NC-1 Northeast North Carolina
North Carolina
Not calledR -4.5closes 7:30 pm ET
Toss-up
Who's running
Don DavisDIncumbent
Don Davis is the Democratic congressman for eastern North Carolina. He was elected in 2022 and barely held on in 2024 with 49.5 percent. He pitches himself as a moderate who brings home grants for small towns.
What they say they'll do
- In Congress since 2023
- Called the most vulnerable House Democrat
- Pushes a pause on the diesel tax
Laurie BuckhoutR
Laurie Buckhout is a retired Army colonel and Iraq War veteran. She briefly served as an acting assistant secretary of defense in 2025. She lost to Davis in 2024 by about 6,000 votes and is back for a rematch.
What they say they'll do
- Retired Army colonel
- Lost to Davis in 2024
- Ties Davis to Hakeem Jeffries
The tea ☕
- Republican state lawmakers redrew this district in October 2025 to make it more conservative, as part of a push from Trump. Davis is trying to beat the new map.
- Republican ads say Davis is 'for they/them, not us' over transgender athletes. Davis actually backs North Carolina's law banning trans athletes from girls' teams. Democratic ads say Buckhout wants a national abortion ban and is not from around here.
- With more than $38 million spent, this is one of the most expensive House races in the country.