A North Carolina man has a very specific and politically oriented goal for his half-million-dollar lottery winnings.
In February, Dr. Josh McConkey scored big in the North Carolina Education Lottery’s Cash 5 game.
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McConkey matched five numbers, winning a $1.5 million jackpot.
Since another player also won the jackpot, he walked away with $541,670 after taxes and prize sharing.
Despite not winning the full amount, McConkey was very happy with his money
“This is quite a day,” he said, local ABC News affiliate reported. TVD.
“I’m still in shock. It’s very wild.”
The grand prize winner is an Air Force reservist and emergency room doctor with plans for a big career change now that he has the money to support it.
McConkey is running to represent North Carolina’s 13th congressional district.
“It’s definitely needed,” McConkey said of the money.
“This will help us and put us in a position to help North Carolina.”
The doctor and now aspiring politician defied 1 in 962,598 odds to take home the money now funding his campaign.
Records show that $484,952 was contributed to McConkey’s campaign and $416,264 was used during his campaign.
THE RISE AND FALL OF THE LOTTERY WINNER CAMPAIGN
In a survey conducted by Ballotopedia, McConkey revealed his campaign’s main priorities.
First, he planned to tackle autonomy in healthcare, prompted by what he observed in the medical field during COVID-19.
“Government overreach during our COVID epidemic has violated every principle of patient autonomy in health care. No government has the right to dictate which chemical will be injected into your body,” he said. Balotopedia.
In keeping with his medical perspective, McConkey also intended to address the opioid addiction crisis in the United States.
“As an emergency physician, I see the horrific death and destruction caused by the opioid epidemic and fentanyl crisis,” he wrote.
“We must do more to stem this rise! It is the leading cause of death among young Americans. We must stem the tide and protect our borders!”
McConkey Platform
McConkey’s campaign website provided more information about his platform as he ran.
“Economy
As a family of five, my wife and I know what it means to live within our means and we should expect our government to do the same. With the price of groceries and gasoline rising, families in North Carolina are struggling to make ends meet. As your Congressman, I will support fiscal discipline, sound monetary policies, and fiscal reform.
“These policies will help stimulate the economy, which will lead to economic growth and job creation. In addition to stimulating the economy, we also need to restore America’s energy independence. We should encourage production and competition from domestic energy sources to help to reduce the cost of gas and heating in our homes.
“National security
“As a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, one of my top priorities is national security. It is critical that we have a well-funded military with the most advanced technologies in the world, and I pray that we never have to deploy them, but we are ready if we do.
“The Constitution is clear about the federal government’s role in national defense and our military. Over the years I have watched how warfare has changed. In Congress, I will vote to continue funding our military advances, including cybersecurity and foreign intelligence gathering. I will also support continued construction of our southern border and advanced technologies to keep the border secure.
“Opioid crisis
The opioid crisis has become a devastating public health problem in the United States, and as an emergency room physician, I have seen its devastating effects firsthand. Opioids and other drugs are arriving at our southern border, which is one of the many reasons we need to prioritize border security.
“When in Congress, I will support policies that educate and prevent the use of addictive drugs and recovery programs for those individuals already struggling with an addiction. We also need to increase funding and research for alternative medicine and help families who have been negatively impacted by this endemic.
Finally, the Air Force Reservist would draw on his military experience to address what he saw as failures in national security.
“With 20 years of military service to our nation and as a military commander, I am concerned about Congress’ lack of attention to security threats against our nation.
“Congress’s inability to pass budgets on time and adequately fund our armed forces is unacceptable and threatens the security of our country,” he shared.
Unfortunately for the aspiring politician, his fortunes did not continue through his efforts in public service.
McConkey lost in the March 5 Republican primary before being able to reach the final election held in November.
MCCONKEY’S SHARED LUCK
Although McConkey won a million-dollar prize, she was forced to share her win with another lucky player.
Jessica Murphy also won the jackpot after matching five numbers in the winning draw.
His share totaled $757,577 before taxes, taking home just over $541,000 after taxes.
Although Murphy appears to have only played random numbers, McConkey chose a specific set of significant figures to fill out his ticket.
“I have numbers that I use for my children’s birthdays and my birthday,” he told North Carolina State Lottery.
Top US Lottery Winners
Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history.
- Edwin Castro – $2.04 billion, Powerball, November 8, 2022, in California.
- Theodorus Struyck – $1.765 billion, Powerball, October 11, 2023, California.
- Unknown Winner – $1.602 Billion, Mega Millions, August 8, 2023, Florida.
- Marvin and Mae Acosta of Los Angeles, California, John and Lisa Robinson of Munford, Tennessee, and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt of Melbourne Beach, Florida – $1.586 billion, Powerball, January 13, 2016.
- Winner unknown – $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, October 23, 2018, from South Carolina.
- Winner unknown – he sued his child’s mother to keep his identity hidden – $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, January 13, 2023, from Maine.
- Unknown Winner – $1.337 Billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, from Illinois.
- Winner unknown – $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024, from Oregon.
- Yanira Álvarez – $1.08 billion Powerball, July 19, 2023 in California.
- Wolverine FLL Lottery Club – $1.05 Billion, Mega Millions, January 22, 2021, from Michigan.
- Winner unknown – $842.4 million Powerball, January 1, 2024, from Michigan.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
