DSCC endorses Ross in NC Senate race

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) on Thursday endorsed Deborah Ross in her bid to unseat Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.).

{mosads}The endorsement is a huge advantage for the former state representative as she tries to shore up support from the party’s establishment. The DSCC typically doesn’t endorse in the primaries.

“North Carolina deserves a U.S. Senator who will fight to grow the middle class, build an economy that works for everyone and protect the services like Medicare and Social Security that our seniors rely on, and that leader is Deborah Ross,” Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), the DSCC’s chairman, said in a statement

“Deborah was recognized as one of North Carolina’s most effective legislators during her time in the state legislature, and her commitment to fighting for North Carolina families is unwavering,” he added.

EMILY’s List, which normally backs female Democratic candidates who support abortion rights, endorsed Ross last week.

Democrats had struggled to recruit big-name candidates in the North Carolina race, including former Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), who lost her reelection bid in 2014, and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, a former mayor of Charlotte. Both passed on running.

Ross, who jumped into the race in mid-October, will face Spring Lake Mayor Chris Rey and businessman Kevin Griffin in the Democratic primary on March 15.

If Ross wins the Democratic nomination, she’ll go on to face Burr in the Republican-leaning Senate race. The GOP senator already has a strong cash advantage with about $4.7 million cash on hand at the end of the third quarter in 2015.

Senate Democrats and Republicans are in a heated battle over the majority this cycle.

Democrats need to net five Senate seats in 2016 to regain a majority in the upper chamber — unless they retain the White House. A net gain of four seats would then give them the majority, with the vice president breaking a 50-50 tie.

Democrats are considered to have an advantage in that they are only defending 10 Senate seats, while the GOP is defending 24 seats.