Rep. Walter Jones (NC-03)

THE CANDIDATE

Name: Rep. Walter Jones

Age: 69

Hometown: Farmville, NC

Family: Walter and his wife Joe Anne have one daughter, Ashley.

Personal Biography: Walter Jones is a lifelong resident of Farmville, NC, a suburb of Greenville. He graduated from Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, VA, in 1966 with a B.A. from Atlantic Christian College -- now known as Barton College. He went on to serve from 1967 to 1971 in the North Carolina National Guard. Before winning election to Congress, he was an executive at his family's business supply company.

Political Biography: Initially known on the national stage for his promotion of "Freedom Fries" in support of the Iraq War, Rep. Jones has in the last decade moved further and further toward liberty. He is now one of the leading GOP voices opposing American military adventurism and advocating for a noninterventionist foreign policy and has introduced a number of antiwar bills in Congress. First elected to State House as a Democrat in 1982, Jones served there for five years before running for Congress in the 1st District in 1992. He lost the election, but switched parties in 1994 and was elected to Congress in the 3rd District, where he has served ever since, winning re-election with over 60% in every election.

Rep. Jones endorsed Rep. Ron Paul for President in 2008.

Website: www.WalterJonesCommittee.com

THE RACE

Primary Election: May 8, 2012

General Election: November 6, 2012

The District: Rep. Jones was challenged in the GOP primary by Frank Palombo, and won the election with 69% of the vote. In the general election, Jones will face Democrat Erik Anderson. Though redistricting has made the 3rd District lean slightly more Democratic than in past years, the latest rating indicates that the Republican candidate can expect to receive 16 points over the national Republican average, so it is still safely GOP.