RALEIGH — Voters will soon begin to pick from among over two dozen candidates who have filed to run for an eastern North Carolina congressional seat empty since last month’s death of GOP Rep. Walter Jones Jr.
Traditional mail-in absentee balloting begins Friday in the 3rd Congressional District for the April 30 primaries for Republican, Democratic and Libertarian hopefuls.
Twenty-six people turned in paperwork during last week’s candidate filing period to seek the seat. The filing period opened Monday, March 4 and ended Friday, March 8. There are 17 Republicans, six Democrats and two Libertarians. One Constitution Party candidate already advances to the general election, which will be held in July or September, depending on whether any primary runoff is required.
In addition to filing their notice of candidacy, each candidate was required to pay a $1,740 filing fee, which represents one percent of the salary paid to the office holder.
GOP candidates running in the Republican-leaning district include three current state legislators. A current mayor and ex-mayor are in the Democratic primary.
Democrats
Ike Johnson Jacksonville
Dana E. Outlaw New Bern
Richard Bew Newport
Ernest T. Reeves Greenville
Gregory Humphrey Beulaville
Allen Thomas Winterville
Constitution Party
Greg Holt New Bern
Libertarians
Shannon W. Bray Apex
Tim Harris New Bern
Republicans
Phil Law Jacksonville
Michele Nix Kinston
Michael Speciale New Bern
Greg Murphy Greenville
Gary Ceres Greenville
Chimer Davis Clark, Jr. Morehead City
Graham Boyd Wake Forest
Celeste Caims Emerald Isle
Phil Shepard Jacksonville
Paul Beaumont Shawboro
Jeff Moore Raleigh
Joan Perry Kinston
Kevin Balko Moyock
Francis X. De Luca Cary
Eric Rouse Kinston
Don Cox Belhaven
Mike Payment Grandy
