Senate - Cheri Beasley - NC

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Democrat running for Senate in North Carolina
Video clip: “Former NC Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley joins North Carolina Senate race” here

Cheri Beasley’s mother taught her at an early age that there is no such thing as a closed door. Cheri’s career in public service shows that she took her mother’s teaching to heart. Cheri is now the presumptive Democratic nominee for the open U.S. Senate seat representing North Carolina.

When asked why she was running for the seat being vacated by the retiring Richard Burr, Cheri responded: “I served as a judge for 22 years and as chief justice of the Supreme Court of the state of North Carolina, and I understand the impact of laws that are made in Washington. I know so many [national laws] have really failed the people of North Carolina. I’ve worked hard understanding and uplifting rights and people and understanding problems that folks have, and I understand that it’s really important that laws apply to all people, fairly.”

After graduating from college (Rutgers University) and law school (University of Tennessee College of Law), Cheri began her legal career as a public defender in Fayetteville, North Carolina. In 1999, she was appointed as a state district court judge and won elections for the position in 2002 and 2006. In 2008, she was elected to the North Carolina Court of Appeals by a commanding 15-point margin, becoming the first Black woman to win a statewide election in North Carolina. In 2014, Cheri was elected associate justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court despite a Republican wave that flipped other Democratic-held seats throughout the state. In 2019, she again made history by becoming the first Black woman to serve as chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. If elected to the U.S. Senate, Cheri would be North Carolina’s first Black woman to serve in the U.S. Senate, and only the third Black woman in history to serve in the U.S. Senate, Carol Mosely Braun and Kamala Harris being the first two.

When Cheri ran for the North Carolina Court of Appeals in 2008, she spoke about being a judge: ”My entire career as a judge has been spent making fair and impartial decisions in the lives of families and others in our communities … Fairness and integrity are the essence of high standards in court, in my family, and in my community involvement. Making sure that justice is truly accessible to all people is my commitment.”

Cheri has received endorsements from more than 70 leaders across North Carolina. Governor Roy Cooper said, "As someone who knows what it takes to win, I can tell you Cheri’s got it. She’s honest and trustworthy, and she’ll put in the hard work necessary to fight for the people of North Carolina." The public servants and community advocates who have endorsed Cheri describe her as “brilliant”, “open-minded”, “compassionate”. and “tenacious”.

Cheri has also been endorsed by Emily’s List: “We know that as a U.S. Senator she will champion improved access to health care, quality public education, and the ability to find work that supports a family, and [allows them] to retire with dignity … Cheri has blazed trails and shattered glass ceilings throughout her entire career … we look forward to supporting her as she flips this seat from red to blue and expands the Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate.”

Though more than a dozen Republicans are running for the nomination in the May 17th primary, the two Republican candidates who have raised the most funds so far are Pat McCrory and Ted Budd. McCrory served as Governor of North Carolina from 2013 to 2017, but was defeated by Democrat Roy Cooper. McCrory positioned himself as the chief defender of HB2, the controversial law that prohibited transgender people from using bathrooms or locker rooms in schools and government buildings based solely on their gender identity. After the election, The Atlantic wrote: “Backlash to the law was fierce, with musicians boycotting the state, corporations canceling job expansions, and athletic contests being moved. Some estimates suggest the law has cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars. It became a story not just of social conservatism but of questionable stewardship of the economy.”

Ted Budd is a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and was among the 147 House Republicans who voted against certifying the outcome of the 2020 election on January 6, 2021. Trump endorsed Budd later that year at the state’s GOP convention. "This means the world to me,” Budd said, thanking Trump from the podium. “... So let's win this together, and let's get back to making America great again." In 2021, Budd was one of 14 Republican representatives to vote against a measure condemning the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état.

When she was Chief Justice, Cheri said: “We must come together to firmly and loudly commit to the declaration that all people are created equal, and we must do more than just speak that truth.” She is ready to work for the people of her state and the entire country. Early support is vital in this race no matter who the Republicans nominate. This is our opportunity to help elect a highly qualified and even historic candidate to the U.S. Senate.