Republican Brad Knott, a former prosecutor who flipped a House seat in North Carolina, discusses his strategy.

In November, North Carolina's 13th District was flipped from blue to red by Republican Brad Knott, who resigned as a federal prosecutor to run for Congress. Knott explained his reasons for resigning and shared his priorities for the House once he is sworn in next month on Planet Chronicle Digital.

Knott, a lifelong North Carolinian and former longtime Assistant U.S. Attorney, stated that he felt it was a "high honor" to spend most of his career working alongside law enforcement, including through organized crime investigations across the country. The effects of President Biden and Vice President Harris taking office on local law enforcement specifically motivated Knott to run for Congress.

Knott stated that he couldn't remain indifferent to the border crisis's effects on communities, including the "availability of drugs, the presence of violence, the inability to combat it effectively due to the overwhelming influx of people and contraband, and the criminality that was crossing the border. He criticized Washington's failure to take action.

"Knott stated that he had a long career in law enforcement and witnessed a lot in that role. He was deeply troubled by the policies and actions taken by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris after they took office in January 2021. The policies and actions had a trickle-down effect that was undeniable and caused harm not only to prosecutors but also to federal and local law enforcement and the communities they protect."

Knott found it baffling that despite the numbers of drug overdoses, attrition rates of law enforcement agencies, and crime, there was an absolute refusal to tackle the problem.

"Knott stated that there was no desire to address the issue, and after years of this, he followed his heart. They had prayed about it and, given their unique perspective, Knott decided to run for office to address the issues he had witnessed and combat them effectively."

Knott won the election after receiving President-elect Trump's endorsement in April, defeating Kelly Daughtry in the May run-off primary and Frank Pierce on Election Day in the redrawn district covering eight counties near the state capital of Raleigh.

THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

According to Knott, the most enjoyable aspect of running for office was going door-to-door and hosting town hall meetings to engage with voters directly.

"According to Knott, doing that is crucial because it offers a clear view of what people are truly focused on. It cuts through the clutter and the media, providing a direct line of communication with the relevant parties. In his previous job, it was like having a front-row seat to the trial."

Knott stated that the people of the 13th district consistently raised issues related to the strain of the border crisis on local police, first responders, schools, and hospitals during conversations.

"According to Knott, there was a widespread belief that the country was moving in the wrong direction, and that the current administration, which will soon be replaced, was prioritizing issues that most Americans disagreed with. Despite the misconception that the economy is doing well, Knott emphasized that it is not robust, and that many people in the 13th District understand the limitations of the economy."

Despite their background, voters overwhelmingly felt that their taxpayer dollars were being misused, with the United States being $36 trillion in debt, and the funds being directed towards illegal immigrants and conflicts abroad rather than Americans at home.

"Knott stated that most people are facing significant challenges and that the country is heading in the wrong direction. He emphasized the need for change, as the current path is not working. Knott's belief in running for office was reinforced through his interactions with the community, who expressed a desire for meaningful changes to address pressing issues, regardless of race, class, or politics."

"We owe $36 trillion in debt. What have you received for all of that spending?" Knott questioned, asserting that "we will have to pay it back for no services received."

Knott criticized the U.S. government's practice of borrowing money from other countries and taxpayers to fund illegal immigration, stating that it has resulted in billions of dollars being spent annually on supporting illegal immigrants' education, food, housing, and other needs, while also encouraging more illegal immigration.

Knott stated that Washington's unbelievable power is just one example of the gross incompetence.

UKRAINE AID

The Biden administration is hastily distributing billions of dollars in U.S. aid to Ukraine before Trump assumes office. The new Congress, controlled by the GOP in both chambers, will review additional assistance amid the ongoing three-year conflict, with Trump likely pushing for a cease-fire agreement between Ukraine and Russia.

Knott criticized the oversimplification of the Ukraine debate by those in the political class and media, stating that objectives can be more complex than a single statement. However, he emphasized that his primary concern is the well-being of the American people.

"Knott stated that he believes what Putin is doing in Ukraine is horrific and should not be happening. He believes that Ukraine is entitled to its border and sovereignty. Knott agrees with President Trump that it needs to stop before more people are killed. However, he also expressed concern about the reckless distribution of American dollars to a foreign country with little oversight, especially when there are problems at home to deal with. Knott believes that at some point, the American people must question whether their involvement is worth it."

"Knott emphasized the need to keep the money at home and address the $36 trillion debt. He argued that the US cannot continue to spend billions of dollars on foreign aid without an end in sight. Knott's main focus is on protecting the dollar, ensuring the hard-earned money of Americans is not wasted, and rebuilding the downtrodden American citizenry."

Trump has made it clear to the Republican Congress that he expects them to deliver solutions and work with the other side, despite the GOP's slim margin in the House.

"Knott stated that the open border, overregulation, overtaxation, overspending, inflation, and the debt are not exclusive problems of the Republican party. Instead, they are issues that affect the entire country and must be addressed collectively. If these problems are not resolved promptly, they will have severe consequences on the country, such as an influx of millions of immigrants requiring more support from American taxpayers and a $36 trillion debt. Knott hopes that the 119th Congress will take meaningful action to address these serious problems, not for the benefit of the Republican party, but for the good of the country."

NORTH CAROLINA'S 13TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Democrat Rep. Wiley Nickel, who did not seek re-election after citing the congressional remapping by Republican state legislators that reconfigured the district to strongly lean red, will be replaced by Knott in the House. Nickel, who has signaled interest in running for Senate in 2026, will serve just one term in the House after flipping the seat blue by a razor-thin margin in 2022. Republican Ted Budd, another Trump-backed candidate, represented the district for three terms and that year successfully ran for the U.S. Senate.

Knott observed a common thread among business owners in his district's diverse industries, including agriculture, heavy equipment, and infrastructure projects, expressing frustration with D.C. bureaucracy.

The large-scale sweet potato farmer in North Carolina, one of the country's largest producers of the crop, expressed frustration with the regulations coming from Washington, D.C., stating that he can handle weather, storms, and droughts but cannot cope with the regulations. Similarly, infrastructure companies relayed that the cost of regulatory overreach is so great that they have to reallocate resources from building bridges to hiring paperwork pushers to deal with the regulations and bureaucracy maze.

""Washington should not interfere with the way farmers, builders, and teachers operate in our district. By reestablishing priorities and reducing its reach, we can create a more favorable environment for both big and small businesses to thrive," Knott stated."

Trump's TRUTH Social post praised Knott as a "Strong Patriot" who would support law enforcement and the military, secure the border, and protect the Second Amendment. On the other hand, Trump labeled Daughtry as a "RINO" who had given money to Far Left Democrats, pledged to vote for Obama, and was not a friend to MAGA.

"Knott stated that President Trump was highly effective in overcoming the significant opposition he faced, which was largely orchestrated from Washington, D.C. He added that it was an intriguing metaphor that Washington, D.C., was fighting so fiercely against President Trump during his first term and campaign. As a soon-to-be congressman, Knott's goal is to restore equilibrium to the power balance and utilize the resources and authority of the 119th Congress to benefit the people of the United States."

TRUMP'S FBI AND DOJ PICKS

Trump is predicted to bring a significant change to federal law enforcement, and although Knott does not know Trump's FBI director pick, Kash Patel, or Attorney General pick Pam Bondi personally, he values how Patel supports "the decentralizing tendency of placing officers back into communities for safer cooperation, more in-depth collaboration with local law enforcement, and hopefully communities will be made safer."

"Knott stated that a thorough examination of the FBI's management and usage is necessary, including the percentage of tax dollars allocated for the FBI that are being used for Washington, D.C., bureaucracy versus putting police on the streets to enhance American communities' safety. He expressed confidence that Patel and Bondi would undergo a rigorous review and face questioning in the Senate, resulting in the appropriate decision being made."

Knott stated that his background would make him a suitable candidate for the Judiciary committee, despite most first-term members not receiving their initial committee assignments.

""I believe we need to revise the criminal code to ensure that law enforcement has the necessary tools to safeguard the American people even after President Trump leaves office, rather than solely relying on executive policy and power, which can be easily reversed with the signing of a new executive order like we witnessed with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris," he stated."

TRANSGENDER BATHROOM CONTROVERSY

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., has proposed a resolution banning members and House staffers from using "single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex" in response to the controversy surrounding the election of transgender Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, D-Del. Mace, a rape survivor, has received death threats for publicly advocating for preserving private spaces for women and girls, and she was physically accosted on the Capitol grounds on Tuesday.

During orientation on the Hill, Knott commended House Speaker Mike Johnson for implementing a policy that safeguarded single-sex facilities on Capitol grounds. Although Johnson emphasized the importance of treating everyone with respect and dignity, the speaker asserted, "A man cannot transform into a woman."

"Unfortunately, during our orientation, we discussed serious issues that affect all Americans, not just a small portion of society. Knott believes the speaker accurately stated that everyone deserves respect and dignity, but this does not mean that anyone who identifies as a woman should have the right to use a bathroom where women and little girls are present."

"Knott, as a father of two girls, supports the speaker's belief that men should remain in men's locker rooms and women in women's locker rooms. However, he acknowledges that this policy is not uniform across the board, and some individuals may abuse this freedom to satisfy their own perversions. Nevertheless, Knott believes that the speaker's policy is the most respectful, clear, and easiest to follow."