In the final days leading up to the Nov. 8 election, the two major-party candidates for North Carolina’s open U.S. Senate seat are traveling the state, sharing their final messages with voters.

Neither candidate, however, got to this point in the campaign alone. To run in any race, let alone a statewide race, requires strong backing of volunteers and voters.

At a Bertie County campaign event for Cheri Beasley, the Democratic candidate, supporter Norman Cherry said he's praying she is going to be his tightly-knit rural community’s voice in Washington, D.C.

“We've known each other forever and a lot of us are family members. So my main concern is to make sure that our representatives, whether they are [at] the local, state or national level, are people who have our interests at hand,” Cherry said.

At a campaign stop in nearby Pitt County, voters said they will make their voices heard.

Supporter Amy Kalinowski’s interest in politics started at a young age, and she is impressed with Beasley’s experience as a former N.C. Supreme Court chief justice. She said she likes Beasley’s message and political beliefs, especially on one key election issue.

“Ever since the overturning of Roe v. Wade … that was the first thing I looked up for every single candidate. Whether it was a local election or whether it was a state or federal election, and her answer compared to everyone else’s was what I wanted,” Kalinowski said.

Beasley’s supporters in both counties said it goes beyond abortion for them. Their concerns include the cost of living, the future of Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, raising the minimum wage, supporting farmers and reducing education gaps.

U.S. Rep. Ted Budd is the Republican candidate for the Senate seat. His district sits in the Triad, and while he’s traveled across the state, his home supporters always turn out when he’s in the Piedmont.

At an Alamance County meet-and-greet, local Republican candidates joined Budd as he spoke about the issues facing voters, like immigration and inflation, and how Republicans can change Biden administration policies if they flip the balance of power in D.C.

It’s a message Polly Riddell was happy to hear.

“Inflation is a big issue for all of us, and that doesn't take much. I don't have to … drone up energy or concern about that,” Riddell said.

As the wife of state Rep. Dennis Riddell, who is up for reelection, and the president of the Alamance Republican Women, Polly Riddell has been busy the past year helping campaigns like Budd’s.

However, she says the issues have done a lot of her work for her. She says people are so concerned with how things are going, they are happy to give their time to support the county Republican Party and the local candidates.

“We have so many strong volunteers who help man headquarters and are out. We've got people out all over the place at the polls,” Riddell said.

That’s the kind of support statewide campaigns need.

It just isn’t physically possible for the candidates to speak to every voter — they rely on passionate supporters in counties across the state to talk to their neighbors, friends and communities on their behalf.

One of those passionate supporters of the Budd campaign is Kathy Flanigan. Flanigan has been involved in Republican politics in Guilford County for decades.

Her goal, however, isn’t personal.

“I don't want to build a resume. I'm not running for office, but I am here to help someone be in office. And that's what I like to do,” Flanigan said.

When the candidates make stops to meet those volunteers and voters, it leaves an impact.

In Pitt County, voters like Shakeanma Edwards come out, hoping Beasley will shatter the glass ceiling and make history for the state.

North Carolina has never sent a Black senator to D.C., and Edwards hopes that’s about to change.

“It’s exciting to show your little Black nieces and nephews and your granddaughters, your daughters that they can be the same way. I want to be just like her when I grow up,” Edwards said.

With early in-person voting over, all eyes are on Tuesday.

Both candidates have traveled the state, and supporters have given up free time canvassing their neighborhoods, all trying to bring North Carolinians to their side.