Greg Brannon

Gregory J. Brannon (born August 17, 1960) is an American physician and political activist. A native of Los Angeles, California, Brannon is a graduate of the University of Southern California and Chicago Medical School. After completing his residency, Brannon established a private obstetrics practice in Cary, North Carolina.

Greg Brannon
Personal details
Born (1960-08-17) August 17, 1960
Inglewood, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Jody Brannon
(m. 1988–present)
Children7
Alma materUniversity of Southern California (B.S.)
Chicago Medical School (M.D.)
ProfessionPhysician
WebsiteCampaign website

An ally of the Tea Party movement, Brannon unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in the 2014 and the 2016 elections. He came in second place both times, losing the 2014 race to Thom Tillis and the 2016 race to Richard Burr.[1]

Early life and education

Brannon was born in Inglewood, California, on August 17, 1960.[2] Brannon was raised by a single mother in the suburbs of Los Angeles.[2]

Brannon received his bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California in 1982, his medical degree from Chicago Medical School in 1988, and completed his residency at University of Southern California Women's Hospital, Los Angeles, in 1992.[3]

Medical and business career

After completing his residency, Brannon served as assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at University of North Carolina School of Medicine, with work at Wake Area Health Education Center.[3] He is an ob-gyn in Cary, North Carolina,[1] having entered private practice in 1993.[2]

In February 2014, a jury determined, in a civil case, that Brannon made false and misleading statements to potential investors of a technology company, which later went out of business.[2][1] Brannon, who was a board member of the company, Neogence Enterprises, and was ordered to pay $250,000 to the investors, plus $132,000 in attorney fees and court costs.[1] The jury verdict damaged Brannon's 2014 primary campaign for the U.S. Senate.[2] The civil judgment against Brannon was upheld by the North Carolina Court of Appeals in 2016 and by the North Carolina Supreme Court in 2019.[1]

Political activism

A staunch critic of President Barack Obama, Brannon was an early leader in the Tea Party movement in North Carolina.[2] Brannon is strongly anti-abortion.[2] He opposes the Affordable Care Act, asserting that the law "attacks the fabric" of constitutional rights, and favors a largely unregulated health care market.[2] He supports a return to the gold standard and a phase-out of Social Security.[2] In 2012, Brannon urged a vote for a third-party president candidate over Republican nominee Mitt Romney, asserting that "Casting a vote for either Obama or Romney will advance tyranny since both candidates are committed statists who despise the Constitution."[4] Brannon's comments garnered scrutiny in his 2014 Republican primary campaign.[2][4] During his 2016 primary campaign, Brannon said he would work to abolish the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), asserting that the agency was unconstitutional; during his campaign, Brannon acknowledged that he owed $175,000 in tax debt to the agency.[5]

Brannon is a Board Member of Hand of Hope, a pregnancy support group in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, and is a member of AAPLOG, an organization of anti-abortion obstetricians and gynecologists.[6]

2014 U.S. Senate campaign

In January 2013, Brannon announced that he would seek the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, making the announcement run at an event hosted by the NC-Republican Liberty Caucus and the Eastern NC Tea Party.[7] Brannon has twice appeared on Glenn Beck's national radio program.[8][9] Brannon was endorsed by U.S. Senators Rand Paul,[10] Mike Lee,[11] Congressman Thomas Massie,[12] former Congressman Ron Paul,[13] Erick Erickson, editor of RedState,[14] Ann Coulter,[15] and Thomas Woods.[16] FreedomWorks,[17] Gun Owners of America,[18] and the National Association for Gun Rights.[19]

Brannon lost the primary to Thom Tillis, the speaker of the state House.[20][21] Tillis received about 46% of the vote, Brannon about 27%, and Baptist pastor Mark Harris about 17.5%.[21]

2016 U.S. Senate campaign

In December 2015, Brannon announced he would again run for the U.S. Senate in the 2016 election, challenging incumbent U.S. Senator Richard Burr in the Republican primary.[22] He lost to Burr in the 2016 Republican primary.[2] Burr received about 61% of the vote, while Brannon received about 25%.[23]

Brannon later launched a weekly conservative talk radio show.[1]

Personal life

Brannon and his wife, Jody, have 7 children, three of whom are adopted.[2] As a young adult, Brannon became an evangelical Christian.[2]

References
  1. Gary D. Robertson, NC Supreme Court upholds civil judgment against Brannon, Associated Press (May 10, 2019).
  2. Brannon again sets goal, this time for US Senate, Associated Press (March 30, 2014).
  3. "Republican Thom Tillis' life at a glance". Archived from the original on April 6, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  4. Jim Morill, GOP hopeful said vote for Mitt Romney was vote for 'tyranny', Charlotte Observer (March 10, 2014).
  5. Tim Funk, In second run for Senate, Brannon hopes to tap into anger at Washington establishment, Charlotte Observer (February 19, 2016).
  6. Dr. Greg Brannon steps up to challenge Hagan in 2014
  7. "Dr. Greg Brannon Announces U.S. Senate Run to Replace Kay Hagan". Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  8. "'I Could Tongue Kiss You': Beck REALLY Likes North Carolina Senate Candidate Greg Brannon | TheBlaze.com". Archived from the original on 2014-03-27. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
  9. Glenn Beck declares ‘man crush’ on Brannon after interview | News & Observer
  10. Paul backs fellow physician in N.C. - POLITICO
  11. Utah Sen. Mike Lee endorses Greg Brannon in contested Senate primary | News & Observer
  12. Congressman Thomas Massie Endorses Greg Brannon For U.S. Senate | RedState
  13. "Ron Paul Endorses Dr. Greg Brannon For U.S Senate In North Carolina!". Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-06-06. Retrieved 2014-03-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. Ann Coulter Supports Greg Brannon for North Carolina Senate Seat | Western Free Press
  16. "Tom Woods' new endorsement: Dr Greg Brannon "will embarrass everybody in the US Senate" (video)". Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  17. FreedomWorks backs Brannon - POLITICO
  18. "Gun Owners of America Political Victory Fund Endorses Greg Brannon". Archived from the original on April 25, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  19. National Association of Gun Rights Endorsement of Dr. Greg Brannon | Asheville Tea PAC
  20. Thom Tillis Wins North Carolina GOP Senate Nomination, NBC News (May 6, 2014).
  21. North Carolina Primary Election Results, New York Times (2014).
  22. Bertrand M. Gutiérrez, Cary's Greg Brannon files for U.S. Senate against Republican incumbent Richard Burr, Winston-Salem Journal (December 21, 2015).
  23. North Carolina Primary Results, New York Times (2016).
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