Myrick Won't Run; Pendergraph Joins Race

Congresswoman Sue Myrick of Charlotte says she won't run for re-election to North Carolina's 9th Congressional District. Mecklenburg County Commissioner Jim Pendergraph, meanwhile, hopes to fill her shoes. Myrick made her announcement Tuesday through Facebook and her campaign site with a brief video. She said she made the decision after thoughtful discussion with her family and plans to serve out her ninth two-year term through the end of the year. The 70-year-old Myrick is a former Charlotte mayor and previous U.S. Senate candidate who joined Congress in the Republican sweep during the 1994 elections. She has been in a relatively safe Republican district that this fall will cover portions of Union, Mecklenburg and Iredell counties. Pendergraph, a Republican, is a former Mecklenburg County sheriff. He announced his intention to run shortly after Myrick's announcement. Pendergraph has a press conference scheduled for Wednesday morning.