Tillis dodges primary challenge in NC

Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.) will not challenge Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) in the 2020 Republican primary, sparing the state GOP a potentially bruising fight ahead of an election in which President Trump will also be on the ballot.

“After prayerful reflection and consideration, I am confident that my continued service in the House will best help our efforts to reclaim the majority from Nancy Pelosi and advance our shared conservative goals,” Walker told Politico.

{mosads}Walker had reportedly seriously considered the primary challenge but wanted Trump’s approval first, meeting with him at the White House last month.

Republican leaders, however, had warned the president a protracted primary fight could affect the general election, in which the Tar Heel State will be key to both Trump’s electoral map and continued GOP control of the Senate, Politico noted.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) have spoken with Trump to warn him about a primary battle and the importance of North Carolina in the 2020 cycle, according to Politico, which cites two sources familiar with the conversations.

A Walker spokesman told the news outlet that the congressman met with Tillis Wednesday afternoon to tell him he would not mount a challenge, adding that Walker is still seeking a second meeting with Trump to discuss his decision.

Walker said earlier this week that polling from the conservative Club for Growth indicated Tillis was vulnerable, according to Politico.

“Some of the numbers we have seen, the frustration levels from North Carolinians, just to be frank, it is concerning,” he said ahead of his decision.

Walker, however, would come with baggage of his own as a candidate, with Politico reporting in April that a political committee he controlled is named in a criminal indictment of former Rep. Robin Hayes (R-N.C.).

Walker is not named in the indictment and has denied any wrongdoing, according to the news outlet.

Tillis, meanwhile, has been vocal in his support of Trump ahead of his reelection bid and pushed back against fellow North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr’s (R) subpoena in April of Donald Trump Jr. Burr is the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.