Goolsby’s retirement may keep his seat safer for Republicans

by | Jan 10, 2014 | 2014 Elections, Editor's Blog, NC Politics

Wilmington State Senator Thom Goolsby announced today that he’s not running for re-election. Goolsby has been a bit of a lightening rod in the Senate. Last summer, he referred to the Moral Monday protests as Moron Mondays. He’s known for his combative tone and sharply conservative views.

While Democrats are happy with his exit, his departure likely makes his seat tougher for them to win. The district has more Republicans than Democrats but Goolsby’s high profile remarks and seeming disregard for constituents who disagree with him made him somewhat vulnerable. Without his high negatives, the seat may be less competitive for Democrats.

Goolsby left the door open for future political activity. His statement claiming to need more time with family seems to rule out a run for retiring Democratic Congressman Mike McIntyre’s seat. Goolsby also faced lawsuits from investors in a company he owns. We’ll see if we hear any more about that. If we don’t, I expect him to let some of the controversy die down and to reappear in 2016 looking at an open Attorney General race.

0 Comments

Related Posts

GET UPDATES

Get the latest posts from PoliticsNC delivered right to your inbox!

You have Successfully Subscribed!