Скачать или смотреть Why North Carolina's 2022 US Senate race is already heating up

Charlotte Democrat Jeff Jackson announced he's running for US Congress in 2022. Despite the race being over a year away, he's not the 1st -- or 2nd -- person to run. He'll join fellow Democrat Erica Smith and Republican US Rep. Mark Walker in the race to fill the vacant seat left by the retiring Sen. Richard Burr.

So why are candidates announcing so early? Follow the money. Senate races can be expensive, and in a battleground state like North Carolina, every dollar counts. Last year's race between incumbent Thom Tillis and challenger Cal Cunningham was the the most expensive Senate race in the state's history and the 2022 race could beat it.

Lara Trump, former President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law and North Carolina native, is said to be considering a run at the seat, as well.

Why so much attention on this race? The Senate is currently deadlocked 50-50, with the deciding vote going to the vice president, who is a Democrat. Should one of the Democrats win, this could swing the balance of power fully in their favor for the final two years of President Joe Biden's term. A win for Republicans would likely mean more balance in Washington, keeping Biden's agenda in check. #WakeUpCLT