In the congressional district home to the largest military base in the country, the Democratic challenger is accusing the sitting Republican congressman of putting his political fortunes ahead of the people he represents, including military families and veterans.

Pat Timmons-Goodson takes issue with Rep. Richard Hudson’s response to a recent article in The Atlantic. According to that story, during a trip to France, President Donald Trump described a military cemetery as “filled with losers” and referred to dead marines as “suckers” for getting killed.

Timmons-Goodson, a Democrat, is running to unseat Hudson, the Republican incumbent, in North Carolina’s 8th District. Fort Bragg is located in the district.

In posts online, Hudson defended the president while raising questions about the story’s veracity. Timmons-Goodson says he instead should be standing up for the troops and veterans.

The president has repeatedly pushed back on The Atlantic story, calling it a hoax.

“There’s nobody that has more respect for not only our military but for people that gave their lives in the military,” he said at a White House event this week.

In light of recent redistricting, North Carolina’s 8th District could be one to watch come November. Sabato’s Crystal Ball, which rates races across the country, labels it “lean Republican.” 



Reactions to the President’s Alleged Comments

Timmons-Goodson said the article hit home. Her father served in Vietnam.

“I assure you, he was anything but a loser. He was a hero,” she said.

She argues the story has credibility, noting that the president’s alleged statements are in line with his public comments disparaging the late Sen. John McCain. She says she has heard from veterans who also expressed disappointment with the president’s reported comments.

Meanwhile, Hudson, who was not available for an interview Wednesday, has defended the president.

A spokesman pointed to the congressman’s various statements online. In those posts, he criticized The Atlantic’s reliance on anonymous sources, calling it a “hit piece” and an example of “Trump Derangement Syndrome in the media.”

He also relayed the story of an event he attended at a cemetery in France, noting that the president “stood in the rain to honor our fallen heroes.”

As representative for Fort Bragg, Hudson frequently touts his legislative work focused on military issues, notably when his ideas are incorporated in the annual defense bill (the NDAA).

But Timmons-Goodson argues that alone does not cut it.

“It’s easy to support legislation that helps the military and the veterans. But you need to stand up for and stand with them in difficult times. Just as our soldiers serve in difficult times,” she said, arguing now is one of those difficult times.

“That’s what leadership is about,” she said.