Democrat incumbent Mike McIntyre announces retirement in vulnerable Congressional district (NC-7)
Is it finally David Rouzer’s time?
[Image: Republican David Rouzer]
Long time readers of Legal Insurrection may recall our support in 2012 of conservative candidate for North Carolina’s 7th Congressional District, David Rouzer.
Rouzer, a former state Senator, challenged the 16 year incumbent, Mike McIntyre, and nearly unseated the Congressman in dramatic fashion, narrowly falling to McIntyre by 655 votes in an election that saw more than 330,000 ballots cast.
In April of last year, Rouzer officially announced that he would again challenge McIntyre in the 2014 midterm elections, laying the groundwork for what promised to be another hotly contested race. Earlier today, however, McIntyre announced his retirement from the U.S. House of Representatives.
Rouzer issued a statement this afternoon responding to the news.
I have genuine respect and appreciation for the work Congressman Mike McIntyre and his staff have done to help countless individuals across Southeastern North Carolina. He has been a tireless advocate for the local needs of the district during his time in office, and I personally appreciate his strong devotion to the Christian Faith. After falling just a handful of votes short in 2012, it is with great optimism that my supporters and I continue our mission to bring conservative leadership to Southeastern North Carolina. I will work hard to find long-term solutions to the significant challenges facing our coastal, business and farm communities as well as our Veterans.
Who the Democrats put forward as a candidate to replace McIntyre remains to be seen, but they can be sure they’ll be facing a tough opponent in Rouzer, assuming he successfully wins the primary again.
As was the case in 2012, North Carolina’s 7th Congressional district is considered to be one of the most vulnerable in the country in 2014. With the news of McIntyre’s retirement after nearly two decades, things just got quite a bit more interesting for Republicans seeking to flip another Congressional seat.
For those who don’t recall, David Rouzer created a personal message for Legal Insurrection readers during the 2012 race.
(Featured image credit: YouTube video)
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Comments
The NC Dems don’t really have anyone for this, plus NC has gone 100% GOP in 2010 & 2012, plus 2014 isn’t looking good for Dems anywhere.
I suspect they’ll run some sacrificial old goat and chalk this one off.
Query: If NC went totally GOP as you state, then how is this guy still there? I suspect that you meant that as “virtual totality.”
This is a legal blog so we must be very precise with our grammer. 🙂
Which would include spelling grammar correctly. D@mn keyboard.
NC had total Democrat control for decades and decades and decades. In 2010, the GOP took both the state House and Senate. In 2012, the GOP kept its majorities and added a GOP governor. I would wonder at the intelligence of anyone who feels this means every single seat is now GOP held.
If that is too imprecise for you or the lawyers you believe you speak for, then the problem, sir, is entirely yours.
That was a pretty tart lemon you squeezed into your tea, huh? I suggest a bit more honey to balance it out next time.
Or are mild sarcasm and gentle rib poking too much for you sensitive types?
You are nitpicking for reasons only you could know. Perhaps it describes the limits of your grasp.
It’s smart for a challenger to start running against the incumbent in a presidential year and then come at him again in the off year. You get four years to build name recognition and the war chest.
I am encouraged to hear of this news. My name is Earl T. Martin MD and I also am running for the US House of Representatives in the first district of the great state of Georgia. The time is short and now is the time for all good men/women to come to the aid of their country or soon there will be no country for them to aid.
When Good stands up to Evil, Evil blinks.
The problem is that we’ve not realized the insidiousness of the Leftist movement within the country’s infrastructure. They’re entrenched now, aided and abetted by #undocumentedDemocrats from within the GOP. I don’t know what the outcome of the 2012 elections will be, but if the Establishment GOP attacks the base, the GOP will lose seats they thought they had wrapped up. No longer will the base just vote because there is an “R” after someone’s name.
I just can’t resist.
If you don’t yet know the results of the 2012 elections, then you have perfected being off-the-grid.
I liked McIntyre, despite him being a Democrat.
First of all, he was the on that actually gave me my Congressional nomination to Annapolis.
He was also one of the few that had the balls to vote AGAINST Obamacare.
Any congressperson will provide an Annapolis nomination, assuming you otherwise qualify which you apparently did (Congrats! No small feat, that).
His ‘balls’ to vote against Obamacare came only with the permission of Pelosi to vote thusly because she already had enough House votes and could let those facing stiff competition at home – as did McIntyre with Rouzer.
McIntyre was a product of the Dem machine that ran NC for decades and decades. Left to his own, he’d have voted for Obamacare in a heartbeat and said so himself when it was in process.
perhaps he realized that with voterID law now he’s dead voters can help him..