Primary 2024: Four Republicans in labor commissioner race
(The Center Square) – There is some unity against forced COVID-19 mandates, and a willingness to be accessible if elected by North Carolina voters.
The labor commissioner race has Democrat Braxton Winston awaiting in November’s general election while Republicans Luke Farley, Jon Hardister, Chuck Stanley and Travis Wilson battle in the Republican primary. The office will have its fourth change in the last 20 years.
Republican Josh Dobson was elected to the post in 2020, beating Democrat Jessica Holmes – the subsequent gubernatorial pick this past November to finish the term of former state auditor Beth Wood. Dobson, a former lawmaker in the General Assembly, opted not to run for office this cycle; Holmes is seeking to win election as auditor.
Farley’s campaign is advocating medical freedom for state workers, meaning no “experimental COVID vaccine just to go to work”; workforce development; keeping North Carolina a right-to-work state, which means not being forced to join a union as a condition of employment; and workplace safety. He wants to fight the Biden administration’s heat stress regulation, and return the picture of the labor commissioner to all the state’s elevators.
Hardister represents eastern Guilford County in the House of Representatives, serving his sixth consecutive term since election in 2012. He’s the deputy majority whip. His campaign labels priorities as “plan, provide, protect,” explaining within those his stances on the economy, workforce development, education, efficiency for state workers, worker safety, opposition to government overreach, and inspection procedures.
Stanley’s campaign promotes his values as a family man, work ethic and experience. He pledges to work with companies large and small with responsible action toward labor laws and safety. He hopes to collaborate with respective economic development arms to retain and bring new businesses to the state.
Wilson’s campaign promotes his dedication to free market principles, protection of independent contractors, efficient service and accessibility. “Safety inspections will be a priority under a Wilson administration,” he says.
According to the latest campaign finance filings, the year began with the war chest of Hardister (more than $426,000) far in front of Farley ($114,124), Stanley (less than $13,000) and Wilson (less than $300).
The state’s more than 2.2 million registered Republican voters can vote in this primary; and the more than 2.7 million registered as unaffiliated have the option to vote in the primary.
The mail-in absentee ballot process began Jan. 19, in-person early voting starts Thursday and Primary Election Day is March 5. North Carolina is one of 14 states with both Democrat and Republican primaries on Super Tuesday.
