Dr. Raymond Smith Triumphs Over Greg Murphy: Republicans’ Disastrous Energy Policy Cost Them Election

Raleigh, N.C. — Yesterday, Democrat Raymond Smith defeated Republican Greg Murphy in a historic victory for the people of North Carolina. By electing Smith to Congress, North Carolinians made their disapproval of Republicans’ energy policy known: from the war in Iran that is driving up gas and diesel prices, to the clean energy cuts and data centers with no guardrails that drove up utility bills.  According to this Elon University poll, a majority of North Carolina voters oppose the Iran conflict, which is raising oil and gas prices. 

Time and time again, Republicans like Murphy voted to support Trump’s policies to block the path to cheaper, faster, cleaner energy, and now North Carolina families and businesses are paying for it three times over — at the pump, on their utility bills, and through the data centers polluting their communities. Smith will tackle corporate greed and rising costs, put guardrails on utility bill-raising, polluting data centers, and lower utility costs by investing in affordable clean energy.

Smith said it best in a recent campaign speech, “This campaign is about the farmer in Sampson, in Duplin, in Wayne, Lenoir Counties, that’s paying more for fuel and for fertilizer than they’ve ever paid for before. It’s about the mom in Kinston choosing between a prescription and a Duke Energy bill. It’s about the veteran in Jacksonville driving two hours to see a VA doctor….I’ll fight to lower what you pay at the grocery store and at the gas pump.” 

“Eastern North Carolina deserves a leader who will fight for them and ensure they can afford to fill their gas tanks and keep their lights on, and that’s why they elected Dr. Raymond Smith,” said Climate Power’s North Carolina State Director Terryn Hall. “Greg Murphy would’ve rubber-stamped Trump’s agenda at every turn, and now he’s paying the price. Eastern North Carolina needs relief from skyrocketing costs, and Dr. Smith will work to bring down costs —not enrich oil and gas billionaires.” 

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