Former Republican North Carolina Congressman Mark Walker has dropped out of the state's gubernatorial race and announced his bid for North Carolina's 6th Congressional district. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Walker stated that he believes his skill set and experience are needed in the United States Congress. He emphasized that he was the highest-rated conservative to be elected to leadership in Congress, highlighting his strong voting record.

Walker was initially running against North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson, who is considered the frontrunner in the race and is endorsed by former President Trump. However, Walker expressed concerns about Robinson's comments regarding women's roles and the LGBT community, stating that they are problematic and could affect his statewide appeal in a divided background state. Walker stated that he has not yet finalized who he will endorse but will support a candidate with "character and substance" in order to prevent Josh Stein from gaining power.

Walker, a pastor from Greensboro and owner of a business consulting firm, served in Congress from 2014 to 2021. During his time in Congress, he rose through the ranks and held leadership positions within the Republican Party. However, redistricting in 2020 led to the elimination of his GOP-leaning House seat, causing him to lose his political footing. He also finished third in the 2022 Republican U.S. Senate primary to current Senator Ted Budd.

Now, Walker hopes to defeat Democrat incumbent Kathy Manning and return to his district covering the Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point areas. Manning won the district in 2022 with nearly 54 percent of the vote against Republican candidate Christian Castelli. However, Manning, along with Reps. Jeff Jackson and Wiley Nickel, face tough reelection prospects with the new state maps that were released. Manning criticized the maps, stating that they were designed to ensure Republican victories rather than reflecting the best interests of North Carolinians.

The North Carolina primary is scheduled for March 5, 2024, with the general election taking place on November 5, 2024. Walker's decision comes just after the North Carolina General Assembly approved a new congressional map that favors Republicans. The map creates 10 districts that appear to favor Republicans, three that favor Democrats, and one that could be considered competitive. The state Supreme Court ruled in April that the state constitution allows for shifting district lines for partisan gain, giving lawmakers the freedom to create these new boundaries.

Walker's decision to drop out of the gubernatorial race and run for Congress again was influenced by the newly drawn boundaries in the 6th Congressional district, which historically has been represented by conservative Republicans. He believes that this is the right time to reengage with the political landscape and expresses his desire to make a difference in the country. Despite not seeing a clear path forward in the gubernatorial race, Walker believes that his decision will give Republicans a better chance of winning the office, which has been held by Democrats for much of the past three decades.