ROCKINGHAM — Rep. Ben Moss has decided to stay put in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
Moss, R-Richmond, announced Wednesday morning that he was dropping out of the race for state labor commissioner.
“After much prayer and deliberation with my family, I’ve decided to withdraw my candidacy for Labor Commissioner and recommit myself to running for re-election in the NC House,” Moss said in a press release. “I’ve got a daughter going off to college and a son in middle school — my time is best spent focusing on being present with my family and continuing my service to the people of House District 52.
“There’s more policy work to be done in the General Assembly, and I intend to be a part of the process as my freedom caucus colleagues and I shape the future of leadership in the N.C. House.”
Moss had announced his intent to run for the Council of State seat in December 2022 after current Commissioner Josh Dobson announced that he wouldn’t seek a second term after being elected to the position in 2020.
Dobson, also a former state representative, succeeded “Elevator Queen” Cherie Berry, who served for two decades.
The announcement eliminates a showdown between Moss and Rep. John Hardister, R-Guilford in a Republican primary. Braxton Winston, a Democrat on the Charlotte City Council, has also announced his intent to run.
Filing for state offices begins in December.
Moss was re-elected in November to his second term in the N.C. House of Representatives, defeating Moore County’s Jamie Boles in a Republican primary after a redrawing of the districts double-bunked the two incumbents.
He is the first Republican in recent memory to serve Richmond County in the state House.
Prior to running for state office, Moss served a decade on the Richmond County Board of Commissioners. At the time, he was the first Republican on the board in more than a century.
