GOP Establishment Readying New Primary Challenge for Walter Jones

[tsai3904]

GOP Establishment Readying New Primary Challenge for Dovish Rep. Walter Jones

Republicans in North Carolina and D.C. think they've found a candidate to beat Walter Jones: a retired brigadier general with nearly three decades of Army experience.

BY ALEX ROARTY
June 1, 2015

The Republican establishment is ready to take another crack at unseating Rep. Walter Jones—and it might have found a new candidate to lead the charge.

Anthony Tata, the Republican secretary of transportation in North Carolina and veteran with nearly three decades of military experience, is preparing to run in a primary against the longtime GOP congressman, according to a half-dozen sources with knowledge of the planned campaign. One source close to Tata, granted anonymity to speak candidly, said the secretary is "seriously looking" at a campaign but cautioned there was not yet a timetable for his decision.

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More:
http://www.nationaljournal.com/poli...hallenge-for-dovish-rep-walter-jones-20150601

Article doesn't mention that Tata is not a registered Republican (he is unaffiliated) and that he lives in the 2nd Congressional District while Water Jones represents the 3rd Congressional District.

https://www.ncsbe.gov/webapps/voter_search/voter_details.aspx?ncid=EH887217&county=92

 

[Cleaner44]

I will be donating to a Walter Jones Money Bomb.

 

[RandallFan]

Walter Jones needs to get every friendly Teocon to endorse his campaign.

Rand needs to endorse him of course. But even Limbaugh and some others have been pleased with Jones beating the establishment.

He needs to bring in Steve King, Rohrabacher, Schafly, NumbersUSA and the abortion groups.

Maybe get Matt Bevin or Greg Brannon to endorse.

Bring in Pat Buchanan to a rally.

I think if Pat Buchanan was 20 years younger he could win the GOP nomination post Citizens United post Dubya.

I think Buchanan has a 501 Non Profit so can't endorse or do certain things politically.

 

[devil21]

One of the reasons they're so desperate to get rid of Jones is that his district (coastal NC) is a big Agenda 21 target area. The environmentalists have been working overtime trying to get people to move out of the area so shoreline drilling can commence. The Feds have purposely started withholding park funds and services that maintain the beaches and roads (much of the area is designated federal park land) there to make it less hospitable to locals and tourists. Walter is proving to be a big thorn to the agenda-makers for many reasons and the target on his back will keep growing.

 

[Mr.NoSmile]

Walter Jones needs to get every friendly Teocon to endorse his campaign.

Maybe get Matt Bevin or Greg Brannon to endorse.

Greg Brannon is a failed U.S. Senate candidate. Why would anyone want that kind of endorsement? And unlikely that Brannon would endorse any challenger anyway.

 

[devil21]

Greg Brannon is a failed U.S. Senate candidate. Why would anyone want that kind of endorsement? And unlikely that Brannon would endorse any challenger anyway.

Depends on whether Brannon takes a shot at Burr for 2016 (I hope he does...the momentum is there). Then, Brannon is back to being an active candidate instead of just a losing prior candidate.

 

[jct74]

Looks like Tata is out. From The Weekly Standard:

Republicans had an impressive candidate in mind, state secretary of transportation Anthony Tata. A West Point graduate, Tata, 55, had a distinguished Army career that included duty in Afghanistan. He retired as a brigadier general in 2009.

Tata appeared ready to take on Jones. Marc Rotterman, a Republican consultant in Raleigh, brought Tata to Washington twice this year to meet with Republican officials, conservative groups, and potential donors. If ever a candidate appeared ready to challenge an incumbent from a position of strength, it was Tata.

Then Alex Roarty of the National Journal broke the Tata story on June 1. Roarty’s piece was headlined “GOP Establishment Readying New Primary Challenge for Dovish Rep. Walter Jones.” That was true, but Tata’s candidacy was actually hatched in North Carolina with Rotterman playing a leading role.

At this point Governor Pat McCrory stepped in. Political bloggers known as “Jones and Blount” reported that he prevailed on Tata to stay on and help sell $2.85 billion in transportation bonds. Tata agreed, which meant skipping the race against Jones.

“At the end of the day Tata made the right call,” Rotterman said. “There is nothing worse than a reluctant candidate. .  .  . I view this as a missed opportunity for North Carolina and the nation.”

https://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/clear-sailing-jones_978229.html


The article notes that Phil Law is still running, but doesn't mention Taylor Griffin. According to National Journal article in OP though Griffin is still running:

Sources close to Griffin say they "fully expect" him to run again, noting that he nearly defeated Jones the first time and that it often takes two tries to knock off an incumbent. Newcomers to the primary, the source added, will have a difficult time introducing themselves to all corners of a sprawling congressional district.

 

[TaftFan]

Hopefully Law and Griffin end up splitting votes.

 

[RandallFan]

Greg Brannon is a failed U.S. Senate candidate. Why would anyone want that kind of endorsement? And unlikely that Brannon would endorse any challenger anyway.

Brannon was part of the 56% and growing who oppose the Tillis agenda.

But the more important ones are people like Steve King who can get publicity and King travels to the Carolinas a lot.

 

[William Tell]

Greg Brannon is a failed U.S. Senate candidate. Why would anyone want that kind of endorsement?

Um, anyone would. Candidates like even precinct level endorsements, Brannon is a statewide conservative leader, he can help Jones win over the throw the bums out type folks who might back any challenger to get new leadership.

And unlikely that Brannon would endorse any challenger anyway.

LOL! what are you talking about? Jones is an Incumbent.