The race for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Richard Burr is getting more crowded, with Democrats hoping in two years to flip what has been a GOP stronghold.
On the Republican side, former 6th District representative Mark Walker is already in. He decided not to seek re-election to Congress this year after his district shifted to mostly city voters in Guilford and Forsyth counties.
Also considering a run is former President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, a North Carolina native. She has not made an official announcement yet.
Jeff Jackson, an Afghan war veteran, is the latest addition for the Democrats. He's a state senator with a modest legislative track record, but that occurred while serving as a member of the minority party in the General Assembly.
He had considered running in 2020 but was talked out of it by U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, who preferred to clear the way for eventual Democratic nominee Cal Cunningham. Cunningham, a Lexington native, would go on to lose the November election to Republican incumbent Thom Tillis.
Also on the Democratic side, Erica Smith – a former state senator who finished second to Cunningham for the nomination – says she'll run again.
North Carolina Republicans have now won four consecutive Senate races dating to 2010. But Democrats nationally are heartened by victories elsewhere, capped by both Georgia wins.
Senator Burr, of Winston-Salem, long ago announced that he would not seek re-election in 2022.