FAYETTEVILLE — President Donald Trump held a campaign event in North Carolina to endorse Dan Bishop for Congress ahead of Tuesday's special election.
Bishop, the Republican candidate, is running in the ninth congressional district against Democrat Dan McCready. This special election is being held after the election in 2018 was not certified for Mark Harris (R). Leslie Mcrae Dowless along with seven others face charges including conspiracy to obstruct justice and possession of absentee ballot.
Immigration was a major topic at the rally. Trump said repeatedly that McCready is in support of sanctuary cities. Trump has said that the state should be "a sanctuary for law-abiding Americans, not immigrants."
"McCready wants sanctuary cities with protection of criminals," Trump said about Bishop's opponent.
Spokesperson for McCready, Matt Fried, told Politifact that McCready is against sanctuary cities.
"Dan doesn’t support a ‘sanctuary city.’ Violent criminals belong in jail in every city," Fried said to Politifact.
While talking about McCready, Trump asked a man in the crowd how he would feel if law enforcement "release criminals in Rutherford County?"
In response the crowd booed.
Trump had already released a tweet the morning of the rally about immigration. In the tweet, Trump said that "[McCready] is a far left Sanctuary Cities supporter."
Vice President Mike Pence — who introduced Trump to the rally — said that Bishop is a necessity for both North Carolina and the United States.
"He's the right Dan," Pence said. He called the other Dan — Dan McCready — a socialist.
Trump won the ninth district by 11 percentage points in 2016, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections. The district has been held by the Republican party since 1963.
Tim Murtaugh, Communications Director for the Trump Campaign, said that Trump has plans to return to North Carolina ahead of 2020.