• While plenty of ink has been spilled over the impending June 7 primary race between incumbent GOP Reps. Renee Ellmers and George Holding in the 2nd Congressional District (Holding has said he’ll abandon his 13th District seat and challenge the three-termer), 9th District Rep. Robert Pittenger has a new challenger: former Union County Commissioner Todd Johnson. Johnson, 37, an insurance broker, cites his record as a tax-cutter while on the commission. Meantime, former U.S. Reps. Sue Myrick and Robin Hayes have endorsed Pittenger’s other GOP opponent, George Rouco.
• Also taking advantage of the General Assembly’s geographic shift of the 13th District is state Sen. Andrew Brock, R-Davie, who will run for the seat being left open by Holding.
• Meantime, several Wilmington-area Democratic elected officials may jump into the 7th Congressional District, where freshman Rep. David Rouzer now represents a small sliver of the northwestern part of the redrawn district.
• With more money in the bank and endorsements in hand, the Associated Press says former Wake County Rep. Deborah Ross is in good shape to win the March 15 Democratic primary to challenge (most likely) incumbent U.S. Sen. Richard Burr.
• In case you didn’t know, there’s a presidential primary taking place March 15, too. Freshman U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis has endorsed his colleague, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, for the Republican nomination.