N.C. Rep. Mark Brody is exploring a run for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in 2020. Paul Nielsen/UCW photo
MONROE – North Carolina House District 55 Representative Mark Brody said the door to a possible run for lieutenant governor is still partially open.
Current Lt. Gov. Dan Forest has announced his intentions to run for the Republican nomination for governor and that is expected to draw a long list of candidates from both parties to the open position.
Brody, a Monroe Republican who represents a district that includes part of Union County and Anson County, said several things would have to fall into place for him to run for lieutenant governor.
Brody is currently in his fourth term in the House after winning re-election with 65 percent of the vote last November.
“I asked the Lord if he would give me an answer months ago, and he hasn’t given me an answer, so that is probably an answer in itself,” Brody said. “Probably not.”
But that could change. Brody said he could enter the race if a conservative voice doesn’t seek the nomination. The filing period begins in December and the primary is set for March 2020.
Two Democrats – Sen. Terry Van Duyn of Asheville and former Sen. Cal Cunningham of Lexington – have already announced plans to run.
“I really want to see who is running,” Brody said. “I am a conservative and I have a conservative voting record. We need someone who could team up with our candidate, Dan Forest, who I support for governor. We need somebody who can complement him on how we run the state. I have a vested interest in seeing this state succeed because I have been one of those, along with (representatives) Dean (Arp) and Craig (Horn) that were at the beginning when we started turning around the economy. So, I have a vested interest in seeing that through. Unless there is somebody who comes up and shines and says, ‘I will take up that mantle,’ we still keep it in the background.”