George Holding defeats Renee Ellmers despite Donald Trump endorsement
North Carolina Rep. Renee Ellmers was presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump’s first congressional endorsement, but it didn’t seem to matter as Ellmers lost her reelection race in North Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District to Rep. George Holding (R) who was pitted against Ellmers due to redistricting in the state.
Holding crushed Ellmers, earning 53% of the vote to her 24%, edging out a third candidate, Greg Brannon at 23%.
Ahead of Tuesday’s primary, Ellmers made headlines when she noted that a woman who she greeted by name “gained some weight.”
“You’re eating a little bit too much pork barbecue. Whoo,” Ellmers said as she got out of her car to vote, WNCN-TV reported.
Renee Ellmers
The woman was reportedly Maggie Sandrock, a supporter of Holding, who told WNCN that Ellmer’s behavior was just “typical Renee.”
“She has become a mean girl on steroids in my view,” Sandrock said.
“I would consider her a friend, but certainly not a good one,” Sandrock also said. “Good friends don’t tell you you’re fat or you’re getting fat. They may say, ‘Everything going well Maggie? You look a little stressed out.’”
Trump officially backed Ellmers over the weekend in what was his first congressional endorsement.
“I need her help in Washington so we can work together to defeat ISIS, secure our border and bring back jobs and frankly, so many other things,” Trump said then. “Renee knows how to do it. She gets it. And together, we will make America great again.”
The congresswoman was first elected to office in 2010.
Pro-life groups turned on Ellmers after she abandoned a major abortion restricting bill due to the political backlash just ahead of the campaign.
“Rep. Renee Ellmers has betrayed the pro-life people of this state and country – and more importantly – she has betrayed the unborn children who die from painful abortions every day,” North Carolina Right to Life.
“I worked to get Renee Ellmers elected and she betrayed people like me once she got into office,” wrote John Hawkins of RightWingNews.com after the endorsement. “I endorse George Holding for her seat.”
The nation’s leading pro-life political organizations, including National Right to Life and the Susan B. Anthony List have opposed Ellmers’ primary campaign, supporting Holding.
photo/ donkeyhotey
