Tillis foe one of at least four state lawmakers to lose in primary
Rep. Robert Brawley, an Iredell County Republican who has been a thorn in the side of House Speaker Thom Tillis, lost his primary election as Tillis claimed victory in his U.S. Senate primary.
Results won't be official for more than week, but Tillis claimed victory in the race to be his party's nominee against Democratic U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan.
During the 2013 legislative session, Brawley gave up his influential finance chairmanship in a spat that concerned several bills, including a measure favored by cable companies that would have kept municipalities from getting into the Internet service business.
Brawley, whose term continues through Dec. 31, lost to John Fraley, a textile executive from Mooresville. No Democrat is registered to run in the race, so it is more than likely that Fraley will replace Brawley when the legislature reconvenes in 2015.
Three other legislative incumbents also lost in primaries, according to complete but unofficial returns:
- Rep. Roger Younts, R-Davidson, who was appointed to replace Rep. Jerry Dockham, lost his bid to serve a full term in the seat. Sam Watford, a Davidson County commissioner, ousted Younts. There is no Democrat registered in the race, so Watford will almost certainly take Younts' place.
- Rep. Annie Mobley, D-Hertford, lost to challenger Howard Hunter III.
- Sen. Clark Jenkins, D-Edgecombe, lost his primary against high-school teacher Erica Smith-Ingram, who is from Northampton County. Jenkins had served six terms in the state Senate. No Republican is registered to run in the seat.
