Republican U.S. Senate candidate Don Brown campaigns in Eastern NC

WASHINGTON, N.C. (WITN) - Republican U.S. Senate candidate Don Brown says a growing national debt and what he calls a lack of fiscal discipline in Washington prompted him to enter North Carolina’s increasingly crowded Senate race back in February against Tillis.

Don Brown, is a Plymouth native, former JAG officer and federal prosecutor, who is running in the Republican primary against several candidates, including Michael Whatley, who has received President Donald Trump’s endorsement. The GOP nominee is expected to face former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper in the general election.

“We’re in an emergency situation in the United States and in North Carolina,” Brown said. “The national debt continues to explode.”

Brown said his campaign is centered on reducing federal spending and cutting government bureaucracy, arguing the federal government has grown too large.

“We have 3.2 million federal employees, over 400 agencies, and yet the national debt explodes at $37,000 per second,” Brown said. “The swamp has not been drained.”

Brown pointed to his background in national security as a qualification for office, citing experience working in the Pentagon and with conservative leaders.

“I’ve worked in the Pentagon. I’ve worked with Pete Hegseth,” Brown said. “My background makes me perfectly suited for this position.”

Disaster recovery is another key issue for Brown, who referenced lingering impacts from Hurricane Matthew in Eastern North Carolina and Hurricane Helene in the western part of the state. He criticized government-led recovery efforts and said bureaucracy has delayed aid.

“We’ve got to cut bureaucracy to get money to the people that need it,” Brown said.

Brown said he would support using trusted private charities alongside local governments to administer disaster relief funds, including Samaritan’s Purse, which he said he trusts.

On affordability, Brown said deregulation has helped lower gas prices but has not gone far enough to ease costs for families.

“We haven’t seen relief in the grocery store,” he said. “Deregulation can bring prices down.”

Brown also said he supports eliminating property taxes for younger, first-time homebuyers as a way to make housing more affordable.

While President Trump has endorsed his primary opponent, Brown said he respects the former president but believes voters should focus on policy plans and experience.

“I value the president,” Brown said. “But I think the president got some premature advice.”

Brown said undecided voters should view the election as a pivotal moment for the country.

“If we go with status quo Republicanism and just kick the can down the road, the dollar is going to implode,” he said.

Another candidate who filed campaign paperwork yesterday is Republican Michele Morrow, a controversial candidate who last year ran to lead North Carolina’s public schools but lost to Mo Green.