Western NC House race: Asheville Democrat Rudow to run; Israel, environment, schools

ASHEVILLE - Democrat Caleb Rudow has entered the race for Western North Carolina's congressional district, the first of his party and the only Jewish member of the state legislature's lower chamber where he now serves an elected representative.

Rudow, a state House member representing parts of Asheville and Buncombe County, made the announcement of his 11th District congressional bid at a June 28 event on the South Slope of downtown.

“WNC deserves representation that works for working families and after serving the people ofBuncombe County as a state house representative for the past three years, I am excited toannounce my campaign plans for the 2024 election,” said Rudow, speaking from the Urban Orchard cidery.

Rudow as of now has no primary opponent. One-term incumbent Chuck Edwards, a Henderson County Republican, is facing a primary challenge from Christian Reagan, a Clay County mortgage broker. Winners will compete in the Nov. 5 general election next year.

The 11th District for which they are running will have 15 and a half counties after a redrawing this year by the state legislature. The district includes runs from Avery County in the northeast to far western Cherokee County.

Rudow, 37, is a freelance data scientist who lives in North Asheville. He was appointed to fill the spot of N.C. House Rep. Susan Fisher in 2022 and was elected to a full term later that year.

In October Rudow, who spent time in Israel and has family there, sponsored a state House resolution in support of that country after its invasion by Hammas members from Gaza. The resolution urged Congress to offer "full and unequivocal support of Israel financially and otherwise for as long as it takes for Israel to bring justice in light of the unprovoked attacks on innocent Israeli civilians." It was supported by 104 of 120 members. A similar statement of support in the N.C. Senate got votes from all but four members, including Julie Mayfield, who like Rudow is a Buncombe Democrat.

Rudow said he would focus on "lowering the cost of living, providing better paid jobs for workers, reducing inequality, supporting teachers and our amazing school system and protecting the environment that makes this place so beautiful," according to his campaign website.

In the General Assembly he backed a party priorities list that included a 7.5% raise for teachers and $1.5 billion to upgrade schools with clean energy technology and $500 million to begin transitioning school bus fleets into electric vehicles.

Rudow's campaign committee showed no money raised yet, though Federal Elections Commission reports only now run through Sept. 30.

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Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville Democrat Rudow enters Western NC House race