The stakes are high for the intelligence community in this year’s election, as a crucial senatorial race in North Carolina could determine the future relationship of the Senate with the country’s most secretive agencies.
Sen. Richard Burr, chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, is currently engaged in a tight race with his opponent, Democratic candidate Deborah Ross. Burr is a key ally for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), National Security Agency (NSA) and other three-letter agencies which form the front line of the U.S. security.
Real Clear Politics currently has Burr up by 2.2 points, which though close, is well within the margin of error of most polls. Officially, the race is considered a “toss up.” Burr is a generally popular senator and former congressman. For these reasons, Burr was initially expected to safely hold is seat. Ross, alternatively, is a lawyer and former member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. Ross lacks Burr’s experience, but she has been able to keep the race close, tying Burr in some polls but never overtaking him.
Burr’s tenure as chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence has been a quiet one, and that is likely how the intelligence community would prefer it. Before Burr took over in 2015, ranking member Dianne Feinstein engaged in a very public spat with the CIA in 2014 regarding allegations that the spy agency was snooping on her staffers. The event became highly politicized and put the CIA in the spotlight — exactly where the agency prefers not to be.
Losing Burr might be unfortunate for the intelligence community, but losing the Republican majority could be worse. Feinstein’s return as chair would create an opportunity for her to open new investigations into the intelligence community, which could once again put the three-letter agencies under the microscope.
Pollsters are currently declaring a toss-up for control of the Senate, making Burr’s seat even more significant.
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