Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC) is set to run for attorney general next year, forgoing a third term in the House and leaving open a reliably red seat ahead of a crucial election cycle, the Republican freshman announced on Thursday.
Bishop has not yet announced his candidacy, but the House Freedom Caucus member has already been endorsed in the statewide race by the Club for Growth PAC, a top conservative fundraising group. Bishop first told his plans to WBT News in Charlotte, telling the radio show he is seeking office to restore support for front-line law enforcement officers and prosecutors in the Tar Heel State.
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“Dan Bishop is the conservative champion that the people of North Carolina deserve as Attorney General,” Club for Growth PAC President David McIntosh said in a statement. “Congressman Bishop is a strong supporter of free markets, school choice, and is a leading voice in the U.S. House of Representatives pushing back against the Biden Administration’s radical agenda. We look forward to providing the necessary support to ensure Bishop becomes North Carolina’s next Attorney General.”
Bishop’s absence could attract a competitive GOP primary ahead of the 2024 election because the district is likely to remain solid Republican and has been held by a GOP lawmaker since 2013.
Bishop will face at least one GOP challenger in the race for attorney general: Thomas Murry, who announced his candidacy earlier this year. However, the House Republican enters the race with the benefit of national name recognition, giving him a boost ahead of next year’s primary.
The announcement comes after Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein announced earlier this year he would not seek reelection, instead launching a bid for governor. If elected, Bishop would be the first Republican attorney general for North Carolina since 1975.
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All 435 seats are up for grabs in 2024 as Republicans seek to hold their slim majority in the lower chamber. Of these, 42 are considered competitive, with most of those held by Democrats compared to Republicans, giving the GOP a slight advantage as it prepares for the next election cycle.
However, of the 42 competitive seats, 18 are held by Republicans in districts that voted for President Joe Biden in 2020, compared to just five Democrats who must defend their seats in districts carried by former President Donald Trump. That means there are just enough vulnerable GOP-held seats to keep things competitive heading into the next election cycle.