• Several members of the North Carolina congressional delegation made news in the recent report by the watchdog site OpenSecrets.org of the estimated wealth of federal lawmakers. At one extreme, freshman Rep. Mark Walker, R-6th District, had an estimated net worth of negative $67,000, giving him the lowest average net worth of any congressional freshman. Coming in below Walker is Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-2nd, whose estimated net worth is negative $246,000. The wealthiest member of the delegation is 9th District GOP Rep. Robert Pittenger, at $19.3 million (ranking 48th among senators and representatives nationally). Among senators, freshman Thom Tillis came in at $8.6 million (73rd overall) and Richard Burr, running for his third term, was at $2.5 million (179th).
• Unconventional GOP insurance commissioner hopeful Ronald Pierce is using an unconventional way of raising money for his campaign: the crowdfunding site GoFundMe.com. So far, not so good.
• WFAE News reports on the impact opposition to the Interstate 77 tolling project north of Charlotte could have on political races, including the governor’s contest. Carolina Journal has reported on the controversy.
• Even though it’s nearly impossible for sitting governors to lose their re-election campaigns, Politico.com says Gov. Pat McCrory may be in jeopardy, rating North Carolina’s the second-most competitive contest in the nation.
• Former Sen. Kay Hagan, a Democrat who lost in 2014 to Tillis and turned down a chance to face Burr, is raising money for Attorney General Roy Cooper’s bid against McCrory (and his Republican foes). Durham attorney Ken Spaulding is running for the Democratic nomination against Cooper.
