Republican Rep. Jake Johnson highlighted his appearance at a North Carolina Faith and Freedom Coalition event in a Facebook post on Jan. 28. In the post, he praised former Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart, who spoke about lessons he learned in his football career and how to apply those lessons in leading a Christian lifestyle.
In a Feb. 5 Facebook post, state Rep. Kelly E. Hastings, R-Gaston, announced that he plans to “campaign vigorously” for the fall election, despite not having a Republican primary opponent or an opponent in the November general election.