politics
Democratic Senate candidate releases ad on crime record
The Democratic nominee for North Carolina's open Senate seat issued a new campaign advertisement emphasizing actions on public safety taken during his time as governor. Republican opponents have continued to focus on early prisoner releases that occurred under the prior administration.
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A Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina released a new campaign advertisement that highlights actions taken on crime during his time as governor. The advertisement states that the administration “put criminals in prison and kept them there” and points to changes in bail laws enacted while he held office.
Republican response The Republican nominee and allied groups have continued to criticize decisions on prisoner releases made during the previous administration. They have cited specific cases involving repeat offenders and have run a series of messages drawing attention to individuals released before completing their sentences.
One case referenced involves the death of a 23-year-old woman who had moved to Charlotte in 2022. Her alleged assailant had been released early from prison, and opponents have linked that release to a 2021 agreement reached during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Campaign context The Democratic candidate has rejected responsibility for the releases and has described the criticism as an attempt to gain political advantage. His campaign has instead emphasized support for stricter pretrial detention standards. A poll conducted by the Carolina Journal showed the Democratic candidate maintaining a consistent lead, though both campaigns face a contested race ahead of the November election.
