If you’re keeping tabs on the fate of Trump-endorsed candidates, keep an eye on the Republican primary in North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District tonight. In March, Trump threw his weight behind Bo Hines, a 26-year-old with no political experience who is one of eight candidates running for the Republican nomination. The Club for Growth, an influential pro-business and anti-tax interest group, is also supporting him.
These endorsements have been controversial locally because the race for the 13th district is expected to be highly competitive. It’s a newly created seat in the Raleigh area, added during North Carolina’s redistricting process, and in addition to having no incumbent, it’s the state’s only swing district. Hines, who considered running in other districts before settling on the 13th, has been accused of being a carpetbagger by some of his opponents, and only recently changed his residential address to the district he’s seeking to represent.
With Trump’s help, Hines is presenting himself as an all-American football star and “unwavering America First patriot.” He played wide receiver at North Carolina State for a year before transferring to Yale University and later working for several Republican politicians. This race will be a test of whether Hines’s high-profile and deep-pocketed backers can help him win the primary despite considerable opposition from some Republicans in the area.