Combat veteran and political newcomer Marjorie Eastman has filed her candidacy papers to run for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in North Carolina. Eastman is now one of nearly two dozen official candidates seeking to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Richard Burr after filing Thursday at the state elections board. Filing for the May 17 primary ends Friday. Eastman announced her Senate bid in October and soon joined the conversation with other leading Republican candidates thanks in part to strong fundraising and support from an independent political committee. Rep. Ted Budd, former Gov. Pat McCrory and ex-Rep. Mark Walker are among other top GOP candidates.