Self-professed progressive Kate Barr spoke with students on Thursday ahead of Tuesday’s Republican primary against incumbent Rep. Tim Moore (R-NC-14). Moore won the district by 16 points in 2024 and is expected to win again—but to Barr, that is precisely why she is running.
In 2024, Barr ran for state senate as a Democrat under the slogan “Kate Barr Can’t Win” to draw attention to how gerrymandering systematically disadvantaged her. In 2026, Barr dropped the “t” and filed as a Republican to emphasize that Davidson’s House District 14 was allegedly drawn to form a strong Republican majority. Consequently, Barr views the primary as voters’ only opportunity to influence who they will elect.
“I’m running as a Republican, because primaries are the real election in a gerrymandered state or district in this case, and so we need competition,” Barr said. “That’s how you hold elected leaders accountable, and they need some accountability from voters right now.”
Barr’s rhetoric around gerrymandering resonated with students.
“I live in Raleigh, and a lot of the questions that we have about elections are not whether or not the Republicans are going to win the state house and win the state senate, but whether or not they’re going to hold a supermajority,” Center for Political Engagement President Auden White said during the conversation. “But then we are a purple state—we have a Democratic governor, and our national presidential races have historically been really close. It’s such a struggle and really painful that these maps are drawn in a way that allows us to not be able to participate in politics.”
Also present for the chat was a team from CBS News’ national political desk taping the first half of the conversation for a segment on Barr’s candidacy.
During the discussion with students, Briana Harmon ’26 asked Barr about the struggles of being a woman in politics.
“People care about how you look in a way that is ridiculous. Lots of pictures of pigs and ‘you’re just a fat cow.’ It’s very appearance directed when people are trying to hurt me. I honestly prefer those to the threats, where people actually say, ‘I’m going to try to hurt you,’” Barr said.
“It’s also true that because of who I am, I can run in this way. I’m a middle aged suburban mom with bottle blonde hair, and I don’t come across as threatening, so I can be in places and say things and not get in trouble,” Barr continued.
Barr’s entry into the Republican primary has attracted criticism from Moore, as the incumbent expressed last week during a visit to Davidson.
“It is disingenuous at best for someone who has the views and vows that are completely antithetical to a party to run. It’s a fraudulent thing to do,” Moore said. “Republican voters aren’t stupid. They’re not going to fall for it. We did some quick exit polls the other week, and we’re crushing it at about 90-10.”
Barr rejected the premise that her campaign was disingenuous.
“A core part of this campaign and all the work we do is about radical honesty. I don’t want to trick anybody into voting for me,” Barr said. “I want people to know exactly where I stand, and if you cast a vote, you need to know exactly what I’m going to try and do.”
Barr contended that Moore was an unpopular candidate who would push not only Democrats but also many conservatives towards her campaign.
“There are plenty of Republicans who are really mad at Tim Moore, and they’re just like, ‘I want to send a message that what’s happening is not okay,’” Barr said.
When asked by The Davidsonian about Democratic candidate Brent Caldwell’s allegation that she refused to sign a joint statement on Epstein files transparency demanding the resignation of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Barr defended her position as one borne not out of leniency towards accomplices of Jeffrey Epstein, but rather a commitment to using her own voice.
“I’m happy to sign anything that I have written shaming anyone who has protected pedophiles, whether that’s in the Epstein files or otherwise,” Barr said. “But I write my own words, and I don’t sign other people’s.”
Some in the Democratic Party establishment criticized Barr’s unconventional electoral strategy. Barr, however, suggested that her anti-establishment approach builds legitimacy and authenticity.
“The fact that the establishment and the [Democratic] party is mad at me has only helped me,” Barr said. “People really do see there’s nothing like putting an R next to your name to convince folks that you’re not a party hack. So many people will come up at events and be like, ‘I finally feel like someone is speaking for me’ and ‘I finally feel like someone is trying something.’”
