U.S. Sen. Richard Burr was one of many Republican candidates in Nash County on Thursday evening to encourage voters to charge the polls during midterm elections.

Republican candidates vying for local, state and congressional seats were on hand during the grand opening of the Nash County GOP headquarters. More than a hundred volunteers, voters and donors congregated inside the white-stoned office building located off Sunset Avenue. Before the platform speeches began, candidates decorated the office with campaign buttons, bumper stickers handbills and pins.

With the humid weather looming, Burr, R-N.C., said the crowd wasn’t what someone would normally expect for a ribbon-cutting or a grand opening.

“(The turnout) shows you the energy level of these voters,” Burr said. “They want to be involved ... they want to be a part of change in the direction of this country.”

The one-term senator will defend his seat against Democratic nominee N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and Libertarian Michael Bietler in the Nov. 2 election.

Buck Newton said the local support Thursday is a strong indication residents want change.

“We’re just getting started,” Newton said. “I have never felt this much enthusiasm in all of the politics I have been involved with.”

Newton, a Wilson attorney, is challenging N.C. Sen. A.B. Swindell, D-Nash, for the District 25 seat.

Newton said he disagrees with the spending practices of his opponent and the N.C. General Assembly’s Democratic majority.

Doug Starr said Election Day is when Nash County voters can finally make the Board of Commissioners a conservative majority. Early voting, which starts Oct. 14, is a battle Republicans have to win in order to make that happen, Starr said.

“If we don’t get our people out in early voting, we’re going to lose,” Starr said.

Starr is challenging Commissioner Mary Wells, a Democrat, for the District 6 seat.

Boosting the tax base, lowering taxes and managing county expenses would be top priorities, Starr said.

Burr said he considers Nash County an “epicenter” for Eastern North Carolina politics, and its voter makeup could be the driving force that pushes a conservative majority statewide.

“(Nash County) is made up citizens who care. They always have,” Burr said. “(Nash County residents) always play a part in the election process. That’s why you see a crowd like this tonight, and that’s why you’ll see a change in November.”