Ted Budd was not exactly a household name in North Carolina.
Former President Donald Trump changed that while transforming the election to replace Sen. Richard Burr, who's retiring next year. Trump recently endorsed Budd in an event in North Carolina.
What to know
Former President Donald Trump recently endorsed Congressman Ted Budd for U.S. Senate
Trump chose Budd over former Congressman Mark Walker and former Gov. Pat McCrory
One expert says Trump's endorsement could be a sign he will be involved in more 2022 races nationally
"It definitely has the potential to upend the race," Miles Coleman said, who is the UVA Center for Politics Sabato Crystal Ball Associate Editor.
Coleman said the former president may have endorsed Budd, a three-term congressman, for a simple reason.
"He doesn't like losers," Coleman said.
Budd's two major Republican opponents are former Gov. Pat McCrory, who lost his reelection bid in 2016, and former Congressman Mark Walker, who chose not to run in 2020 after redistricting.
But will the endorsement help Budd?
"If you look at some of the congressional primaries from the 2020 cycle he had a pretty good, almost perfect record," Coleman said of Trump endorsing candidates who would later win.
One exception was his endorsement of Lynda Bennett in North Carolina's 11th District. Madison Cawthorn beat Bennett in the GOP primary and went on to win in November.
Coleman says the former president’s early backing of Budd may be a sign of what's to come nationally. His involvement could also shape Republican primaries in other states with potentially close Senate races next year, including Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona.
"He has not taken himself out of running for president in 2024," Coleman says. "It's going to help keep him in the headlines."
Analysts have said while Trump's backing helps candidates in a Republican primary it could turn off some independent and Democratic voters in the general election. Coleman said North Carolina Democrats who couldn't win the Senate seat last year have a tough fight ahead of them.
"North Carolina is a state where the Democrats have come close in recent contests, but they really need a lot of factors to break their way," Coleman said.
McCrory also recently received some support. In a article in Politico, Burr praised the former governor as the only Republican in the race that can win the general election.