you in Congress one day. But according to Daughtry Camp's reasoning, this young woman better think twice before taking a job as a federal prosecutor, especially if the president happens to be of a different party when the opportunity comes around. Otherwise, it might be her showing up in a doctored photo on TV someday and a president she opposes with his arm around her shoulder, and that's why the Daughtry camp's attacks are particularly troubling. If our young lawyer turns down the job, that loss is a loss to all of us. We, the public, are the ones missing out. Daughtry would do well to apologize for the ads, correct the record and make clear there's no place for political attacks on apolitical government service.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 15:05

This was written by Johnny Harris, who is an attorney and litigator at Smith Anderson, the largest business and litigation law firm headquartered in the Triangle. John previously served as an assistant US attorney in the Eastern District of North Carolina and that was really all I could find. She did have an ex-account that came up a bit on her Google search, but primarily it was just election-related things, with both her and Brad Knot being compared. Moving on to Brad Knot's website, His website is bradknottforcongress. com. That's B-R-A-D-K-N-O-T-T-F-O-R Congress. com. It says Brad Knot, conservative for Congress. Brad Knot for Congress, north Carolina's 13th congressional district endorsed by President Trump. Republican primary runoff May 14th 2024. Brad backs Trump. There's information where you can support the campaign and then it goes on to read Brad not tough on crime prosecutor. I recently resigned as a federal prosecutor to run for Congress in the 13th congressional district in North Carolina.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 16:12

While working in law enforcement, I became familiar with issues important to every North Carolinian and I look forward to discussing these issues in this campaign. I grew up in Raleigh. My parents grew up in small towns, wilson and Nightdale. My grandfather, now 97 years old, fought in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. My parents taught Bible study, and now so do I. My wife Joanna and I have been blessed with two daughters. There is a picture here with Brad and his wife Joanna and their two daughters.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 16:41

During law school at Wake Forest, I worked as a clerk for Supreme Court Justice Paul Newby. After graduating, I became a prosecutor in the US Attorney's Office for Eastern North Carolina. For seven and a half years I worked with numerous sheriffs and police departments to prosecute and convict drug kingpins, members of drug cartels, gangs, human traffickers and criminal illegal immigrants. As I traveled Eastern North Carolina working on investigations and preparing for trials, I saw firsthand the devastating harm serious crime does to our communities.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 17:13

The open border policies now in place allow a catastrophic flow of crime that wreaks havoc across our state and country. In the last three years alone, it is estimated that nearly 10 million illegal immigrants have crossed our southern border. The laws need to be stronger and more rigid to protect law-abiding Americans. I believe when an illegal immigrant commits a felony, they should be sent to prison for a minimum of five years and then deported. There's a quote that says Brad's a conservative, he teaches Bible study, puts principle above politics and he's not a politician. End quote from former Congressman George. Holding Brad Knott's priorities Immigration, secure our border. Joe Biden has unleashed a flood of illegal immigrants into our country. His administration must be held accountable. Our border must be secured. The wall must be finished. An illegal immigrant who commits a felony should be sent to prison for a minimum of five years and then deported.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 18:10

Israel Stand with Israel. Israel, a loyal ally, is the only nation in the Middle East that is free and democratic. Israel is the ancestral home of the Jewish people. Hamas and Hezbollah and their ally, iran, openly proclaim their desire to destroy Israel and America. We must stand by Israel and we need a strong foreign policy that holds Iran in check. Any refugees from Gaza must go to Arab countries, not the USA.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 18:38

Abortion the unborn I oppose the Democrats' efforts to legalize abortion up to the moment of birth. The Dobbs decision properly overruled Roe v Wade, returning authority over abortion to the states, as our Constitution provides. I'm pro-life. I support state laws protecting the unborn. Faith-based crisis pregnancy centers which provide help to women and promote alternatives to abortion are under attack from pro-abortion extremists and left-wing politicians. I will fight to protect them.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 19:08

Crime Back the blue. The Democrats' defunding of the police and soft-on-crime policies have brought us deadly violence, along with rampant addiction and death from illegal drugs. As a prosecutor, after working with sheriffs and police departments investigating and convicting drug dealers, I back the blue 100%. I will fight for common sense, tough-on-crime policies.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 19:30

Education Support, school choice. Public schools are failing our children. Students are not educated in the basics needed to succeed in life. Instead, public schools push woke ideologies like critical race theory and even transgenderism. Parents must have a voice in school curriculums and policies. I support school choice so parents can get their children out of failing schools and into schools that will provide the education their children need.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 19:55

First Amendment Protect free speech. Freedom of speech and the free exercise of religious faith form the bedrock of American liberty. Today, both of those freedoms are under assault from the left. I will fight the cancel culture, protect freedom of speech and work to stop the Biden administration's targeting of Christian conservatives. Second Amendment Defend gun rights. I will work to protect our right to keep and bear arms, as guaranteed by the Second Amendment.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 20:22

I was introduced to hunting by my grandfather, who taught me about responsible gun ownership and safety. As a prosecutor, I repeatedly saw the need of every citizen to protect themselves and their families. We already have numerous laws regulating firearms, including a background check system and prohibitions on the possession of guns by felons and drug addicts. We need to enforce the gun laws. We have not pass new ones that target the law-abiding rather than criminals.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 20:48

Inflation and wasteful spending Joe Biden has walloped the poor and the middle class with devastating inflation. His torrent of wasteful spending has given us $2 trillion deficits, undercut the value of the dollar and brought on high interest rates. It makes no sense for Washington politicians to print money to pay for their wasteful spending. It's time to cut spending, put an end to omnibus spending bills and carefully scrutinize every spending bill to make cuts. I support a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 21:19

Brad's endorsements he has been endorsed from US Congresswoman Virginia Fox. Each of these endorsements has a paragraph that you can click on and it takes you to another site to read more in detail. I'll just read the little bit that's here and if you're interested, you can have a look at his website and read these articles in their entirety. The endorsement from US Congresswoman Virginia Foxx states Brad Knot has the backbone and determination to fight for hardworking and law-abiding families of North Carolina's 13th District who are fed up with Joe Biden's policies promoting open borders and runaway inflation. As a prosecutor, he made sure dangerous criminals paid the price for their crimes, and in Congress he will make sure our communities are safe. At his core he is, and then you click to read more. Representative Matthew Winslow endorses Bradnott as a father who cares deeply about the country our children inherit. I'm endorsing Brad Nott for Congress because he will protect the promise of the American dream and fight for everyday working families. Now is the time for strong leadership to stand up to woke ideologies and distracting political games. Brad Nott is a conservative to the core who won't cave to the Washington establishment Again.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 22:31

President Donald J Trump endorses Brad Knott for Congress. Brad Knott is a strong patriot who is running for Congress in North Carolina's 13th congressional district against a rhino, Kelly Daughtry who has given money to far-left Democrats, pledged to vote for Obama and is no friend to MAGA, a former federal prosecutor Brad will fight hard to support our great law enforcement and military, secure our border, protect our always under siege. Second, and then you can click more to finish that article. Conservative US Congressman Dan Bishop endorses Brad not for Congress. In the 13th District Republican runoff, Kelly Daughtry claims to be a conservative Trump supporter, even though she donated to Sherry Beasley against Ted Budd and to Josh Stein. She celebrated voting for Barack Obama and now she runs fake photos of Brad Knott shaking Biden's hand. That tells you three things Kelly Daughtry isn't a conservative. She's brazenly dishonest and she'd fit right. And you can click more to read more.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 23:28

Nc Values Coalition endorses Brad Knot for Congress. We are endorsing Brad Knott because of his character and commitment to the family values that made this country great. He was a federal prosecutor for the past seven years prosecuting drug cartel cases, so voters know he will be strong on crime, border security and a drug and human trafficking. He is the only candidate in this primary election runoff who is a true conservative on all issues. Brad Knott receives endorsement from Dr Josh McConkey. Dr Josh McConkey said, having had the opportunity to get to know Brad Knott more personally on the campaign trail, I am most impressed with his commitment to America First, values, values. As a prosecutor, Brad is best qualified to secure our border, stop the fentanyl crisis that I deal with every day in the ER and hold criminals and drug cartels accountable. As a husband, father and and you can click more to finish that article Brad Knott receives endorsement from US Senator Ted Budd.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 24:26

Today, senator Ted Budd endorsed Brad Nott for Congress in the runoff election in North Carolina, district 13. Senator Budd said I'm endorsing Brad Knot because of his character and commitment to the America First agenda. Brad is a solid conservative who will fight for a strong nation and stronger families. As a prosecutor, he knows the consequences of Joe Biden's open border and he's made our. And you can click more to read more. Then there's Veterans for Trump endorsement. I am honored to receive the National and North Carolina chapter endorsement from Veterans for Trump, aka Veterans for America First. The original Trump campaign coalition focused on veterans' issues while promoting a secure border.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 25:06

As a federal prosecutor, I fought against illegal immigration and violent crime in the courtroom. In Congress, I will work to secure the border, finish the wall, and you can click more to read more. North Carolina grassroots government endorsement I worked with sheriffs and police to convict drug dealers and violent criminals. As a federal prosecutor, now I am running for Congress in the 13th district and am honored to be endorsed by North Carolina grassroots government. I stand for medical and religious freedom, parents' rights, educational choice, sanctity of life second amendment rights and legislative reform.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 25:40

Congressman George Holding endorses Brad Knott and there's a little bit that you can read here that says dear friend, while four years have passed since I was in Congress, one thing has remained the same Our political system is still a mess. Our elected officials are more interested in politicking than working to fix our problems. We must work to elect credible, serious candidates in order to address the many issues facing our country. This is why I am thrilled to announce my support for Brad Knott, who recently filed to run in the district I was honored to represent a short time ago. Brad Knott is a tried and true conservative and the best choice for North Carolina Congressional District 13.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 26:17

Brad is a career prosecutor who has worked in the United States Attorney's Office where he investigated and prosecuted organized crime ranging from and I can't read the rest of that, but you can click more if you are interested. North Carolina Benevolent Association endorses Brad Knot for Congress. I am honored to be the only North Carolina 13 congressional candidate to be endorsed by the North Carolina Police Benevolent Association, the largest law enforcement association of North Carolina. As a federal prosecutor, I work side by side with law enforcement to reduce crime. I will always stand with them and for them. Liberty First Grassroots endorses Brad Knot for Congress. I am a former federal prosecutor. For the last seven years I worked with sheriffs and police to investigate and prosecute drug dealers and violent criminals. I have seen how our wide, open southern border contributes to the increase in crime in North Carolina and across the country. I also understand how to reduce crime. Laws need to be enforced and strengthened to correct the and you can click more to read more. You can follow Brad on Facebook X, instagram and YouTube. There is a place where you can sign up to get updates from him, as well as buttons where you can donate to his campaign.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 27:32

Now, as we're talking about endorsements, I realized I did not mention Kelly Daughtry's endorsements because they were not on her website, but I did find some that she posted on her Twitter account. Now I will say George Holding has endorsed Brad Knott for this second primary election. Actually, he endorsed him for the first primary election, but in 2022,. George Holding did endorse Kelly Daughtry, so he has changed since 2022. Kelly Daughtry's current endorsements are North Carolina State Senator Brent Jackson, north Carolina House Majority Leader John Bell, former State Senator Bob Steinberg, former State Senator Rick Horner, state Representative Donna White, state Senator Benton Sawry, and she is also endorsed by Sheriff Steve Bizzle, district Attorney Susan Doyle, formerly the DA of Harnett and Lee Counties, the Register of Deeds, craig Olive, and the Clerk of Court, michelle Ball. And those were the only endorsements that I saw. But again, I only saw them on Kelly Daughtry's X account and she made one post in January on X and then, starting April 1st, she has madea series of posts as well, but prior to January her last post was when she was last running back in March of 2022, I believe it was Now.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 28:58

I did talk some about Brad Knott from his Ballotpedia, but let me read what is different when you click on his name. Brad Knott is from the Republican Party, is running for election to the US House to represent North Carolina's 13th congressional district. He is on the ballot in the Republican primary runoff on May 14th 2024. He advanced from the Republican primary on March 5th 2024. Brad Knott grew up in Raleigh, north Carolina. He earned a JD from Wake Forest University. Knott's career experience includes working as a federal prosecutor in the US Attorney's Office for Eastern North Carolina. Again, it states the same thing about the 2024 battleground election that I read earlier and again. Kelly Daughtry won the primary in March with 27.4% of the vote, which was 22,881 votes. Brad Knotts came in second with 18.7% of the vote, which was 15,613 votes, which is a difference of just over 7,000 votes. He did not complete the 2024 Ballotpedia survey responses.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 30:03

There are three campaign ads that are on this site that you can check out, or you can find them on YouTube or Facebook. It says it goes into his campaign website for his platform issues and then again the campaign finance summary for 2024. This is through March 31st of this year. His total contributions have been $1,508,386. His expenditures have been $1,047,934. And that is all that you can find on Ballotpedia for Brad Knott.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 30:40

Looking on Google, I found a few articles that seemed of interest, one of which is from WUNC. org, and this was published back in December 14th of 2023 by Colin Campbell. It's a video that says solid, strong, conservative. Brad Knot, a little known Republican candidate for Congress, is getting a boost from a super PAC that's spending big on TV ads backing his campaign. Former federal prosecutor Brad Knot hasn't run for office before and few people in political circles had heard of him. He's one of at least 11 Republicans running in the 13th Congressional District, where Democrat Wiley Nickel isn't seeking re-election. The redrawn district leans heavily towards the GOP and runs from the Virginia border north of the Triangle down to Smithfield and Sanford. Now Knott has the advantage of being one of the first candidates backed by regular TV ads that play up his name. This is a Knott solid. The narrator says this is a Knott strong. And this is Brad Knott a solid, strong conservative for Congress.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 31:45

But Knott's campaign didn't pay for the ads. Instead they're produced by a super PAC called the American Foundations Committee. The group isn't saying how much it plans to spend, but so far it's paid about $500,000 in advertising in November and early December alone. Federal Disclosure Filing Show Filings show how much money the PAC has raised are not yet available. Its leaders include attorneys Boyd Serges and Steve Long, as well as Sampson County businessman Allie Rae McCullen. All three are active in GOP politics. Mccullen is a former UNC Chapel Hill Board of Trustees member and Long previously served on the UNC Board of Governors. Sturges is a former Lewisburg town councilman who's best known for his role as a special prosecutor in the Duke Lacrosse case.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 32:32

They're supporting him because of his track record as a prosecutor getting tough on crime, particularly illegal immigrants and gang leaders, which is sorely needed in Congress right now, said Michael Luthi, a political consultant working for the PAC. Luthi says the PAC is trying to get a head start over other campaigns expected to advertise heavily in the primary. The sooner you can start messaging other campaigns expected to advertise heavily in the primary, the sooner you can start messaging the better, said Luthi, who's also worked on US Senator Ted Budd's 2022 campaign. We saw it in Ted Budd's race last year. The early start was critical, especially for somebody who, in Ted's case, hadn't run statewide before, but in Brad's case, he hasn't run at all. Other candidates are following close behind. Disclosure records show. Fellow Republican candidate, fred Von Kannon, has booked TV ad space in December. Von Kannon is a businessman who has already loaned his campaign $300,000. Johnson County attorney Kelly Daughtry, who spent nearly $3 million of her own money running for a seat last year, filed on Thursday to enter next year's race. Another candidate spending his own money to break through the crowded primary field is Air Force reservist and Dr Josh McConkie, who has loaned his campaign $250,000. Again, this was written by Colin Campbell, who covers politics for WUNC as the station's Capitol Bureau chief.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 33:47

Another article I found when I was searching for Brad Knott on Google comes up with records indicate GOP candidate Brad Knot used the wrong address to vote. There is a video here but it says Brad Knott, a contender for the GOP nomination in the state's 13th congressional district, voted while registered at his father's address, despite living elsewhere in Raleigh. He says it was an oversight. There are details in a transcript. The transcript says New tonight a Republican candidate is facing questions about his voting history. Former federal prosecutor Brad Knott is one of more than a dozen candidates hoping to secure his party's nomination and North Carolina's 13th congressional district. Election records show that Knott bought a home in Raleigh in 2014, but continued voting while registered at his parents' address until 2023. It's against the law to knowingly misrepresent your residential address at the polls. In an interview with WRAL not acknowledged that he should have updated his voter registration, but it slipped his mind Again. That was on WRAL News. I don't see a date, but it would have been probably before the March primary. The last article that I found was from the Assembly. The website is theassemblync. com. It's entitled Politics the GOP's Family Feud. The 13th Congressional District Runoff Between Kelly Daughtry and Brad Knot is Pitting Families and Political Consultants with Deep Republican Roots Against Each Other. By Brian Anderson, and was published on April 3, 2024.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 35:19

Kelly Daughtry wasn't too thrilled with her father's idea. She had a good life practicing law in Johnston County and was resistant to upending it to seek congressional seat. I don't know anything about politics. I don't know what to do. I don't know the people. Leo recalled his daughter saying at the time. But where Kelly saw headache, leo saw opportunity. The elder Daughtry knew a moment when he saw one. He had decades of experience in Republican politics as a state party chair, presidential convention delegate, unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate, state legislator and UNC system board of governors member. Today the 83-year-old is on the North Carolina Board of Transportation. So when the new congressional maps created an open triangle area toss-up in 2022, he figured Kelly would be a good fit.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 36:06

The Daughtrys had deep personal and political ties to the community, lots of money at their disposal and wanted to appeal to pragmatic voters frustrated with higher cost of living. Under President Joe Biden, the younger Daughtry came around to her father's idea but lost in the GOP primary. Now she's running again, this time in a newly drawn, largely conservative district that almost certainly will elect a Republican. Democratic US Representative Wiley Nichol chose not to seek re-election after the district was redrawn. There's a picture with attorney Kelly Daughtry and her father, leo Daughtry, 54, has fared better this time. She finished atop the 14-candidate primary field at 27%, just shy of the 30% needed to win the nomination outright.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 36:49

Daughtry is now in a May 14th runoff against Brad Knott in Raleigh, a first-time candidate and a former federal prosecutor, who finished in second with 19 percent of the vote. It's also a family affair for Knott. His 97-year-old grandfather, jt, volunteered for US Senator Jesse Helms' 1984 campaign and spent 12 years as a Wake County commissioner. His dad, joe, is a lawyer who overlapped with Leo Daughtry on the UNC Board of Governors. One brother, tucker, served as chief of staff to former US Representative George Holding of Raleigh and now holds the same job for US Senator Ted Budd. Another brother, thomas, is a New York investor who's donated at least $700,000 to a pro-not super PAC, according to federal campaign filings. I will not push back on any claim that I've been blessed with two wonderful parents and with five wonderful siblings.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 37:42

Bradnaught37 told the Assembly there's not much difference between naught and daughtery on policy issues. Policy issues A cadre of veteran Republican political consultants have lined up on each side, portraying their candidate as a true conservative and their opponent as a squishy rhino Republican in name only. This battle of politically active families might come down to geography, with each trying to cut into the other's home base. The district includes parts of Wake and Granville counties and all of Caswell, person, franklin, johnston, harnett and Lee counties. David McLennan, a Meredith College political scientist, said the runoff may have about half the turnout as the first primary that would most benefit the candidate best able to convince voters. They are the staunchest conservative. Barring any changes to redistricting or Democrats taking control of the legislature when maps are redrawn after the 2030 census, the victor could hold the seat for years. Mclennan said the family dynamics have created interest in the race beyond the triangle. We don't see a lot of races involving two people with family histories like Daughtry and Knott.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 38:50

Political liabilities For Daughtry and her political allies. Distinguishing her has meant criticizing Nott in television ads for living outside the district and working as a federal prosecutor when Obama and Biden were president. It's hard for me to understand how, if you're not living in the district, how you love the district, daughtry said To me it seems like you should be running because you want to do good, you want to help North Carolina, but with Nott it's more about what you want to do and where you're going in your career. I'm not looking to make this a career. I'm looking at trying to fix what I see as broken. Nott lives in Raleigh, a few miles outside of the district. Us House members are not required to live in the district they represent. Daughtry said she supports term limits that cap a representative's service at six or eight years.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 39:35

The ad criticizing Knott's stint as a federal prosecutor was produced by a pro-Daughtry group separate from her campaign, but Daughtry defended it. He was an Obama appointee, she said. Daughtry's campaign has also put out a similar ad. Knott was a federal prosecutor in North Carolina from 2016 to 2023. He said he started in a temporary job, was hired full-time by US Attorney Bobby Higdon during Trump's presidency and left the Department of Justice last year. They are trying to paint me as someone who I'm not an Obama-Biden lawyer, knott said, and they are trying to portray Kelly Daughtry as someone she's not an Obama-Biden lawyer, knott said and they are trying to portray Kelly Daughtry as someone she's not a lifelong, committed conservative. When Knott worked as a federal prosecutor, he was not a political appointee who served at the pleasure of the president. He served on the professional staff which is chosen by merit and is intended to be nonpartisan.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 40:29

Max Steyer, president and CEO of the Nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service, said the TV ads attacking Knott for serving in Democratic administrations were misleading and risk undermining voters' faith in an apolitical federal workforce. It's an attack with zero substance and it's an attack that misunderstands our system of government and our democracy. Steyer said If you're enforcing the laws of the United States as an assistant United States attorney, you swear an oath to the Constitution. You do not swear an oath to the political party of the United States by casting ballots using his parents' Raleigh address instead of his Raleigh townhouse.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 41:12

Daughtry's campaign has also branded Knott as a never-Trumper because he didn't vote in the 2016 and 2020 primaries. Knott said he made a mistake by voting at the wrong precinct in as many as five elections and never thought to double-check the address listed on the ballot the poll workers handed him. I am just adding in my own personal information that when you do go in to vote, the election volunteers do ask you your address and ask you to confirm that the address that they have written on the ballot is the correct address for you. Now back to the article. Knott said he corrected the issue last year when he learned he hadn't updated his voter registration. He also said that while he doesn't remember why he didn't vote in the 2016 or 2020 primaries, he's never voted against Trump. Asked why he didn't vote in 2016 when Trump was in a competitive primary, knott replied I should have. I own that. Meanwhile, knott has worked to distinguish himself from Daughtry by highlighting her past donations to Democrats, which were first reported on by the Carolina Journal in 2022.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 42:19

Knott points to a 2012 Facebook comment Daughtry made, voicing her intention to vote for Barack Obama over Mitt Romney, as evidence she's not sufficiently conservative. He has a picture of her Facebook comment. It says from Kelly Kathleen Daughtry, I'm voting for Obama. So I'm just saying, but I do find a lot wrong with both parties. The fact that a president slept with an intern and the power dynamics that goes along with that I find abhorrent. Part of the job of a president is to set an example, so we think it is okay for people in power to do this type of thing, so much so that we hold Clinton up as an elder statesman and someone Obama is proud to have speak on his behalf, not to mention the fact that he said he didn't sleep with her. I guess this type of thing is fine and no big deal. I have seen an overwhelming amount of applause for Clinton. It makes me sad and angry. I think he promotes the cause of women about as well as Paul Ryan 11 years ago, it says. He also notes Daughtry gave $500 to support Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein's 2020 re-election bid and $250 to former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Sherry Beasley in 2021 as she was running for US Senate.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 43:32

Daughtry also gave Beasley $200 for her 2014 state Supreme Court campaign. I do not know how a conservative could justify that litany of actions. Knott said Daughtry also contributed to Republicans. She said she voted for Romney in 2012,. Gave to Stein because a mutual friend asked for help and donated to Beasley because she had collaborated with her father while he was in the General Assembly.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 43:56

Daughtry said she never voted or considered voting for Stein or Beasley. Some things are just not about politics, daughtry said. They say you have bankrolled Democrats. I never voted for either one. Never would vote for either one of them. Never have even thought about voting for either one of them. Her father said she is in fact Trumpy enough and she is in fact conservative enough Charisma deficit If you'd walked into the 13th District Forum at Sophie's Bar and Grill in Cary in January, you might not have thought Nott and Daughtry would advance to the runoff.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 44:31

You might not have thought Knott and Daughtry would advance to the runoff. Other candidates were more lively and charismatic. Speaking to a group of Wake County Republicans with 10 other primary contenders, daughtry and Knott came across as stiff and mild-mannered not the characteristics one might expect to generate grassroots enthusiasm. What Daughtry and Knott lack in smiles and soundbites they attempt to make up by being direct with voters. Daughtry presented herself as someone capable of addressing inflation by lowering federal spending. We can't continue to make fake money and not balance our budget, daughtry told the crowd.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 45:00

Knott answered a question about his residency by referencing his career. I probably live as a crow flies three miles outside the district, knott said. For most of my professional career I was a prosecutor with the United States Attorney's Office. I worked all throughout this district. Daughtry and Knott are trying to show voters that they are the workhorses, not showhorses. I may not be a good speaker, but I'm a worker and I'm a fighter. Daughtry said it is what it is. It makes running more difficult. I don't think it makes the job more difficult. Do I enjoy running for office? Not reflected in response to a reporter's question. There are parts like this you have discussions, talking with voters I really do, but there are other parts fundraising and responding to attack ads that I really don't. Daughtry and Knott say they do well with one-on-one interactions with voters, but television ads may prove far more impactful.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 45:51

Both are campaigning heavily on closing the southern border, getting the country's financial house in order and reducing crime. Daughtry said she'd want to send US military troops to the southern border and declare Mexican drug cartels terrorist organizations. Knott said he wants more local police officers, cross-deputized with federal credentials, to assist in fighting crime, and more criminal deportations. If you come here and you commit a crime, it needs to be exorbitantly punitive. Knott said I don't care if it's a DUI all the way up to a serious drug trafficking or violent felonies. There needs to be an immediate response to punish and expel. He added when I say I want to fix immigration at the border. I know how to do it and I have actually fought the fight to punish and exp. Background we're the only conservative in this race, he said the candidates are closely aligned with Trump. They oppose further aid to Ukraine as it fights against Russia's invasion and neither is willing to challenge Trump's repeated statements that the 2020 election was stolen from him. There's no evidence to support that claim. Daughtry said Democrats and big tech clearly worked together to rig the election for Joe Biden. Knott, through a spokesman, said there were not appropriate checks on mail-in ballots in 2020, raising suspicion about the results.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 47:26

Battle of the consultants. The political consultants are playing an unusually public role in this Republican family feud. Carter Wren, longtime campaign strategist for US Senator Jesse Helms, advised Daughtry in 2022. He joined, not for 2024. I thought Brad was more conservative than Kelly and that he'd be a better person in Congress. Wren said Luke Stansel, who handles communications for Daughtry's Super PAC and worked on her 2022 campaign, blamed Wren for Daughtry's past defeat. Carter Wren is a disgruntled former employee that Kelly Daughtry did not retain this time into this campaign because he spent $2.5 million of Daughtry's own money and came in third. Stansel said Wren attributed the 2022 loss to Daughtry's past donations to Democrats and said he joined Knott's campaign after Brad's father asked for help. It had nothing to do with disgruntlement with Daughtry. Wren said. It was just that I've known the Knott's and I'm close friends with them.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 48:22

Jonathan Feltz, a fiery political consultant who helped get Ted Budd elected to the US Senate in 2022, joined Knott's campaign last month. Feltz also helped lobbyist Addison McDowell win a crowded 6th district GOP primary in March. Feltz revealed he was joining Knott's campaign by sharing the Facebook post of Daughtry's saying she'd vote for Obama in 2012. In an interview, feltz also sought to distinguish Knott's courtroom experience as a prosecutor from Daughtry's as a divorce lawyer. As a prosecutor from Daughtry's as a divorce lawyer, daughtry practices law at the firm her father founded. When you're in the court, it's you up there making the case, felt said. But it is different, though, if your job is at your daddy's law firm. Charles Helwig, who handled communications for Raleigh businessman Fred von Cannon's campaign, is backing Daughtry. Von Kannon spent $3 million and finished 1.6 percentage points behind Knott.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 49:17

Wren published a blog post condemning one ad from Daughtry's super PAC that used a doctored photo of Biden with his arm around Knott. What the super PAC Leo funded did to the photo was pretty deceptive. Wren said they took a policeman out, they put Biden in, they moved him close to Brad and they put Biden's hand on Brad's shoulder like they were old buddies and Brad Knotts never met Joe Biden. Stansel said Leo Daughtry had no role in the commercial and that Wren's outrage was disingenuous. Carter Wren's done this for years. Stansel said To act like he shows shock that this happened is really absurd. This is nothing that hasn't been done before by creating the connection between Joe Biden and one of his guys in the Department of Justice. Wren said he's run ads that showed different candidates side by side, but said he's never doctored photos.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 50:06

The politics of geography. In the first primary, daughtry finished in the top two in every county except Wake, which not won. Von Cannon was a close second there. Knott hopes to win the support of Von Cannon's voters in the runoff and overtake Daughtry. The contest could also be decided in Johnston County where Daughtry, who lives in Clayton, got 35% of the vote to Knott's 13%. The county had the largest share of GOP primary votes cast in the district. Businessman Devon Barber, a Johnson County native, got almost 27% of the vote in the county and finished fourth overall.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 50:40

Daughtry wants to appeal to his supporters. Daughtry has the financial edge and has inundated the airwaves over the past three months. She spent at least $2.3 million on her own campaign, while her father kicked in at least $300,000 through a pro-Daughtry super PAC. The latest filing show, a random drawing, also bolstered Daughtry by placing her at the top of the ballot. I'm almost tapped out. Fully, said Knott, who's given his campaign at least $380,000. Can we compete with the Daughtry's dollars? No, we cannot. That's why we've had the most aggressive fundraising of any congressional candidate, maybe in the whole state.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 51:16

Looming large is whether Trump will get involved. Bud, who's endorsed, not won Trump's endorsement for McDowell in December, which propelled the political newcomer to Congress. There's no Democrat running for the seat. If he could secure Trump's endorsement for not, that could swing the outcome. The family feud game show lasts 30 minutes. North Carolina's congressional edition will be a weeks-long marathon.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 51:38

Early voting starts April 25th. But Daughtry and Knott don't want the race to be seen as a war between affluent families or ruthless GOP operatives. The candidates have one overriding goal to convince runoff voters that they are the one true conservative. Brian Anderson, who wrote this article, is a freelance reporter who most recently covered elections, voting access and state government for WRAL-TV. He previously reported for the Associated Press and the News Observer and again this article was posted on theassemblync. com and that is the entirety of all that I found relevant on their websites and on the first page of a Google search. Again, you will be voting for the US congressional seat for District 13. That will be between Kelly Daughtry and Brad Knott. Again, you will be able to vote for one of these and whoever is the top vote getter will move on to the general election in November.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 52:41

The second primary election will be held on Tuesday May 14th. Early voting begins Thursday April 25th and will extend through Saturday May 11th. There are only three early voting sites for Wake County this election cycle. They will be at the Northern Regional Center in Wake Forest, the Wake County Board of Elections on North New Hope Road in Raleigh and at Wake Tech's Southern Campus on Fayetteville Road in Raleigh. If you plan to vote via an absentee ballot, you may request one through 5 pm on Tuesday May 7th and it has to be received by the County Board of Elections Office no later than 7 30 pm on Election Day, may 14th. I will include general voting information as well as the candidates' websites, campaign finance information and social media handles for your convenience in this episode's show notes. With that we will conclude this installment of the NC Deep Dive.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 53:40

I hope you have found this information useful. If you did, I'd love for you to rate it, review it and share it with your friends, family and any who you think might find it useful. Make sure you keep a lookout for other relevant 2024 second primary election episodes at www. ncdeepdive. com, apple Podcasts, audible, spotify or wherever you currently listen to your podcasts. As always, if you have any questions or topics you'd like to share, you can connect with us on social media or via email at ncdeepdive@ gmail. com. Thank you for taking the time to listen and become a more informed voter and taking an active part in our democracy. Your efforts really do make a difference and are very much appreciated. Until next time, my friends. Namaste. The love and light in me sees and honors the love and light in you.