The Hendersonville Times-News has the story:
First-term Congressman Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville, filed re-election papers and it appears he will go unchallenged for the Democratic nomination.
“It has been an honor to serve the people of Western North Carolina in the House of Representatives, and I look forward to continuing to represent our mountain values in Congress,” Shuler said in a written statement. “There are many challenges that face our nation, but none that we cannot overcome by working together.
“We must continue working to move beyond petty partisanship and stop worrying about what is right for the Democratic Party or the Republican Party,” he said. “Rather, we must focus on what is right for America.”
Shuler defeated long-time Republican congressman Charles Taylor in 2006. He has portrayed himself as a conservative Democratic and introduced legislation on immigration, tried to limit children’s exposure to airplane movies and sought to increase veterans’ benefits.
Shuler will face one of three Republican challengers in November — former Henderson County Republican Party Chairman Spence Campbell, Highlands attorney John Armor or Asheville City Councilman Carl Mumpower. Campbell said Shuler has not followed through with his promise to be a conservative and voted with the “liberal leadership” 80 percent of the time.
“As far as I’m concerned a conservative representative, which he calls himself, should not have done that,” Campbell said.