U.S. Senator Ted Budd grew up on a cattle and commercial chicken farm in rural Davie County, North Carolina. Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, Senator Budd learned the importance of faith, hard work, and common-sense decision-making at an early age. While traveling on a Christian mission trip in the former Soviet Union in 1991, Senator Budd met a fellow student, Amy Kate, and they soon began dating and eventually were married in 1994. Senator Budd and Amy Kate have three children and still live in Davie County. Senator Budd is a graduate of Appalachian State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1994. He and Amy Kate both attended and graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary, where Senator Budd earned a Masters of Theology and Educational Leadership in 1998. Senator Budd also holds a Master of Business Administration from Wake Forest University, which he earned in 2007. Senator Budd is a proud father of a Stars and Stripes recipient and an Eagle Scout, and he also served as an Assistant Scoutmaster. He and Amy Kate homeschooled their three children, and Senator Budd served as a board member of North Carolinians for Home Education. In 2010, Senator Budd was approached by a friend regarding the purchase of a bankrupt gun range in Rural Hall, North Carolina for a local police department to conduct firearms training, and he did so. Later, the range was opened to the public. The store’s motto is: “Helping our community responsibly enjoy firearms.” When an opportunity presented itself after redistricting opened up North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District in 2016, Senator Budd decided to run for the seat having never sought public office before. The campaign focused on bringing a businessman’s outlook to our nation’s capital. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives on November 8, 2016. Senator Budd served three terms in the U.S. House. During his tenure, Senator Budd was a strong supporter of the America First agenda. He was a fierce advocate for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which reduced taxes for nearly all Americans. He served on the Whip Team to gather the votes for the United States–Mexico–Canada trade Agreement in 2019, which opened up more North Carolina agricultural products to be sold in Canada and Mexico. Senator Budd has been an avid and consistent supporter of law enforcement and the rule of law, having repeatedly voted to increase funding for local police departments across North Carolina. He was also an early supporter of building a wall on the southern border to stop the flow of drugs, human trafficking, and criminals into our country. Senator Budd has always stood for American strength on the world stage. Whether it comes to challenging China, standing up to Russian aggression, or being tough on Islamic terrorists, Senator Budd has always supported the U.S. Armed Forces, our veterans, and their families. Closer to home, Senator Budd has been a strong believer in the sanctity of human life, the value of family, and religious freedom. He believes that parents should be in the driver’s seat when it comes to where their children go to school and what they are being taught. In 2021, Senator Budd launched his campaign for the U.S. Senate to fight for all of North Carolina and to make life better for working families across the state. He was elected on November 8, 2022. Senator Budd serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee; the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee; the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee; and the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee.