North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, left, congratulates Cheri Beasley after naming her as the next Chief Justice of the NC Supreme Court during a news conference at the Executive Mansion in Raleigh, N.C., Feb. 12, 2019. Gov. Cooper gave Beasley his full-throated endorsement for the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022 attempting to secure a smoother path for her to become the Democrats' nominee to wrest a seat held by a Republican since 2005. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP, file)

Rep. Ted Budd, R-N.C., a candidate for the U.S. Senate race in North Carolina, poses for a photo at an event in Mount Airy, N.C., on Sept. 25, 2021. Democrat Cheri Beasley remained the top campaign fundraiser ahead of next fall's U.S. Senate race in North Carolina at the close of 2021, outpacing further potential Republican rivals entangled in a primary campaign lengthened by litigation. Among Republican nominee hopefuls, Budd raised more than former Gov. Pat McCrory in the fourth quarter, according to the candidates and FEC filings. (AP Photo/Bryan Anderson, File)

FILE - U.S. Rep. Ted Budd, R-N.C., waves to the crowd during a campaign event at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, N.C., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. Democrat Cheri Beasley remained the top campaign fundraiser ahead of next fall's U.S. Senate race in North Carolina at the close of 2021, outpacing further potential Republican rivals entangled in a primary campaign lengthened by litigation. Among Republican nominee hopefuls, Budd raised more than former Gov. Pat McCrory in the fourth quarter, according to the candidates and FEC filings. (Khadejeh Nikouyeh/News & Record via AP, File)