Two weeks ago, Sen. Erica Smith shocked many of her supporters by endorsing the Republican challenger to Sen. Jeff Jackson.
Sen. Smith partially backtracked, issuing a statement in which she claimed to endorse no one in the race, but which then spoke at length of her support for the Republican candidate.
Now Smith is doing it again — only this time much more forcefully.
Smith is fully endorsing — and campaigning for — Republican attorney Sammy Webb in his challenge to Democratic incumbent Toby Fitch for state Senate District 4.
According to Smith,
“Before I’m a Democrat, a Republican or unaffiliated, I’m a woman of God and we are in a critical moment in this nation. I am very close friends with attorney Webb’s wife. We are in a ministry circle together and we have been putting the people of the Roanoke Valley first serving in grassroots leadership. That’s what this is about. It’s time for our nation to move toward healing and groom people together.”
It is also reported that Smith is voicing a radio ad in support of Webb.
After placing second to Cal Cunningham in the Democratic primary to challenge Sen. Tillis, Smith has made no secret of her intention to run for U.S. Senate again in 2022.
It is unclear what impact these cross-party endorsements may have on her prospects in a future Democratic primary.