NC Hopefuls Line Up To Replace Jones In Congress

Voters in North Carolina's Ninth District will get a new congressional race after findings of possible election fraud.

But it's actually one of two districts that will now have a special election. The Third District along the North Carolina coast became open with the passing of incumbent Congressman Walter Jones earlier this month.

So far the field does not have the star power that the Ninth District may have, which included a brief tease by former Gov. Pat McCrory. He ultimately announced he would not run.

Unlike the somewhat purple Ninth District, the Third has been reliably Republican for years. No Democrats bothered to file for the 2018 primary, making Jones the only North Carolina congress member to run unopposed in November.

State Rep. Greg Murphy and consultant and journalist Jeff Moore separately announced plans Monday to seek the GOP nomination in the Third District. They'll join at least four others in the Republican primary.

At least one Democrat has said he'll run.

The primary and general election dates have not yet been set. The winner would have to run again next year to keep the seat.