RALEIGH (AP) — Richard Hudson has won the Republican nomination in North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District, which includes part of Rowan County.
Hudson, a former congressional aide, captured 64 percent of the vote with 80 percent of the precincts reporting Tuesday night in defeating former Iredell County Commissioner Scott Keadle.
Hudson will face incumbent Democrat Larry Kissell in November.
The Republican runoff featured an influx of outside money from political action committees and celebrity endorsements.
Keadle and Hudson competed for the title of most conservative throughout the primary and accused the other of being an outsider.
Kissell, a former textile worker and school teacher, faces a tough general election battle. The 8th District, which stretches from Fayetteville to Charlotte. has been redrawn to help Republicans, who feel confident about picking it up.