Marjorie K. Eastman
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Marjorie K. Eastman (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent North Carolina. She lost in the Republican primary on May 17, 2022.
Eastman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Marjorie Eastman was born in Lancaster, California. She served in the U.S. Army from 2002 to 2012. Eastman earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, San Diego in 2001, a graduate degree from the University of Denver in 2008, and a second graduate degree from Vanderbilt University in 2013. Her career experience includes working as an author, speaker, and independent consultant for Longbow Six, LLC. Previously, she was the director of communications at NET Power, a senior business development manager at Lockheed Martin, and a commander and intelligence officer with the U.S. Army.[1]
Elections
2022
See also: United States Senate election in North Carolina, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. Senate North Carolina
Ted Budd defeated Cheri Beasley, Shannon Bray, Matthew Hoh, and Michelle Lewis in the general election for U.S. Senate North Carolina on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Ted Budd (R) | 50.5 | 1,905,786 |
 | Cheri Beasley (D) | 47.3 | 1,784,049 | |
 | Shannon Bray (L)  | 1.4 | 51,640 | |
 | Matthew Hoh (G) | 0.8 | 29,934 | |
 | Michelle Lewis (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 137 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 2,378 | ||
| Total votes: 3,773,924 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Michele Parks (Independent)
- Marc White (Independent)
- Charles Roberson (Independent)
- Susan Gaddy (Independent)
- Brenda Rodriguez (Independent)
- Hayden Boyette (Independent)
- Barry Caulder (Independent)
- Kimrey Rhinehardt (Independent)
- Adrien Meadows (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. Senate North Carolina
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate North Carolina on May 17, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cheri Beasley | 81.1 | 501,766 |
 | James Carr Jr. | 3.5 | 21,903 | |
 | Alyssia Hammond | 3.4 | 21,005 | |
 | Marcus Williams | 2.8 | 17,446 | |
 | Constance Johnson | 2.0 | 12,500 | |
 | Everette Newton | 1.6 | 10,043 | |
 | Chrelle Booker | 1.6 | 9,937 | |
 | Brendan K. Maginnis | 1.1 | 7,044 | |
 | Robert Colon | 1.1 | 6,904 | |
 | Greg Antoine | 0.8 | 5,179 | |
 | Tobias LaGrone | 0.8 | 5,048 | |
| Total votes: 618,775 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jenna Hamrick (D)
- Richard Watkins (D)
- Keith Davenport (D)
- Erica Smith (D)
- Jeff Jackson (D)
- Ava Edwards (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate North Carolina
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate North Carolina on May 17, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ted Budd | 58.6 | 448,128 |
 | Pat McCrory | 24.6 | 188,135 | |
 | Mark Walker | 9.2 | 70,486 | |
 | Marjorie K. Eastman | 2.9 | 22,535 | |
 | David Flaherty | 1.0 | 7,265 | |
 | Kenneth Harper Jr. | 0.9 | 7,129 | |
 | Jennifer Banwart | 0.4 | 3,088 | |
| Charles Moss | 0.4 | 2,920 | |
 | Leonard L. Bryant | 0.4 | 2,906 | |
 | Benjamin Griffiths | 0.4 | 2,870 | |
 | Debora Tshiovo | 0.4 | 2,741 | |
 | Lee Brian | 0.3 | 2,232 | |
 | Lichia Sibhatu | 0.3 | 2,191 | |
| Drew Bulecza | 0.3 | 2,022 | |
| Total votes: 764,648 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Rene Borghese (R)
- James Gaghan (R)
- Carlton Ellerby (R)
- Marty Cooke (R)
- Jon Warren (R)
- Len McBride (R)
Libertarian primary election
The Libertarian primary election was canceled. Shannon Bray advanced from the Libertarian primary for U.S. Senate North Carolina.
Campaign website
Eastman’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Security These are dangerous times. Foreign adversaries are determined to exploit America’s security weaknesses and wreak havoc on our lives –– and North Carolina needs serious, qualified leaders like Marjorie who have already defended our country to lead the fight for security. North Carolina was hit harder than any other state by the recent cyberattack against Colonial Pipeline which left 71% of our gas stations empty for a week. Marjorie knows from her hard-earned experience in national security that the attack was what we call a rehearsal –– and her frontline leadership is needed in Washington to prevent future attacks against North Carolina families.
For Marjorie, America’s 20-year involvement in Afghanistan was deeply personal. One of her combat deployments was in Afghanistan where she commanded and was responsible for the lives of over one hundred soldiers, receiving a Combat Action Badge and awarded the Bronze Star. Like a majority of veterans and Americans, Marjorie knows that America’s disastrous exit from Afghanistan was not a reflection of how we served or who we are as a nation - it was caused by career politicians who put political strategy ahead of military strategy and security. This heartbreaking failure belongs to those who are currently in power - which was exactly when Marjorie knew she needed to right these wrongs and serve again. She brings with her the timeless military ethos to never leave anyone behind.
Ronald Reagan was right when he said, “A nation that cannot control its borders is not a nation.” Strong national security is not possible without strong border security. As a United States Army intelligence officer and commander, Marjorie knows that any successful mission starts with a secure perimeter. Right now, America is not secure because our leaders have put a reckless, partisan political agenda ahead of border security. We can –– and we must –– honor our duty to accept the tired, poor, huddled masses yearning to breathe free while also enforcing our nation’s immigration laws which exist to safeguard American lives and prosperity.
Among the most tragic ripple effects of the pandemic is the rise of violent crime. The national homicide rate rose nearly 30% in 2020, impacting inner cities, suburban neighborhoods, and even rural areas. Local law enforcement agencies are being stretched to their limits as they work to protect and serve our communities. This rise in crime threatens the safety and well-being of everybody, and we all have a role to play in confronting this crisis. Marjorie will lead from the front to bring law enforcement leaders and community members together to create a safer future for all North Carolinians.
China and the United States are fundamentally at odds. While we stand for freedom and democracy, China’s communist government stands for oppression and authoritarianism. China has made it clear there is no line they won’t cross to undermine and weaken our country. We need frontline leaders who will defend our nation and our values. As an Army veteran with a master’s degree in International Security, with concentrations in Homeland Security, Intelligence, and Human Rights, Marjorie deeply understands how China poses a serious threat to our freedoms –– and what it will take to win the 21st century. As a Senator, Marjorie will fight to bring critical supply chains back to American soil, hold China accountable at every turn, and strengthen our national defense.
Free and fair elections are the bedrock of a healthy democracy and an essential safeguard for freedom. In order to secure our elections, we must look forward –– not backward –– and take effective action to protect our right to vote from fraud, corruption, and foreign interference. Drawing from her extensive background in security, Marjorie is the right person to return trust and confidence to democracy’s most sacred right. She will fight for voter ID, voting machines that are made in America, and rigorous election audits.
Our Founding Fathers could not have been any more explicit –– the right to bear arms is a cornerstone of American freedom and shall not be infringed. With this freedom, we are able to protect ourselves and our families more effectively than the federal government could ever dream to protect us. Marjorie will work to preserve the 2nd Amendment while taking meaningful action to keep guns out of the hands of criminals to keep our communities safe.
Economy The supply chain is a wreck because of COVID. Our leaders are printing money with reckless abandon, driving up inflation and leaving less hard-earned dollars in the pockets of struggling North Carolina families. We need to take common sense actions to accelerate America’s recovery as we forge our way out of the pandemic. That can only be accomplished by protecting free markets and focusing on each other –– not the noise. North Carolina is an economic powerhouse with all the right tools to propel America’s economy forward. It’s time to build, and Marjorie is ready to lead the way.
From the gas pump to the grocery store, we are spending more and getting less because the federal government is wasting trillions of dollars that we do not have to spend. Our rapidly rising $28 trillion national debt is an anchor around the necks of our children and grandchildren. It is unsustainable. In order to combat inflation, we must reign in federal spending, cut unnecessary programs, and start running our federal budget like we run our home budgets. Marjorie will stand in the way of wasteful spending at every turn to ensure that tax dollars are only spent when absolutely necessary to keep more money in the pockets of North Carolinians. She will demand that the federal government be responsible stewards of American taxpayers’ money.
America’s economy is unrivaled when small business owners and entrepreneurs are free to do what they do best –– create jobs, discover innovative solutions to complex problems, and invest in their communities. Between skyrocketing inflation, pandemic restrictions, and heightened competition overseas, America’s small businesses are treading water right now. We cannot allow this trend to continue, and Marjorie will fight to unleash the power of Main Street by expanding access to startup capital, cutting taxes and eliminating oppressive regulations that will allow our economy to grow and thrive from the bottom-up.
Women are being disproportionately left behind as our economy evolves in the 21st century –– and the pandemic only made matters worse. There are 1.6 million less women in the workforce today than there were in February 2020. Our economy works best when everybody has a seat at the table, and that is not the case right now. Marjorie will be a tireless advocate for expanding accommodations for childcare and maternity leave in the workplace so that women of all backgrounds are not forced to decide between caring for their families or their own financial livelihood.
Ever since the Wright Brothers’ first flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina has been propelling America forward as a leader in aerospace, defense, information technology, and research industries. Simply put –– America’s economic growth and security relies heavily on the continued success of our state. Drawing from her extensive background in business development and her work with veteran entrepreneurs, Marjorie will lead North Carolina forward as we build on our past accomplishments and create new opportunities for crucial industries to flourish from our state.
Clean energy jobs were long considered an industry of the future. That future is now, and we must capitalize on this valuable opportunity to harness the power of our environment while creating thousands of jobs and honoring and advancing legendary Republican President Teddy Roosevelt’s legacy of conservation. As home to many of the nation’s most prestigious research universities, North Carolina is once again in position to propel America –– and the world –– forward, and Marjorie will lead from the front to bring our best and brightest minds together as we tackle how to make energy cleaner and more reliable, which will make our economy and country stronger.
Education Like millions of parents and educators, Marjorie has witnessed her own son struggle against the pandemic’s educational obstacles. We must recognize that three academic years have been impacted, and we have our work cut out for us to make up for that learning loss. Starting now, we need laser-focused, common sense leaders to prioritize the country’s most valuable asset and the inheritors of the future – our children.
America currently ranks #38 in math and #24 in science –– and ineffective remote learning has only exacerbated the problem. We all know that a successful and practical education unlocks potential within our children and greatly increases their chances of success in life. Any nation that out-educates us will out-perform our economy. As a mother, restoring America’s quality of education is personal to Marjorie. As a senator, she will fight tirelessly to support parents and educators and help our children regain their momentum to lead the world in education once again. Civics Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) dominate America’s education curriculum. It’s time to add civic literacy to that list. In terms of freedom and democracy, the US used to lead the world. Today we are ranked 11th among nations. An alarming amount of American students can’t name the three branches of government or their guaranteed rights under the First Amendment. How can we expect them to uphold and participate in American civic life without fully knowing what it means to be an American? Along with a foundation of civic literacy grounded in non-fiction literature, Marjorie will lead by example to establish a culture of service in our schools towards our fellow citizens, our communities, and our country.
My Pledge As a veteran who served my country in combat, I pledged to support and defend the Constitution. As I pursue this new tour of duty, I will continue to honor that promise and I also pledge to put principles before politics, service before self, and country before party with integrity, civility, and courage at the core of this new mission.[2] |
” |
| —Marjorie K. Eastman’s campaign website (2022)[3] | ||
Campaign themes
2022
Video for Ballotpedia
| Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released October 5, 2021 |
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Marjorie K. Eastman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Eastman's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Marjorie K. Eastman is a combat veteran, an award-winning author and entrepreneur, a military spouse and mother. Marjorie is running for U.S. Senate because we are in desperate need of Frontline Leadership in Washington.
- Security: These are dangerous times. From rising crime rates to foreign adversaries who are determined to exploit America’s security weaknesses and destroy the American way of life, North Carolina needs serious, qualified leaders like me who have already defended our country to lead the fight for our security. North Carolina was hit harder than any other state by the recent cyberattack against Colonial Pipeline which left 71% of our gas stations empty for a week. I know from my hard-earned experiences in national security that the attack was a rehearsal for a larger future attack –– and we need Frontline Leadership in Washington to protect North Carolina families.
- Economy: The supply chain is a wreck because of COVID. Our leaders are printing money with reckless abandon, driving up inflation and leaving fewer hard-earned dollars in the pockets of North Carolina families. We need to take common sense actions to accelerate America’s recovery as we forge our way out of the pandemic. That can only be accomplished by protecting free markets and focusing on each other –– not the noise. Our rapidly rising $28 trillion national debt is an anchor around the necks of our children and grandchildren. In order to combat inflation, we must reign in federal spending, cut unnecessary programs, and start running our federal budget like we run our home budgets.
- Education: Like millions of parents and educators, I witnessed my own son struggle against the pandemic’s educational obstacles. We must recognize that three academic years have been impacted, and we have our work cut out for us to make up for learning loss. Starting now, we need laser-focused, common sense leaders to prioritize the country’s most valuable asset and the inheritors of the future – our children. Any nation that out-educates us will out-perform our economy. As a mother, restoring America’s quality of education is personal to me. As a senator, I promise to fight tirelessly to support parents and educators and help our children regain their momentum to lead the world in education once again.
The three pillars to our future success are what is at stake: our security, our economy, and our children’s education. I know what it is like to return home from a tough year, a deployment. America has weathered the larger storm of the pandemic, and now has a renewed generation of men and women, resilient and ready to rise.
I admire Dr. Condoleeza Rice. She is impeccably bright, level-headed, and distinguished. I especially respect how she overcame the difficult circumstances she experienced early in her life growing up in segregated Alabama, and her lifelong pursuit of excellence inspires me.
Integrity, leadership and honesty. We are sent to Washington to represent our constituents, not the other way around. This is why I want to bring my Frontline Leadership to Washington to work on behalf of North Carolinians.
Integrity, leadership and honesty. We are sent to Washington to represent our constituents, not the other way around. This is why I want to bring my Frontline Leadership to Washington to work on behalf of North Carolinians.
I truly believe North Carolina has a purpose. We are First in Freedom and I believe North Carolina is the North Star for our country. I want my legacy to be one where we leave things better than how we found them. Our nation can have a bright future if we have a Senator who focuses on ideas, each other, and not the noise. I want to bring Frontline Leadership to Washington, remain mission focused, and return to the state that I love after two terms.
The first historical event that happened in my lifetime that I can remember was the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion in 1986. I was in elementary school at the time.
My first job was in my teenage years when I was a babysitter.
Most would think I would point to my two tours in combat as my biggest battle. But my biggest battle actually took place when I became a mother to my son, Henk. At 6-months-old he was diagnosed with a type of infant cancer called Neuroblastoma. With my husband Charles, we anchored down in our faith during that difficult time, and the greatest blessing of our lives were the sweet words, “clear margins.” By the grace of God, Henk remains cancer free and a cancer survivor today.
I believe our country is suffering from multiple crises. Whether it’s our foreign adversaries, inflation, the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan it is clear we are facing serious issues that the career politicians in Washington have failed to address. I think when we are looking at winning the 21st century we must look at China and their rising military capabilities and global ambitions. We must take the threat of the Chinese Communist Party seriously, develop a coherent national strategy, and invest in our national security if we are going to put America in the best position to win.
One of the main reasons our government is dysfunctional is because it is full of career politicians who spend decades collecting taxpayer funded paychecks while delivering zero results for their constituents. North Carolina deserves a leader, someone who is there to do the right thing and not cast votes that only extend their political career. Just like the honorable example of President George Washington, a veteran who was the first to set a precedent on term limits, I pledge to serve only two terms in the U.S. Senate. I am on a mission to do the hard work and get the job done for North Carolina.
Our founders created the United States Senate to protect the rights of the states and safeguard minority opinion in a system of government designed to give greater power to the national government. James Madison said it best that the Senate's role was "first to protect the people against their rulers [and] secondly to protect the people against the transient impressions into which they themselves might be led."
The U.S. Senate is a check and balance for other branches of our federal government. The powers and procedures of the U.S. Senate are essential to the working order of our government. For further details, most of the Senate-related clauses of the Constitution are included in Article I.
I am running because I believe we must end the era of career politicians collecting taxpayer money while doing nothing to better our country or our state. That is why I made the pledge immediately to honor term limits. Unlike career politicians, I am not beholden to special interest groups or party bosses. North Carolina deserves a frontline leader, and I will fight for them and remain mission focused.
We shouldn’t change the rules depending on what political party is in charge. I believe in keeping the filibuster and keeping the institution of the U.S. Senate as close to the way our founding fathers envisioned.
While it is important for a president to select their cabinet picks and key officials for their administration, it is equally important to thoroughly vet all nominees. The Senate has the most important job of advising and consent per our Constitution, and I will take that responsibility very seriously. I will prioritize nominations depending on national security needs to ensure our country is always ready in case of a national emergency.
As a former intelligence officer and combat veteran, I believe I would be an asset to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Intelligence Committee and the Armed Services Committee. I would also be interested to serve on the Appropriations Committee and the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee.
A current senator I admire is Joni Ernst. Like me, she served our country after 9/11 and I appreciate that she heard the call to serve our country once again in the U.S. Senate.
Judges must have thorough knowledge of the law, the wisdom to comprehend the nuances and implications of each case, and the ability to deliver fair and just rulings. When looking at judicial nominees, I look for people of integrity, professional competence, judicial temperament, experience, and commitment to public service.
When I was serving two tours in combat as a soldier, we built teams out of people from all across our great nation - people from virtually every region, ethnic background and faith group to accomplish the mission. The Army taught me how to lead and also how to build consensus. While I anticipate we will have disagreements when it comes to legislation and policies, I promise to always serve with civility and treat senators from both sides of the aisle with the dignity and respect we all deserve as human beings.
This is what is wrong with Washington. Career politicians spend decades in Washington and become beholden to special interests and party bosses. I do believe that compromise is necessary when it comes to policy making. Not everyone will agree with all aspects of a piece of legislation but we must find a way to find common ground and do what’s best for the American people. That is the only way to get Washington working for the American people.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2022 Elections
External links
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Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on December 1, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Marjorie K. Eastman’s campaign website, Issues, accessed April 10, 2022
