Congress Monitor Build Handoff

Area: Full Workup (one official, all sections) (eo_full_workup) Filed: 2026-04-27T02:57:04.119Z Source: External LLM via /handoff/congress (attempt #56247) Resolved official: Brad Knott (entity #10841) Ingest result: 37 facts · 38 sources · 2 silences · 3 contradictions · 8 voting_records · 3 skipped

Briefing Sent

Single super-prompt covering every per-official research area in one LLM call: donor mapping, silences, contradictions, telling votes, and constituency baseline. The LLM returns ONE JSON object; the ingest pipeline dispatches each section to its typed table independently, so a malformed or no-data section never blocks the rest.

Result

{ "target_official": { "name": "Brad Knott", "bioguide_id": "K000405" }, "donor_mapping": { "facts": [ { "fact_text": "Brad Knott's campaign committee raised $2,449,557 in the 2023-2024 election cycle, with candidate self-financing accounting for $760,483 (31.04%) — largely personal loans — and only 1.60% from small individual donors ($39,304).", "date_occurred": "2024-12-31", "confidence": "primary", "source_url": "https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/person/summary?cid=N00053743" }, { "fact_text": "The Retired category was the top contributing industry at $242,884, all from individuals.", "date_occurred": "2024-12-31", "confidence": "primary", "source_url": "https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/person/summary?cid=N00053743" }, { "fact_text": "The Real Estate industry contributed $149,006, with $143,006 from individuals and $6,000 from PACs. Kane Realty was the top single contributor at $29,706.", "date_occurred": "2024-12-31", "confidence": "primary", "source_url": "https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/person/summary?cid=N00053743" }, { "fact_text": "Leadership PACs contributed $94,250, Securities & Investment $92,350, Health Professionals $76,475, and Insurance $50,500 in the 2023-2024 cycle.", "date_occurred": "2024-12-31", "confidence": "primary", "source_url": "https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/person/summary?cid=N00053743" }, { "fact_text": "Knott's 2026 cycle fundraising reached $826,000. Top PAC contributors include AICPA PAC ($15,000), Raptor PAC ($15,000), Deloitte PAC ($12,000), Novo Nordisk PAC ($12,000), and George Holding for Congress ($12,000).", "date_occurred": "2026-03-31", "confidence": "primary", "source_url": "https://congressmachine.com/member/K000405" }, { "fact_text": "The American Foundations Committee, a single-candidate super PAC supporting Brad Knott, was active in the 2024 cycle.", "date_occurred": "2024-12-31", "confidence": "primary", "source_url": "https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/american-foundations-cmte/C00877621/summary/2024" }, { "fact_text": "Knott self-financed his campaign with $760,483 in candidate loans, as disclosed on FEC Form 3 Schedule C. His total debts stood at $760,482 as of December 31, 2024.", "date_occurred": "2024-12-31", "confidence": "primary", "source_url": "https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00855361/1852229/" }, { "fact_text": "Knott's joint fundraising committee, Knott Victory Committee, raised $47,254.", "date_occurred": "2025-03-31", "confidence": "primary", "source_url": "https://congressmachine.com/member/K000405" } ], "connections": [ { "donor_entity_name": "BUILD POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS (BUILDPAC)", "relationship_type": "pac_donor", "description": "2026 cycle: $10,500 via Brad Knott for Congress (C00855361)", "confidence": "primary", "source_url": "https://congressmachine.com/member/K000405" }, { "donor_entity_name": "AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE", "relationship_type": "pac_donor", "description": "2026 cycle: $10,000 via Brad Knott for Congress (C00855361)", "confidence": "primary", "source_url": "https://congressmachine.com/member/K000405" }, { "donor_entity_name": "CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PAC (US CHAMBER PAC)", "relationship_type": "pac_donor", "description": "2026 cycle: $10,000 via Brad Knott for Congress (C00855361)", "confidence": "primary", "source_url": "https://congressmachine.com/member/K000405" } ] }, "silences": [ { "topic": "Mass firings of federal workers by DOGE and their impact on veterans and VA healthcare in NC-13", "expected_position": "As the representative of a district with approximately 50,000 veterans who rely on the Durham and Fayetteville VA Medical Centers, Knott would be expected to publicly address the Trump administration's mass firings of over 6,000 veteran federal workers and 2,500+ VA employees, and their impact on veteran healthcare access in his district.", "window_start": "2025-02-15", "window_end": "2025-04-01", "evidence_summary": "During this period, Knott was actively posting on social media about immigration enforcement, holding mobile office hours, and issuing statements on border security and law enforcement. However, a constituent veteran advocate reported in the Cardinal & Pine on March 25, 2025 that he had called and emailed Knott's office repeatedly for weeks about the VA layoffs and received no response—not even a courtesy reply. Knott issued no public statement addressing the Durham and Fayetteville VA firings specifically.", "primary_url": "https://cardinalpine.com/opinion/op-ed-nc-13s-veterans-deserve-answers-from-congressman-brad-knott/" }, { "topic": "In-person town halls and direct constituent engagement", "expected_position": "As a freshman congressman who campaigned on engaging directly with voters through 'door knocking and town hall meetings,' Knott would be expected to hold regular in-person town halls where constituents can ask unscripted questions.", "window_start": "2025-01-03", "window_end": "2025-10-31", "evidence_summary": "Knott held mobile office hours in Johnston, Franklin, and Harnett counties and conducted telephone town halls where constituents had to pre-register and wait for an automated call. As of September 2025, he had held three such telephone events. When asked about in-person town halls, Knott opted for the controlled telephone format—even as other NC Republicans faced protestors at in-person events—raising concerns among constituents about accessibility and transparency.", "primary_url": "https://www.wunc.org/politics/2025-09-19/telephone-town-hall-nc-congressman-brad-knott-guns-immigration-health" } ], "contradictions": { "claims": [ { "claim_text": "Knott made the Americans for Tax Reform 'No New Taxes' pledge, committing to 'oppose and vote against any income tax hikes.'", "claim_date": "2024-05-01", "claim_type": "platform", "source_url": "https://meetthefreshmen.marathonstrategies.com/brad-knott/" }, { "claim_text": "Knott voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) on July 3, 2025, which the Congressional Budget Office projected would add $2.4 trillion to the national deficit. Knott celebrated its passage, calling it a bill that 'prevented draconian tax increases' and 'secured tremendous victories for the country.'", "claim_date": "2025-07-03", "claim_type": "vote", "source_url": "https://www.cbs17.com/news/north-carolina-news/north-carolina-lawmakers-officials-react-to-passage-of-trumps-big-beautiful-bill/" }, { "claim_text": "Knott campaigned as a tough-on-crime former federal prosecutor who would 'crack down on crime' and make communities safer.", "claim_date": "2024-11-05", "claim_type": "platform", "source_url": "https://knott.house.gov/media/press-releases/knott-sworn-serve-north-carolinians-119th-congress" }, { "claim_text": "PoliScore analysis documented that Knott 'voted against several low-cost, evidence-based bills to improve battery safety, develop cleaner industrial materials, and support joint farm-and-energy research, even though those would have clear benefits for his district.'", "claim_date": "2026-02-08", "claim_type": "disclosure", "source_url": "https://poliscore.us/legislator/K000405" }, { "claim_text": "Knott's April/May newsletter stressed that 'among my top priorities has been improving local infrastructure like roads and water facilities, both of which need serious attention and renovation.' His House committee assignments include Transportation & Infrastructure.", "claim_date": "2025-06-10", "claim_type": "statement", "source_url": "https://knott.house.gov/media/blog-post/knotts-news-aprilmay-update" }, { "claim_text": "Knott voted for H.R. 1 (OBBB), which repealed clean energy tax credits used by 89,000 North Carolina households and cut nearly $200 billion from SNAP. The SNAP cuts were projected to affect working families in NC-13, where the poverty rate is 8.3%.", "claim_date": "2025-07-03", "claim_type": "vote", "source_url": "https://americanbridgepac.org/person/brad-knott/" } ], "contradictions": [ { "claim_a_idx": 0, "claim_b_idx": 1, "type": "platform_vs_vote", "severity": "high", "narrative": "Knott signed a 'No New Taxes' pledge, yet voted for the OBBB which independent analysts projected would add $2.4 trillion to the deficit — effectively passing the cost to future taxpayers — while celebrating the bill as preventing 'draconian tax increases.'" }, { "claim_a_idx": 2, "claim_b_idx": 3, "type": "platform_vs_vote", "severity": "medium", "narrative": "Knott ran as a detail-oriented former prosecutor focused on public safety, yet voted against low-cost, evidence-based bills to improve battery safety and cleaner industrial materials that would reduce fires and pollution — outcomes that directly enhance community safety." }, { "claim_a_idx": 4, "claim_b_idx": 5, "type": "statement_vs_disclosure", "severity": "medium", "narrative": "Knott touted infrastructure investment as a top priority and sits on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, yet voted for the OBBB which repealed clean energy tax credits that supported infrastructure modernization for 89,000 North Carolina households — prioritizing tax cuts over the infrastructure investments he publicly championed." } ] }, "telling_votes": [ { "bill_id": "H.R. 29 / S. 5", "title": "Laken Riley Act", "vote": "yea", "vote_date": "2025-01-07", "roll_call_url": "https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/20256", "why_it_matters": "Voted for legislation mandating ICE detention for undocumented immigrants accused of theft offenses. Passed with bipartisan support, 264-159, with 48 Democrats voting in favor. Knott expressed support on social media, citing the need to 'prevent another murder like that of Laken Riley.'", "category": "party_defection" }, { "bill_id": "H.R. 21", "title": "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act", "vote": "yea", "vote_date": "2025-01-23", "roll_call_url": "https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2025/roll027.xml", "why_it_matters": "Voted for legislation establishing criminal penalties for healthcare practitioners who fail to provide medical care to infants born alive after failed abortions — a top priority for pro-life groups. SBA Pro-Life America scored this as a key vote; Knott has a 100% rating.", "category": "party_defection" }, { "bill_id": "H.R. 1", "title": "One Big Beautiful Bill Act", "vote": "yea", "vote_date": "2025-07-03", "roll_call_url": "https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2025/roll190.xml", "why_it_matters": "Voted for President Trump's signature reconciliation bill (218-214), which included $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, new Medicaid work requirements projected to affect 496,000 North Carolinians, nearly $200 billion in SNAP cuts, and repeal of clean energy tax credits. Knott celebrated the bill as delivering 'national defense, homeland security, border enforcement.'", "category": "donor_aligned" }, { "bill_id": "H.R. 3242", "title": "Stop Illegal Entry Act", "vote": "yea (sponsor)", "vote_date": "2025-09-11", "roll_call_url": "https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3242", "why_it_matters": "Lead sponsor of legislation imposing life-imprisonment-level penalties for deported illegal immigrants who re-enter and commit felonies. Knott's signature legislative accomplishment, rooted in his background as a federal prosecutor. Passed House mostly along party lines.", "category": "party_defection" }, { "bill_id": "H.R. 22", "title": "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act", "vote": "yea", "vote_date": "2025-04-10", "roll_call_url": "https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/22/actions", "why_it_matters": "Voted for legislation requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. PoliScore noted Knott has backed bills that 'make it harder for many people to register and be counted in elections' — consistent with his support for citizen-only voting measures.", "category": "party_defection" }, { "bill_id": "H.R. 30", "title": "Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act", "vote": "yea", "vote_date": "2025-01-16", "roll_call_url": "https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/30/actions", "why_it_matters": "One of Knott's earliest votes as a freshman. Voted for the bill that passed 274-145, with 61 Democrats in support. Received in the Senate but not enacted.", "category": "party_defection" }, { "bill_id": "H.R. 511", "title": "Remedies for Armed Forces discharged under COVID-19 vaccine mandate", "vote": "sponsor", "vote_date": "2025-01-16", "roll_call_url": "https://open.pluralpolicy.com/us/bills/119/HR511/", "why_it_matters": "First bill introduced by Knott, reflecting his commitment to service members affected by the vaccine mandate — a key Republican priority and one Knott championed as a freshman.", "category": "party_defection" }, { "bill_id": "H.R. 33", "title": "Protecting American Energy Production Act", "vote": "yea", "vote_date": "2025-01-15", "roll_call_url": "https://open.pluralpolicy.com/person/brad-knott-5zJhlMP9LrHoXUZVUfXCkd/", "why_it_matters": "First recorded vote of Knott's congressional career — voted yes on legislation to protect domestic energy production. Consistent with his campaign platform emphasizing American energy independence.", "category": "party_defection" } ], "constituency_baseline": { "baseline": { "district_summary": "North Carolina's 13th Congressional District covers a swath of central and eastern North Carolina stretching from the northern Raleigh exurbs south through Johnston, Harnett, Wayne, and surrounding counties, including towns such as Clayton, Smithfield, Goldsboro, and parts of Garner. The district has a population of approximately 792,542 and a median household income of $81,810. It is predominantly White (64.5%) with significant Black (18.8%) and Hispanic (14%) populations. The Cook PVI shifted from R+2 to R+11 after the 2023 redistricting — making it one of the most heavily gerrymandered Republican districts in the state. The district includes approximately 50,000 veterans and relies on the Durham and Fayetteville VA Medical Centers. Major economic sectors include pharmaceutical manufacturing (Novo Nordisk employs 1,900+ in Clayton), agriculture, manufacturing, and service industries. The district has a homeownership rate of 77% and a bachelor's degree attainment rate of 31.5%, below the national average.", "top_employers": [ { "name": "Johnston County Schools", "employees": 3000, "source_url": "https://www.triangleeastchamber.com/major-employers/" }, { "name": "Novo Nordisk Pharmaceutical (Clayton)", "employees": 1900, "source_url": "https://www.triangleeastchamber.com/major-employers/" }, { "name": "Grifols Therapeutics Inc. (Clayton)", "employees": 1800, "source_url": "https://www.triangleeastchamber.com/major-employers/" } ], "dominant_industries": [ { "naics": "62", "share": 0.15, "source_url": "https://legisletter.org/legislator/brad-knott-K000405/district" }, { "naics": "44-45", "share": 0.14, "source_url": "https://legisletter.org/legislator/brad-knott-K000405/district" }, { "naics": "31-33", "share": 0.13, "source_url": "https://legisletter.org/legislator/brad-knott-K000405/district" } ], "recent_ballot_measures": [ { "name": "North Carolina Constitutional Amendment — Citizen-Only Voting", "year": 2024, "result": "passed", "margin": "77.3% yes to 22.7% no", "source_url": "https://nsjonline.com/article/2024/12/nc-voters-passed-voting-amendment-by-wide-margin/" }, { "name": "North Carolina Voter ID Constitutional Amendment (2018, ruled enforceable 2025)", "year": 2018, "result": "passed", "margin": "55.5% yes to 44.5% no", "source_url": "https://www.wral.com/story/north-carolina-voter-id-and-tax-cap-amendments-are-enforceable-judges-rule/22151263/" }, { "name": "North Carolina Income Tax Cap Amendment — Lowered maximum rate from 10% to 7% (2018, ruled enforceable 2025)", "year": 2018, "result": "passed", "margin": "57.3% yes to 42.7% no", "source_url": "https://www.wral.com/story/north-carolina-voter-id-and-tax-cap-amendments-are-enforceable-judges-rule/22151263/" } ], "demographic_anchors": [ { "label": "Median household income", "value": "$81,810", "source_url": "https://legisletter.org/legislator/brad-knott-K000405/district" }, { "label": "Population (2023)", "value": "792,542", "source_url": "https://legisletter.org/legislator/brad-knott-K000405/district" }, { "label": "White alone, not Hispanic", "value": "64.5%", "source_url": "https://legisletter.org/legislator/brad-knott-K000405/district" }, { "label": "Homeownership rate", "value": "77.0%", "source_url": "https://legisletter.org/legislator/brad-knott-K000405/district" }, { "label": "Poverty rate", "value": "8.3%", "source_url": "https://legisletter.org/legislator/brad-knott-K000405/district" } ] } } }