RALEIGH, N.C. — On Wednesday, Republican candidate Laurie Buckhout acknowledged her defeat in North Carolina’s highly competitive congressional district against the incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative Don Davis. Buckhout released a statement declaring her loss and extending congratulations to Davis, who also expressed gratitude to his supporters in a victory announcement. However, the race has not yet been officially called.
As the majority of precincts reported results, the race remained incredibly close, underscoring its significance as one of the few contested districts in the Southeast. The electoral competition has garnered significant financial attention from both political parties, aiming to either gain or preserve control of the district, which stretches from Currituck County to parts of Granville County in the northeastern part of the state.
Davis’s political landscape has changed since his win over Republican Sandy Smith in 2022. The state’s GOP-dominated legislature made adjustments to the district’s boundaries, adding several conservative-leaning counties, which has shifted the electoral dynamics away from the district’s traditionally blue tendencies.
Hailing from Snow Hill, Davis has a background in regional politics, having served as mayor in his hometown and as a state senator. He also has a decorated service record with the U.S. Air Force.
In contrast, Buckhout has a notable military background, having served over 25 years in the U.S. Army before transitioning to a career in military technology consulting in Virginia. After selling her firm, she relocated to Edenton a few years ago.
Throughout the campaign, both candidates sought to associate each other with controversial issues or unpopular policies of their party members. Buckhout’s strategy involved linking Davis to the economic and immigration policies of Vice President Kamala Harris, aiming to sway voters disillusioned with the Biden-Harris administration. Notably, while Davis voted with House Republicans earlier in July to criticize Harris’s immigration management, he subsequently endorsed her presidential ambitions. He has also appeared with her at campaign events, including a rally in Greenville.
On the flip side, Democratic supporters for Davis have worked to establish connections between Buckhout and Republican Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson. Robinson’s gubernatorial campaign has been under scrutiny following allegations from a CNN report about his past comments that were graphic and racist in nature, which he denies. These groups have presented images of Buckhout alongside Robinson to imply an alignment between her and his contentious stance on abortion restrictions. Despite these claims, Buckhout has asserted her focus remains on her own electoral campaign rather than the actions of Robinson.