The GOP appeared to have held the seat narrowly last November, but Republican Mark Harris’ apparent 905-vote victory over McCready was thrown out by the state board of elections, which found evidence that a Harris consultant had committed ballot fraud. That set up the new election in a state central to Trump’s reelection, a must-win Senate race and the host city for Trump’s convention next summer…

“This race is about Donald Trump,” said Jim Blaine, a senior adviser to Bishop’s campaign. “Dan’s embraced Trump 100 percent.”

The election is serving as a testing ground for Trump’s 2020 message and strategy. Bishop has worked to nationalize the race, labeling McCready a “socialist” and, more recently, pushing out immigration ads echoing Trump’s rhetoric against Latino immigrants, including a spot in which he criticizes the Mecklenburg County sheriff for not cooperating with federal immigration enforcement officials.