The race for North Carolina’s battleground 1st Congressional District will be a rematch between Republican Laurie Buckhout and Democratic incumbent Rep. Don Davis, according to an Associated Press projection.
The district is one of Republicans’ best shots at flipping a seat this year, especially after the state Legislature made the competitive district more conservative by redrawing the congressional map.
“Our majority is at stake, and NC-01 is one of those seats it’s gonna boil down to,” said Jonathan Bridges, a Republican strategist in North Carolina.
Buckhout won a crowded five-way primary of Trump-aligned candidates. Each styled themselves as an “American First” candidate ready to help Trump keep the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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“I spent my career as a U.S. Army Colonel leading troops in combat and defending this country,” Buckhout said on X Tuesday night. “Now I’m ready to take that same mission-first leadership to Washington — to stand up to weak politicians like Don Davis and fight for safer communities, a stronger economy, and the people of Eastern North Carolina.”
Buckhout, who narrowly lost to Davis in 2024, touted her experience working in the Trump administration during the primary campaign. She left her post as the White House’s assistant national cyber director for policy last October.
Buckhout was the last candidate to jump into the race and led the pack in fundraising. She jump-started her campaign by loaning herself about $2 million.
The National Republican Congressional Committee threw its support behind Buckhout once the race was called Tuesday.
“Buckhout has what it takes to defeat do-nothing Don Davis this fall,” said NRCC spokesperson Reilly Richardson. “In Congress, Laurie will be a strong advocate for Eastern North Carolina and help President Trump improve national security, grow the economy, and ensure the success of America’s farmers.”
Davis, a moderate Democrat who has led the district for two terms, ran unopposed in his party’s primary. This is his third bid for Congress, and his third congressional map.
The rural district, which spans the northeast part of the state from the Virginia border to the coast, is part of the South’s “Black Belt” region. A Black representative has led the district since 1992, and Buckhout could be the first woman elected there since 2000.
It’s also home to some of the state’s poorest counties. About 18% of people in the 1st District live below the poverty line.
Laurie Buckhout, who narrowly lost to Davis in 2024, touted her experience working in the Trump administration during the primary campaign. She left her post as the White House’s assistant national cyber director for policy last October.
Buckhout was the last candidate to jump into the race and led the pack in fundraising. She jump-started her campaign by loaning herself about $2 million.
She faces a tough challenge against Davis, who has won his district the past two cycles despite Trump also winning.
Bridges said that the numbers tilt in Republicans’ favor, and Buckhout has the name ID to combat Davis. But questions linger between now and November.
“What goes on with national security? What goes on with the economy? What happens with tariffs?” Bridges said Monday. “If we see a slowdown in the economy, if we see us in a conflict, regardless of our Republican majority and NC-01, it could tip it back in Don Davis’s favor. That goes true for all of our candidates in North Carolina and throughout the United States, that we could lose our majorities.”
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