North Carolina Republican Congressman and Winston-Salem native Ted Budd has won the senate race against former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley. Budd, who was endorsed by former president Donald Trump, will replace longtime Republican Senator Richard Burr.
The mood in the conference room at the downtown Marriott Hotel in Winston-Salem was upbeat early in the evening as some 200 supporters gathered to view election returns on Fox News.
With quick, decisive republican wins in Florida by both Senator Marco Rubio, and Governor Ron DeSantis, pundit predictions of the red wave continuing buoyed spirits even further.
But after other critical races across the country began leaning Democrat, the unbridled enthusiasm in the room was tempered. That mood shift continued even as Budd’s lead over Beasley extended to four percentage points with the majority of votes in.
But at about 11:30 p.m. the race was called for Budd by CNN.
Cheri Beasley called Ted Budd to concede the race and congratulate him.