RALEIGH — Rep. Erin Paré (R-Wake) announced last week that she has filed to run in the state’s 13th Congressional District.
“I’m running for Congress because the country I grew up in is not the same one we are leaving behind for our kids,” Paré said in a press release. “I won’t stand by while radical liberals ruin our economy, allow crime to run rampant on our streets, and indoctrinate our children. In Raleigh, I’ve been a conservative leader willing to stand up to the woke mob on behalf of conservatives in this region. I’ll do the same in Washington.”
The seat is currently held by Democrat Wiley Nickel, who was elected to the new seat in 2022.
In July, General Assembly House staff member Jeff Hauser said he had formed an exploratory committee to consider a run for the seat.
Candidates who have already filed for the 13th District include Matt Shoemaker, a former intelligence officer who lives in Clayton, and Josh McConkey, an Air Force Reserve colonel and physician residing in Apex.
Paré is the only Republican state lawmaker in Wake County.
Paré defeated Democrat incumbent Sydney Batch in the 2020 race for the 37th District General Assembly seat despite being outspent by Batch, who raised more than $1.19 million to Paré’s $224,642.
She was reelected to the seat in 2022 after defeating former Holly Springs Town Council member and mayoral candidate Christine Kelly.
Paré announced her bid on X, formerly known as Twitter, with a video message.
“The woke mob, they attack families, the military and conservative values, and they hate me,” Paré says in the clip.” I am everything the far left fears the most. I’m a conservative wife, mother and business owner. I led military families while our spouses went to war. As a legislator, I voted to protect the unborn, women’s sports and parental rights. The woke mob, they don’t want me in Congress, but I’m running anyway because I know how to take them on and win. So join us. Let’s stop the radical left.”
According to the press release, Paré has launched her campaign with a personal investment of $400,000.
The married mother of two children lives in Holly Springs with her husband, a combat veteran who deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan while serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment. The couple owns and runs a Play It Again Sports store.
