NC-11: Rep. Mark Meadows (R) Named Trump’s COS

Rep. Mark Meadows (R), who announced his intention to retire at the filing deadline in December for an unspecified post in the Trump administration, has been named as Trump’s new CoS, replacing Mick Mulvaney (R). Presumably Meadows will be resigning his NC-11 seat in short order.

The electoral consequences of this move are likely – though not certain – to be fairly minimal. The GOP primary for this seat is headed to a May runoff between Meadows’s choice successor, businesswoman Lynda Bennett (R), and Madison Cawthorn (R), a 25-year old who became a minor local celebrity for his inspiring story of recovering from a car accident as a teen that left him paralyzed. Presumably the nominee will be the strong favorite in the special election if one is scheduled. My guess is the special election may even be as late as election day itself in November. However, there is one minor wrinkle: Meadows is vacating the old NC-11, not the re-redistricted one, which has changed significantly (and become less Republican) with the addition of Asheville. Democrats’ nominee for the new NC-11 is retired veteran Moe Davis (D), and he will presumably be Dems’ pick in the special as well.