Former college football player Bo Hines is projected to win the Republican nomination to represent North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District on Tuesday, beating out a crowded field of rivals with the help of former President Trump’s endorsement.
The Associated Press called the race for Hines at 11:32 p.m.
Hines, a 26-year-old former wide receiver at North Carolina State University and later Yale University, faced criticism in the race for his questionable ties to the district; he filed to run in two other districts before settling on a bid in the 13th.
His main opponent in the primary, attorney Kelly Daughtry, attacked Hines repeatedly as a carpetbagger while spending heavily to highlight her conservative credentials.
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But Hines benefited from his name recognition and the support of Trump and the conservative Club for Growth, which spent more than $2 million to boost him in the primary.
That backing ultimately paid off for Hines on Tuesday, when he defeated seven Republican candidates to clinch the nomination outright, saving him from a potential July primary runoff.
North Carolina’s open 13th District is considered competitive for both parties this year, with the Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election handicapper, putting the race in the toss-up column.