During his weekly radio show last week, Former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory went on the record about possible future runs for political office.
McCrory specifically spoke about running for governor again in 2020 and possibly the U.S. Senate in 2022.
“I’m going to do a thorough assessment on whether or not I want to run for governor again between now and December,” McCrory told WBT listeners. “I’m also going to do an assessment of whether or not I could make a positive difference possibly in running for the U.S. Senate in 2022. But I’m not ready to make either decision.”
McCrory said he wasn’t going to make a quick decision and wanted to discuss ‘reentering politics’ with his family and friends first.
“I want to go through a thorough examination with my family and my friends and supporters on whether or I should reenter into politics in 2020 or 2022,” said McCrory.
“I’m not ready to make that political announcement, because I have other goals and aspirations,” McCrory said. “And plus, I’d be getting right back into the game that I’ve been criticizing – the game of groveling for money two years before an election even occurs.”
McCrory was specific about 2022 in terms of running for Senate, which would mean the former governor is eyeing U.S. Senator Richard Burr’s seat.
By citing his intention to look at the 2022 race, the former governor may have hinted that North Carolina’s other U.S. Senator Thom Tillis might be running again in 2020.
A run for governor would pit McCrory against Lt. Governor Dan Forest. The Lt. Governor has not hidden his intention to run, but has not officially announced yet.
Pat McCrory lost to Democrat Roy Cooper in 2016 a very slim margin of 10,277 votes or .22%.
During the recount in 2016, McCrory had called attention to irregularities in Bladen and Robeson Counties. These are the same counties which are now under scrutiny in the chaotic North Carolina 9th Congressional race.
The 9th Congressional District may require a special election in order to move forward, however McCrory made it clear he was not interested.
I’m not going to run for Mark Harris’ seat,” McCrory stated.
“If anything, we ought to give Mark Harris a chance to get the facts out. Gets the facts out and determine whether or not he deserved the election or not and whether any shenanigans happened. Did they really impact the results of the election,” said the former governor.
“Mark Harris deserves that chance and so do the voters that voted for Mark Harris in that election and I think it’d be irresponsible of me to say I’m running for that office,” McCrory added. “Plus, I think my experience level and my leadership capabilities would be best suited elsewhere.”
Watch Former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory’s full remarks:
– – –
A.P. Dillion is a reporter at Battleground State News.
Photo “Pat McCrory” by NCDOTcommunications.
