Jeff Jackson says he may run for Congress in new Mecklenburg district
State Sen. Jeff Jackson, who dropped out of the U.S. Senate race in December, will seriously consider running for Congress in the new 14th District.
That district will include much of southern Mecklenburg County and runs west into Gaston County.
Though he previously told reporters that he would not consider a congressional run, Jackson said the new election maps — drawn by a three-judge panel this week — opened up a lane for him.
His main objection to running for Congress was to not oppose U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, he said. Now, there is a safe Democratic district that will not conflict with her.
If he does enter the race, he’ll come in with the majority of the money he raised while running for U.S. Senate. He ended that race with about $830,000 of cash-on-hand. While some donors requested refunds, Jackson said he still has access to the vast majority of that and could transfer it to his U.S. House race.
He told the Observer Thursday morning of his possible plan to run and later told followers on Twitter: “I got a lot of calls yesterday, so here’s the situation: Unexpectedly, the redistricting process in NC has produced a new congressional seat that includes my state Senate district. I really appreciate all the encouragement to run. Marisa and I are talking it over. More soon.”
Jackson weighing Congressional run
Speaking to the Observer, Jackson said his decision to run will depend on the opinion of his family.
Since getting out of the senate race late last year, Jackson said he has spent time his family in a way that is not possible on a campaign trail — particularly in a statewide race like U.S. Senate.
“I have been home cooking dinner and spending a lot of time with the kids and this would mean a very sudden pivot back into campaign mode,” he said. “That’s something the entire family needs to agree to.”
While campaigning for senate, Jackson said he rarely if ever spent four consecutive days at home. That all changed when he dropped out, and he assumed it would stay that way.
Then a new map came out.
Jackson said he was at Harris Teeter earlier this week when he started getting phone calls, telling him to look at the new Congressional map drawn by the court. District 14 caught his eye.
Along with not conflicting with Adams, the district is likely to go to a Democrat. Plus, it includes the two parts of North Carolina that Jackson knows best: southern and western Mecklenburg, and Gaston County.
Before being elected to the state senate, Jackson worked in the District Attorney’s office in Gaston County. He left that job to run for office.
“It’s sort of a natural fit,” he said.
So far, no other Democrats have announced their intention to run in the new 14th, though Jackson said a few have told him they are considering it.
Rep. Dan Bishop has said he is reconsidering running for Congress and may run for a statewide judicial seat. Even if Bishop does make a Congressional bid, it will not be in the 14th.
“I think this region and this country would be well served by any of the people who told me they were interested in running,” Jackson said.
This story was originally published February 24, 2022 at 10:55 AM.
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