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Republicans add NC’s Jeff Jackson to 2024 target list along with Davis, Nickel [1]

['Khadejeh Nikouyeh']

Date: 2023-03

State Sen. Jeff Jackson speaks to his supporters at Lenny Boy Brewing Co. in Charlotte on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. [email protected]

As Democrats announced plans to defend two vulnerable members of Congress from North Carolina in 2024, Republicans said Democrats need to look out for one more: Rep. Jeff Jackson.

On Monday, Jackson found his name added to the 2024 target list by the National Republican Congressional Committee, an organization chaired by Rep. Richard Hudson, a Republican from Southern Pines.

“Republicans are in the majority and on offense,” Hudson said in a written statement to McClatchy. “We will grow our House majority by building strong campaigns around talented recruits in these districts who can communicate the dangers of Democrats’ extreme agenda.”

Hudson became chairman of the NRCC in January and is tasked with increasing the number of Republicans in the House. The party holds the majority with 222 members to Democrats’ 213.

“The House Democrats should be shaking in their boots,” Hudson added.

Reps. Don Davis and Wiley Nickel, Democrats from Snow Hill and Cary, had already been included, last month, in an early draft of targets released to Republicans at a winter retreat in Florida.

Both Nickel and Davis are expected to run for reelection.

Jackson isn’t revealing his plans.

14th Congressional District

In 2022, Jackson ran against former Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, but chose to bow out of the race.

It was expected that Jackson would take a break from politics and then run for attorney general in 2024.

But due to last-minute changes to the congressional districts ahead of the 2022 elections, Jackson ended up running and winning North Carolina’s 14th Congressional District, an area that encompasses parts of Gaston and Mecklenburg counties.

But whether his district remains favorable to pull off another win won’t be clear until later this year.

Redistricting

State lawmakers are tasked with redrawing North Carolina’s congressional districts after the state Supreme Court found that the map legislators tried to use in 2022 gave Republicans an unfair advantage. The courts had a temporary map drawn by a third party to get candidates and voters through an imminent election cycle.

Republican leaders say they likely won’t redraw the map until midsummer.

That could keep Jackson waiting to decide which path to pursue while potential competitors get into the race for attorney general.

Meanwhile, Jackson also faces a disadvantage by representing an area believed to be being eyed by state House Speaker Tim Moore. Republicans could draw the district to favor a win for Moore.

Jackson wouldn’t comment on his plans for 2024 other than to say: “I’m looking forward to seeing any new map drawn by the General Assembly.”

Democrats’ plans

Meanwhile, Democrats played offense Friday when the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released its own list of vulnerable members that it plans to protect.

Included, in the 2024 Frontline Program, were both Nickel and Davis but not Jackson.

“They said they made the decision just based on the margins in the last election,” Jackson told McClatchy on Friday. “It didn’t take any possible redistricting into account.”

Jackson won the general election with 57.5% of the vote to Republican candidate Pat Harrigan’s 42.5%.

Nickel won with just 51.3% to Bo Hines’ 48.7%, and Davis won with 52.3% to Sandy Smith’s 47.7%. Smith is already actively campaigning for 2024. Hines’ social media has been quiet since he lost the election.

“In 2022, voters sent a message with their votes in our 50/50 district: that extremism has no place in #NC13, and bipartisan work is what our community needs and deserves,” Nickel tweeted about the 2024 Frontline Program. “I’m ready to fight hard for North Carolina working families as we gear up for 2024!”

Being named a member of the program means Davis and Nickel will be given resources to execute more effective reelection campaigns.

“House Democrats are well positioned to take back the House in 2024, thanks in large part to our tremendous slate of Democrat incumbents who tirelessly advocate for their communities and continue to put People over Politics,” said DCCC Chairwoman Suzan Delbene. “Democrats will have great offensive opportunities in 2024, and holding onto these seats is key to our path to reclaiming the majority.”

The 2024 elections will be held Nov. 5 and includes the race for president. North Carolina’s primary elections are scheduled for March 5, 2024.

This story was originally published March 13, 2023, 8:00 AM.

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[1] Url: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article273006395.html

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