Republican Rep. Mark Meadows, who has represented Macon County and the 11th Congressional District since 2012, said Thursday that he will retire at the end of his term in 2020.
Meadows, who helped found the ultraconservative and influential House Freedom Caucus, is considered one of President Trump’s staunchest supporters. His name came up in December 2018 as a potential replacement for White House chief of staff John Kelly. Trump ended up choosing Mick Mulvaney for that position.
Meadows is currently the ranking Republican on the House Oversight and Transportation committees.
Meadows’ announcement came with just one day left in the filing period. Linda Bennett of Haywood County filed Thursday for the 11th district. She was the first Republican to file.
Four Democrats – Moe Davis of Asheville, Michael O’Shea of Henderson County, Steve Woodsmall of Transylvania County and Gina Collias of Rutherford – filed for the 2020 primary scheduled for March 3, 2020.
Tamara Zwinak is running for the 11th District seat as a Green Party candidate.
“I think it’s still a Republican district, but the Democrats have a better chance today than they did yesterday,” said Chris Cooper, head of the Department of Political Science and Public Affairs at Western Carolina University.
Cooper theorized that Bennett could be the heir apparent to Meadows.
“Bennett aligns herself with Meadows and the Freedom Caucus, free market principles and the policy brand that has made Mark Meadows so successful,” he said.
“Bennett had a website up within two hours of Meadows’ announcement,” Cooper said. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure she might have known this was coming. That’s what smart, strategic politicians do.”
Here is the text of Meadows’ announcement:
“For everything there is a season. After prayerful consideration and discussion with family, today I’m announcing that my time serving Western North Carolina in Congress will come to a close at the end of this term.
This was a decision I struggled with greatly. These last 8 years, I have been so blessed to serve the people of NC-11 and help give a voice to millions of Americans who feel Washington, DC has forgotten them. Since serving alongside President Trump, I have been a witness to historic economic prosperity, unemployment levels I only dreamed of when I took office, tax and regulatory reforms that are putting the American worker first, our Israeli embassy moved to Jerusalem, and trade deals that were once thought impossible. I have seen our law enforcement and first responders receive the support they deserve and our military once again put on a path to maintain its superiority. Through it all, I am so thankful to have been able to serve and give back to the great country I call home.
My work with President Trump and his administration is only beginning. This President has accomplished incredible results for the country in just 3 years, and I’m fully committed to staying in the fight with him and his team to build on those successes and deliver on his promises for the years to come. I’ve always said Congress is a temporary job, but the fight to return Washington, DC to its rightful owner, We The People, has only just begun.
To the people of Western North Carolina: it’s been my honor to be your Congressman. Thank you for your trust, faith, and support.”
