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Fierce campaign divides Mark Meadows’ old district Cawthorn, Davis fight to win in NC11 BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER hose who hadn’t learned through backchannels a day or two beforehand found out early on a cold mountain morning late last winter that Mark Meadows was out. Now, in a pandemic-addled nation deeply divided on issues of class, race, justice, access to health care and economic opportunity, Republican Congressman Mark Meadows’ former congressional district has borne witness to a fierce political saga paralleled only by the presidential race it’s closely tied to. Both contests will draw to a close in less than two weeks, and in North Carolina, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will ultimately prevail.
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n Dec. 19, 2019, just one day before the filing period ended, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Asheville, announced his decision to forego an all-but-certain fifth term as North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District representative, for pastures greener. Pandemonium ensued. Only one person was prepared for such an unforeseen eventuality, a friend of Meadows’ wife Debbie, Haywood County realtor and Republican Lynda Bennett. Unlike the 11 other Republicans and five Democrats that ended up filing for the seat Bennett had advanced knowledge of the
Smoky Mountain News
October 21-27, 2020
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Former NC11 Congressman Mark Meadows speaks to veterans at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in August, 2018. Cory Vaillancourt photo impending vacancy, campaign infrastructure in place, local endorsements lined up and, eventually, the backing of President Donald Trump. None of it could save her from a series of comical missteps — a sham endorsement by a two-day-old PAC, an ethics complaint, a combative demeanor at public events, purported “Never Trump” comments and a steadfast refusal to talk to independent media outlets. Several county party and district leaders expressed dismay publicly and privately at the Haywood County Republican Party’s efforts — specifically by then-Chairman Ken Henson — to clear the runway for their anointed candidate. Some complained that the HCGOP overstepped its neutrality by pushing too hard for
Bennett, especially given that retiring Macon County Sen. Jim Davis remains wildly popular in his district and has at least a modicum of support from Western North Carolina’s establishment Democrats, hard-earned during his decades of public service. The March 3 Primary Election should have been a coronation for Lynda Bennett, but a 24-year-old political unknown from Henderson County, Madison Cawthorn, took advantage of Bennett’s baggage and eked out just enough votes to force a June 23 runoff. Sen. Davis, who like Cawthorn was caught unawares by Meadows’ retirement, finished a close third. Shortly after President Trump’s impeachment trial in January, Meadows abandoned
his congressional seat, leaving WNC without a voice throughout the Coronavirus Pandemic even as Congress passed the largest spending bill in the history of the universe. Meadows then became Trump’s fourth chief of staff in four years. Bennett repeatedly refused to debate her runoff opponent, Cawthorn, and as word of her gaffes spread some steadfast Republicans said they were disappointed in Meadows and that they although still planned on voting for Trump they wouldn’t vote for his candidate in November if she won the runoff. She didn’t win. In fact, she didn’t even come close. Cawthorn has run a spirited campaign since filing for the seat back in December. After winning that runoff he became a national media sensation, culminating in a speaking slot at this year’s Republican National Convention during which he took a symbolic stand, rising from the wheelchair he’s used since a near-fatal car accident when he was 18. It hasn’t been all kudos and plaudits for Cawthorn though. He’s taken hits for some half-dozen transgressions, real or imagined. There’s the allegations of Nazi and white supremacist sympathies, the misrepresentation of his rejection from the U.S. Naval Academy as well as his work in Mark Meadows’ congressional office and accusations of aggressive behavior towards women — indeed, another letter from students at Patrick Henry College, which he briefly attended, began circulating only days ago, rehashing old allegations and adding unverified new ones. Add to that Cawthorn’s lack of a college degree, and lack of relevant work experience. Nor has it been an easy road for Democrat Moe Davis, a retired Air Force colonel who won his five-way March 3 Primary Election outright over Gina Collias, a Republicanturned-Democrat who didn’t even live in the district. Mills River Democrat Michael O’Shea, a young Bernie Sanders afficionado, was
They Lied More Than 20,000 Times. Donald Trump Thom Tillis Madison Cawthorn LOCK THEM UP! These three will cut social security by $30 billion and increase the eligible age for retirement!
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