Cantor-backed candidate breezes past Tea Party favorite in North Carolina primary

{mosads}Hudson will now face Kissell, one of Republicans’ top targets this cycle. His district was made much more GOP-leaning in redistricting — it would have given Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) a 15-point margin under the new lines.

In other North Carolina runoffs, real estate investor Mark Meadows won the GOP runoff in retiring Rep. Heath Shuler’s (D-N.C.) western North Carolina seat. The district was redrawn to become the most Republican in the state, and while Shuler remains popular there and his former chief of staff is running, the race leans strongly Republican.

Former state Sen. Robert Pittenger (R) also win his primary runoff, and is all but a lock to replace retiring Rep. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.) in a safely Republican seat.