The Republican state Senate candidate in Wilmington is likely to spend a few months in the job before he faces his Democratic opponent in the November election. The New Hanover County GOP nominated Michael Lee to fill out the remainder of State Senator Thom Goolsby's term. Goolsby resigned last week.
State law essentially requires Governor Pat McCrory to now appoint Lee to fill out the remainder of Goolsby's Senate term.
Goolsby has called for Lee to replace him, and said he was resigning early to give the Republican candidate a "running start" in the legislature.
Lee's Democratic opponent, Elizabeth Redenbaugh, called it a "cheap political stunt."