U.S. Congressional races remain months from ramping up, but contributions are already pouring in to incumbents representing Rowan.

Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-5, leads the pack of U.S. representatives with districts in Rowan in cash on hand by a large margin, and she’s near the top of the field across North Carolina, according to the most recent Federal Elections Commission reports.

Foxx brought in $210,275 from April 1 to June 30, which falls below most U.S. representatives from North Carolina. A majority of the money raised by Foxx’s campaign came from individuals who donated more than $200. Only one person who donated to Foxx during the second quarter, Matthew Barr, has a Salisbury address.

Foxx bests nearly all others in cash on hand — $2.25 million.

Rep. David Price, R-4, is the only U.S. representative from North Carolina with more cash on hand than Foxx. Price has $2.35 million in cash on hand, and raised $272,268 in the second quarter reporting period.

Rep. Richard Hudson, R-8, raised $175,061 in the second quarter. A majority of his money came from political committees. The political committees who donated to Hudson include: the United Parcel Service PAC, Koch Industries PAC, National Association of Broadcasters Political Action Committee, National Restaurant Association PAC and a number of others.

Rep. Alma Adams was third in fundraising among incumbents representing Rowan. Adams raised $54,701 in the second quarter. A majority of contributions to Adams’ campaign in terms of total dollars raised were from political committees. Among the political action committees were: The American Federation of State, County and Federal Employees, Duke Energy Corporation PAC, Farm Credit Council PAC and others.

Adams had $62,380 in cash on hand at the end of the second quarter, according to finance reports.

Kernersville resident Pattie Curran, who has declared her intent to run against Foxx, raised $12,923 in the second quarter. The largest portion of her money came from individuals who donated more than $200. None of her donations were from Salisbury or Rowan County residents, according to finance reports.

At the end of the second quarter, Curran had $4,602 on hand.

McCrory signs law allowing use of hemp extract

Gov. Pat McCrory this week signed a bill into law that would allow doctors to use hemp extract as a form of medical treatment.

House bill 766 amends the exemption for the use or possession of hemp extract and authorizes certain neurologists to use hemp extract to treat intractable epilepsy without participating in a pilot study.

Poll released detailing opinions on background checks, Confederate flags

Raleigh-based Public Policy Polling this week released detailing opinions on background checks and the Confederate flag following last month’s shooting in Charleston, S.C.

The shooting took place during a Bible study at Emanuel AME Church. The suspected shooter Dylann Roof allegedly killed nine of the Bible study attendees in the shooting. Pictures have surfaced of Roof posing with Confederate memorabilia. And, a website registered to Roof included a racially charged manifesto.

Following the shooting, a poll conducted by Public Policy Polling found 86 percent of North Carolina voters support universal background checks on gun purchases. More specifically, 90 percent of Democrats, 85 percent of Republicans and 79 percent of Independents supported the checks.

The same poll found 38 percent of voters supported the Confederate flag being flown above government buildings. It showed 48 percent of voters opposed to the flag flying on government property. A majority of Republicans supported the flag flying on government property in the poll, while a majority of Democrats were opposed.

For the poll, the Raleigh-based group surveyed 529 registered voters from July 2 to July 6.

 Congressional Reps, Senators speak on Iran agreement

A group of six nations, led by the United States, reached a deal with Iran this week to limit the country’s nuclear ability.

The agreement includes a number of additional restrictions on Iran, including limiting the amount of nuclear fuel the company can keep, and the loosening of economic sanctions on the middle eastern country. North Carolina’s Republican U.S. House representatives and newest U.S. Senator issued sharp criticisms of the deal.

“It’s astounding the administration has moved from a policy of preventing Iran from having a nuclear weapons capability to a policy of simply delaying it, while funneling billions of dollars in sanctions relief into Iran’s pocket so they can continue to fund terrorism and stockpile conventional arms and ballistic weapons,” Hudson said.

Tillis said both Republicans and Democrats share concerns over the agreement, adding that Congress had a responsibility to prevent it from being implemented.

“The President broke his promises to the American people by offering concession after concession: no snap inspections, no limits on Iran’s ballistic-missile force, no resolution of Iran’s weaponization activities, no dismantling of Iran’s global terror network, and no release of the American citizens being held captive in Iran’s prisons,” said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., in an emailed statement. “Make no mistake, the lasting legacy will be the birth of a Middle East nuclear arms race, plunging the region into further instability and chaos.”

Foxx was more subdued in her comments, but agreed it was important to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

“I remain deeply concerned that this agreement simply delays Iran’s path to a nuclear bomb and further empowers the world’s largest state sponsor of terror,” Foxx said in an emailed statement. “In return for marginally slowing the pace of its nuclear ambitions, the agreement appears to reward Iran with billions in sanctions relief.”

 Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.