She couldn't win as a Democrat. Will running as a Republican work?
In 2024, Kate Barr ran an intentionally unsuccessful campaign for state Senate in North Carolina to draw attention to gerrymandering. The North Carolina Democrat announced today that she is switching parties and running for Congress as a Republican.
Kate Barr ran for state Senate in North Carolina’s 37th District as a Democrat last year, expecting to lose. She even branded her campaign with the words “Kate Barr can’t win.” She ran the unconventional campaign to make an argument against gerrymandering — a tactic used in her state and across the country by politicians who have redrawn congressional maps to favor their party. But now she is switching tactics and running for U.S. Congress as a Republican.
Host Colby Itkowitz sits down with Barr to talk about her chances this time around and what she thinks of redistricting efforts around the country that are making congressional elections even less competitive.
Today’s show was produced by Reena Flores, Josh Carroll and Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Laura Benshoff and mixed by Sean Carter.
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