ellmers

• Happy New Year! Incumbent Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-2nd District, won North Carolina’s fundraising wars during the 2014 congressional campaign, raising $1.83 million in defeating “American Idol” runner-up Clay Aiken, who raised more than $1 million. Finishing second was 10th District Rep. Patrick McHenry, the GOP chief deputy whip, who raked in $1.73 million. In the 6th District, Democratic challenger Laura Fjeld raised $100,000 more than her Republican opponent Mark Walker, but Walker won the election by a double-digit margin.

• National Journal says national Democrats are banking on outgoing U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan to challenge incumbent Republican Richard Burr in the 2016 election campaign, but Hagan hasn’t said she will run.

• In his first Daily Journal of 2015, John Hood casts a few doubts on Hagan’s interest in the race, while listing a handful of other contenders.

• The Associated Press reports that North Carolina Democrats are still figuring out how to move forward after their electoral disappointments in 2014.