RALEIGH — The Republican primary to succeed outgoing N.C. Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson saw one candidate depart the race, one candidate post an eye-popping fundraising total and a new candidate enter the race within the last week.
Last week, Rep. Ben Moss, who currently represents Moore and Richmond counties in the N.C. House, said he was going to run for reelection to his current seat.
“After much prayer and deliberation with my family, I’ve decided to withdraw my candidacy for Labor Commissioner and recommit myself to running for re-election in the NC House,” said Moss in a statement. “I’ve got a daughter going off to college and a son in middle school — my time is best spent focusing on being present with my family and continuing my service to the people of House District 52.”
Currently in his second term, Moss chairs the Wildlife Resources Committee and is the Vice Chair of the N.C. House Freedom Caucus.
That news came shortly before Rep. Jon Hardister of Guilford County announced he had $280,000 on hand in the contest.
“The Department of Labor is critical to North Carolina’s workers and employers, and I am confident that I have the skillset to perform the duties of this office in a fair, effective, and professional manner. As your next Commissioner of Labor, I will dedicate myself to supporting the hard-working people of our state. I will work to make North Carolina a place where job creation is strong, and workers are prosperous,” said Hardister in a statement following the announcement.
Campaign fundraising reports from the first six months of 2023 are due to the N.C. State Board of Elections on Friday, July 28.
Hardister’s campaign said the cash on hand figure is nearly 3.5 times larger than Dobson’s in 2019 and 10 times the amount of former commissioner Cherie Berry in her final run in 2015.
A candidate with ties to the legal community formally announced his entry in the race on Monday.
Luke Farley, an attorney, made his run for the post official after campaigning for the past two months.
“I’ve been traveling across this state for the last two months sharing my message of protecting both workers and small businesses. The response from voters has been tremendous. Based on that response, today I formally announce my candidacy for Labor Commissioner,” said Farley.
“I haven’t held elected office before, but I have over a decade of experience in the private sector helping small businesses solve some of their most challenging problems. I’ve been on job sites where workers have been seriously injured because safety rules weren’t followed. I’ve also sat down with small business owners who faced financial ruin over an unfair safety citation. I know how high the stakes can be on both sides,” he added.
Farley has been involved with the Wake County Republican Party and was named the 2022 Volunteer Lawyer of the Year for the North Carolina Chapter of the Republican National Lawyers Association.
