Murphy wins Republican primary runoff
Dr. Greg Murphy speaks to supporters at his victory party with his wife, Wendy, by his side. Photo by Junious Smith III / Neuse News
GREENVILLE — The field is set for Sept. 10.
Dr. Greg Murphy won the Republican bid over Dr. Joan Perry in Tuesday’s primary runoff for the U.S. Rep. District 3 seat. Murphy will join Democratic winner Allen Thomas, along with Libertarian Tim Harris and the Constitution Party’s Greg Holt in the race for the seat on Sept. 10.
Murphy said he was ecstatic about the victory, but knows there is one more hurdle to climb.
“This is just a humbling experience,” Murphy said. “I think it means the people of Eastern North Carolina can’t be bought, we had a great election because it started from the grassroots and we’re really excited about the results and moving forward. This whole campaign was about ‘We the People’ and that’s who makes up this district. Our plans now are to take a little bit of a breather, and then come out fighting (to) win the Congressional election.”
Scores of supporters came to Murphy’s voter result party at the Greenville Convention Center, including Lenoir County Commissioner J. Mac Daughety, who said he has been in Murphy’s corner from the beginning.
“I’ve been involved with supporting Dr. Murphy ever since he first thought about putting his name in the race, and I told him I’d be here tonight for a victory celebration,” Daughety said. “I think tonight was a big win for Eastern North Carolina — Dr. Murphy’s character is impeccable and when you reference him to the leadership of the state legislature, they rave about his leadership and ability to get things done. That’s what we need in Eastern North Carolina and although we had a good candidate in Lenoir County and fine lady in Dr. Joan Perry, I felt that Dr. Murphy was the person we need in Washington.”
Dr. Joan Perry speaks to supporters after learning the results of the election .Photo by Catherine Hardee / Neuse News
Kinston’s Perry spent Election Day at polling places in Craven, Carteret and Onslow County, greeting supporters and potential voters.
After the polls closed, Perry’s supporters and family gathered at the Laughing Owl Restaurant in Kinston to await the results. Once the outcome of the race became clear, Perry spoke to those present and thanked them for their support during the campaign. Perry also expressed her support for Murphy in the coming general election.
“I thank Dr. Murphy for his willingness to run and for what he has done for this state in the past, and what we pray he will continue to do as he represents us, we pray, in Washington in the future,” Perry said.
With all 236 precincts in the district reporting, Murphy won 21,444 votes to Perry’s 14,472 for a 59.71% to 40.29% unofficial margin of victory. Perry won nearly 75% of the vote in Lenoir County, 55% in Greene County and 56% in Jones County.
Neuse News Correspondent Junious Smith III contributed to this report.
