GREENSBORO, N.C. — 2 Wants To Know is taking a closer look at the Trump impact on primary races on the federal and state levels. One political expert calls it Trump's anti-establishment movement.
"Because he is willing to challenge the establishment and challenge the order of the Republican party, He can make the claim he's an outsider to the traditionalists and the main party. And clearly, that has become the focus in NC the establishment of the Republican party," said Thom Little, UNCG Political Science Professor.
Let's look at how that anti-establishment seems to have trickled down to our state races here in North Carolina.
In the State Commissioner of Labor race, newcomer Luke Farley takes the votes over Jon Hardister, who has served in the NC legislature for 12 years.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction race, Michelle Morrow, who has never held office and homeschools her kids, beat out incumbent Catherine Truitt.
For Lieutenant Governor, Hal Weatherman, a former Chief of Staff for former Lt. Governor Dan Forrest but never an office holder, leads Forsyth County DA Jim O'Neill and former member of the state legislature Deanna Ballard.
On the federal level, in the House District 6 race, Addison McDowell, a Trump endorsement with no office experience, edges out Mark Walker who once held the District 6 seat.
"I think you're looking at a big anti-government anti-establishment movement. If given a choice, we want someone with no govt experience running government," said Little.
Little says it appears North Carolina Democrats aren't all that happy with the establishment either, nearly 13% voted no preference in the Presidential primary, but that didn't trickle down to the state races. Most winners on the Democrat side were people who have held some kind of office.
And just for context, not quite 1% voted no preference on the Republican side when it came to the presidential race.