Big Gambling casino operators meddling in NC legislative primaries - is ours included? | Eastern NC Now

UPDATE: It has been confirmed that the gambling special interest PACs are dumping big money into the 79th district to try to replace Kidwell with their choice Armstrong.. Their last minute spending spree is wideranging.  It includes attacking key conservative leaders like Kidwell, propping up establishment hacks who are in trouble like Berger, and trying to win open seats for establishment candidates over conservatives like theLee-Moore House district.

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ORIGINAL POST:

One special interest that showered lots of money on establishment Republicans, aka RINOs, when corrupt Senate boss Phil Berger was pushing a bill to spread casinos across our state a few years ago, was the gambling industry.  Now, it looks like they are back to play another hand in the 2026 Republican primaries and our 79th district looks like a target.

One of the key leaders in the House who blocked Berger's previous attempt to plant casinos around North Carolina was Keith Kidwell and the House Freedom Caucus.  That makes him a major target for this special interest.

the gambling industry has set up two PACs to target conservatives, one named Win for America and the other the deceptively named American Conservative Fund.  These groups started with a barrage of ads to try to prop up Berger himself,.  Polls show Berger losing to Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page in the primary.

Last time, the gambling special interests just wrote big checks to politicians.  This time they are running their own ads supporting their friends and attacking their enemies.

Meanwhile ads from this group, which are mostly TV ads have appeared in other legislative districts.  There is apparently one out targeting Kidwell.

https://dailyhaymaker.com/gambling-industry-meddling-in-nc-primaries/

https://dailyhaymaker.com/dark-covert-gambling-money-in-johnston-county-too/