Sandy Smith hopes to flip the 2nd Congressional District in North Carolina from blue to red. A battle-tested candidate, Smith ran in 2020 for the Tar Heel State’s 1st Congressional District, narrowly losing to incumbent G.K. Butterfield. As a candidate, she is pro-life, pro-gun, and pro-military and describes herself as “America First.” She “made history by swinging her district 25 points towards Republicans in 2020.” Now, she hopes to finish the job in 2022.
“I’m a firm believer if you want something done, you have to be willing to step up and do it yourself,” Smith told me when I asked what motivated her to run.
“I, like many Americans, am tired of the do-nothing politicians whose only focus is their own self-serving needs. I’m sick and tired of these weak, ‘weather vane’ Republicans that when someone looks at them the wrong way and says something mean, they turn tail and run. We don’t need any more jellyfish Republicans,” Smith said. “We need strong, ‘America First’ fighters who will stand up for what’s right, and I’m that fighter.”
Smith has positioned herself as the anti-establishment candidate in North Carolina. I read that she had years of experience in the private sector, and I was curious what made her leap from business to politics. She delivered a passionate answer that should resonate with many people, especially small business owners.
“I’m a business owner, and I have seen what government overreach does to small businesses,” Smith told me. “We need someone in D.C. that understands firsthand the struggles of Americans and is going to stand up and fight for them.”
Smith has noticed the problems our country has faced since Biden was inaugurated. She identified inflation as one of the main concerns in the country. Smith also addressed the culture war Democrats are waging that will do irreparable harm.
She listed critical race theory as a major concern. Smith believes parents should have a significant role in their children’s education. She also stated that she is a firm believer in the 2nd Amendment and identified the border crisis as a major problem facing the country and her constituents in North Carolina.
“I’m not a career politician, nor am I politically correct, and that’s OK. I’m a straight shooter and call things like I see them. I’m often referred to as the hardest-working lady in North Carolina politics because I don’t quit or give up,” Smith said. “My strong work ethic is what sets me apart, as I get things done!”
Moreover, I asked her what separates her from the other Republicans running in the primary. I knew she was a military mother, but I wanted to learn more about the issues she cares about.
“I’m the only real ‘America First’ fighter and not a member of the good old boys club running in this race. I’m a true conservative that believes in real conservative values,” Smith said.
“The rapidly rising inflation is a major problem in our country today. Rising food and gas prices have put a huge strain on the American family. We also have huge supply chain issues that are leaving us with empty shelves,” Smith said. “Our open border is just an open invitation for criminals, drug cartels, and terrorists to come in and threaten our communities. We need to close our southern border and protect innocent, law-abiding Americans.”
Another thing she feels strongly about is community safety. Taking notice of the crime surge across the country, Sandy Smith mentioned the importance of safety — in her hometown and worldwide. As a military mother, she was also quite passionate about taking care of veterans.
“Democrats want to defund and cut our law enforcement, making our communities unsafe. People want to be able to let their children play outside and not be worried about criminals terrorizing their neighborhoods,” she said. “We need to keep our military strong and take better care of our veterans, and as a military mother, that’s very important to me.”
Additionally, Smith is a big proponent of election security. She is an advocate of voter IDs.
“Election integrity is huge. We need voter ID. People want to feel confident that their vote counts and know that whoever cast a ballot is really who they say they are,” she said.
Smith has a vision that she feels makes her the ideal candidate — whether you are a Democrat or Republican.
“We have several big problems here in Eastern North Carolina. We have families struggling to put food on the table and put gas in their cars. Every time they go to the store, they’re worried whether or not they will be able to find milk, bread, or even chicken to buy for their families,” Smith said. “Also, with the skyrocketing food cost, families are worried about having enough money to pay for it.”
“We also have a huge opioid problem, which is a direct result of not having enough law enforcement officers, job opportunities, youth community activities, and an open southern border that drugs like fentanyl are coming across by the truckloads, killing thousands of Americans,” she stated.
Given her concerns and platform, Sandy Smith gives the voters a choice to be heard on a variety of issues. She is courageous, passionate, and intent on changing things for the better. She hopes to help build a stronger North Carolina and United States.
