RALEIGH, N.C. — Republican voters will see three choices on their presidential primary ballots next March despite the state party pressing for only one: President Donald Trump.
The North Carolina Republican Party submitted Trump's name – and only Trump's name – to the State Board of Elections in October. Former Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh and former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, both of whom are waging uphill fights for the party's nomination, petitioned the state board to add them as well, as a number of states have done.
North Carolina law allows the board to do this, provided the candidates are generally recognized to be candidates. The board, made up of three Democrats and two Republicans, voted unanimously to add them.
The state party opposed the addition, with Executive Director Jonathan Sink arguing that no really knows these men are running for president. After the vote, Sink said the party's not concerned about the additions.
"The president will resoundingly win," he said.
Several other potential presidential candidates asked the board to add them to various primary ballots, but they didn't send representatives to the meeting, and they were not added.
Former state Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr, a Republican who has criticized Trump, represented Weld and Walsh at the Friday hearing. Orr said he was asking, for a large number of Republicans, "that they be given a choice."
There are five recognized political parties in North Carolina now, and the following candidates will be on their presidential primary ballots:
Constitution Party of North Carolina
North Carolina Democratic Party
Green Party of North Carolina
Libertarian Party of North Carolina
Republican Party of North Carolina
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