REPLACING:

Wiley Nickel (D)

WORK HISTORY:

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina (Prosecutor)

EDUCATION:

JD, Wake Forest University

CAMPAIGNED ON:

Secure Our Border; Stand with Israel; Protect the Unborn; Back the Blue; Support School Choice; Protect Free Speech; Defend Gun Rights; End Wasteful Spending [i]

ON THE ISSUES

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

Knott is pro-life and believes that the Dobbs decision “properly overruled” Roe v. Wade. He believes in state laws protecting the unborn and faith-based crisis pregnancy centers. Knott has also expressed his opposition to “Democrats’ efforts to legalize abortion up to the moment of birth.” [ii]

IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY:

Knott has criticized the Biden administration for “unleash[ing] a flood of illegal immigrants into our country.” He supports securing the border and building a wall at the Southern border. Knott also believes that any undocumented immigrant that commits a felony should be sent to prison for a minimum of five years and then deported.[iii]

ECONOMY & JOBS:

Knott has criticized President Biden, stating that he has “walloped the poor and the middle class with devastating inflation.” He supports ending omnibus spending bills, scrutinizing spending bills to make cuts, and adding a “balanced budget amendment” to the Constitution. [iv]

TAXES:

Knott made the Americans for Tax Reform pledge of “No New Taxes.” Knott has committed to oppose and vote against any income tax hikes.[v]

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY:

Knott believes that the Democrats “defunding of the police and soft-on-crime policies” have brought “deadly violence,” as well as “rampant addiction and death from illegal drugs.” Knott has touted his career as a prosecutor, stating that “working with sheriffs and police departments investigating and convicting drug dealers, [he] ‘Back[s] the Blue’ 100%.”  

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:

During the 2024 campaign, Knott criticized Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz for overseeing policies leading to high energy prices.[vi] Knott also accused Walz of attempting to increase the gas tax to 70%.[vii]

FOREIGN POLICY:

Knott has called Israel “a loyal ally” and the “only nation in the Middle East that is free and democratic.” He supports standing by Israel and has stated that “Hamas and Hezbollah – and their ally Iran – openly proclaim their desire to destroy Israel and America.” Knott opposes any refugees of Gaza coming to America, saying that they should go to Arab countries instead. [viii]

HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SAFETY NET:

Knott’s public positions on healthcare are limited outside of his pro-life stances. [ix]

DEMOCRACY:

While promoting his endorsement from former President Donald Trump, Knott called for President Biden to be held accountable for “unconstitutional lawfare, corruption, and election interference.”[x]

SOCIAL ISSUES:

Knott opposes participation of transgender women in athletic competitions. In a post on X, Knott stated, “Women and girls have the right to their own athletic competitions, separate from biological males. That’s common sense and the law of the land since Title IX was passed in 1972.  Far left Democrats and the Biden-Harris administration are trying to change this with regulations and court cases. This is not only unfair to athletes like Riley Gaines, but it is also dangerous. Payton McNabb, an NC high school volleyball player, suffered serious injuries from a ball spiked by a male player. Yesterday, an Olympic female boxer had to quit her match after her biological male opponent landed two crushing blows in the first minute.  Donald Trump and I will stop this madness. No more men in women’s sports!”[xi]