Josh Brannon Files for 5th District Congressional Seat

Press release:

Josh Brannon today filed with the North Carolina Board of Elections in Raleigh to enter the race to become the new Congressman from the 5th District of North Carolina. Brannon is a 36-year-old software developer from the Boone area. Brannon had earlier withdrawn from the race for the North Carolina Senate against incumbent Dan Soucek in support of the candidacy of Jim Sponenberg of Caldwell County.

Brannon said, "Mr. Sponenberg's candidacy gives me the opportunity to focus my energies on our current Congresswoman, Virginia Foxx, who has taken positions that are damaging to the 5th District and to our state. As is unfortunately common now, Ms. Foxx has taken up the mantle of big corporations and her 1% donors, at the expense of the people’s rights, success, and health. I intend to call her out on these harmful policies. I intend to be the voice of the people in our district. Ms. Foxx may do the bidding of multinational corporations and her millionaire contributors both in Washington and nationwide — I will answer to the people she has failed to serve. I grew up in North Carolina. I love this state. And I refuse to sit on the sidelines and watch while her policies continue to damage our people."

Mr. Brannon is a graduate of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He moved to Watauga County 5 years ago to live near his parents, who have retired there.

There was already a Democratic primary triggered for this seat. Gardenia Henley of Forsyth, Michael W. Holleman of Wilkes, and Will Stinson of Yadkin had already filed as Democrats. Those three will face Josh Brannon in the primary on May 6.

Josh Brannon

Soucek Gets a Caldwell County Democratic Opponent

Jim Sponenberg, 70, a Caldwell County executive with Certus Bank, has filed to run as a Democrat against Senator Dan Soucek. Josh Brannon of Watauga County, who had also filed as a Democrat in the same race last week, has withdrawn in favor of Sponenberg.

Sponenberg said education is his main focus, having been closely involved with education throughout his life, both with personal involvement and with members of his family that are teachers: his wife, daughter, son-in-law and mother.

 “I think education is a very, very important part of what the state of North Carolina is involved in,” Sponenberg said, adding that he wants to make sure public education is supported and given a chance to improve and be innovative.

He also said that education influences economic development, especially in Caldwell County and the 45th District, which covers Allegheny, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell and Watauga counties.

 Sponenberg also said he is running to help build cooperation in Raleigh between Democrats and Republicans, saying he has friends in both major parties who think like he does.

 “I want to take that culture and cooperative attitude to Raleigh to get people to work together for the benefit of Caldwell County and Western North Carolina,” he said.

There's also a persistent rumor circulating in Caldwell County that Caldwell County Superintendent of Schools Steve Stone, a Republican, intends to challenge Soucek in the Republican primary. He has until Friday at noon to file if he's serious.

Appears that Mr. Soucek's votes on public education have not gone down well in his district.