From Staff Reports

WAYNESVILLE — Eric Batchelor, a Republic candidate for the seat held by U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-Hendersonville, in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, announced Oct. 3 that he is suspending his campaign.

Batchelor, an Army veteran and a Haywood County sheriff’s deputy, said in his announcement that he is withdrawing to enable voters to unite around one of the remaining three inter-party challengers seeking to beat Cawthorn.

For now, Batchelor said he will continue working as a sheriff’s deputy, but he added that his days in politics are not over.

The three remaining announced challengers to Cawthorn for the GOP nomination are retired Army Col. Rod Honecutt, Pisgah Inn owner Bruce O’Connell and Navy veteran Wendy Nevarez.

The Republican primary will be held March 8, about seven months before the 2022 general election.