The North Carolina Republican Party did not choose Christopher Anglin; he chose the them after years of being registered as a Democrat, and now he’s become a thorn in the their political process.
But his edges got a little less sharp Tuesday when Wake County Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway denied his request for a temporary restraining order, because he did not think he would be successful on the merits of his case.
Anglin, who changed his party affiliation last June three weeks before filing in the contentious state Supreme Court race, claims in his latest suit that the state Republican Party has denied him access to data and forbidden him from attending forums and events related to the 9th congressional district race. He is one of 10 Republicans vying for the primary, which is taking place over the next two weeks.
His attorney, Jason Burton, said GOP Chairman Robin Hayes — prior to his own indictment related to conspiracy and bribery — banned Anglin from Party events and acting Chair Aubrey Woodard has refused to respond to a request to overturn the decision.
He added that by showing favoritism toward the other nine GOP primary candidates, the Party was violating its own rules and the state constitution, depriving Anglin of his right to run for office as a declared Republican.
John Lewis, attorney for the GOP, said that after Anglin chose the Republican Party to siphon votes from former Justice Barbara Jackson in the last Supreme Court race, they distanced themselves from him. He added that they had a right not to associate with him.
“We have a constitutionally protected right to shun him,” he said.
It’s not clear if Anglin will continue to pursue the case. He tweeted after the case that he was disappointed by the outcome, but that it would not deter him.
“#NCGOP is scared of my message of being a constitutionally conservative Republican who will stand up for the rule of law to them and the President when necessary,” he wrote on the social media platform.
The early voting period for the 9th congressional district ends Friday, May 10. Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 14. There’s a new election there because the State Board of Elections found a “coordinated, unlawful and substantially resourced absentee ballot scheme” in the 2018 general election.
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