Who's running in North Carolina's 1st congressional district
3 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
3 candidates · ballot order · Don Davis currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Agriculture and rural economic policy in eastern North Carolina.
Support for Israel; he is endorsed by AIPAC and Democratic Majority for Israel.
Reducing the influence of money in politics; he is endorsed by End Citizens United.
Veterans' issues, drawing on his Air Force service.
Bipartisan legislating in a district that leans Republican.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 1st District since January 2023; re-elected in 2024 with 49.5%, beating Laurie Buckhout by 1.7 points.
Former North Carolina state senator and mayor of Snow Hill; U.S. Air Force veteran.
Voted against the 2025 reconciliation bill.
Missed 54 of 1,888 roll call votes, 2.9%, between January 2023 and August 2026, and 42 of 1,241 in the previous Congress.
His district was redrawn in October 2025 from a roughly even seat to one calculated at R+8.
Arguments in favor
Pro-Israel, campaign finance and Black business organisations have endorsed him, alongside a fellow veteran in Congress and the governor of New Jersey.
— AIPAC, Democratic Majority for Israel, End Citizens United, the Jewish Democratic Council of America and the Black Economic Alliance PAC; Rep. Seth Moulton; Gov. Mikie Sherrill
He held this seat in 2024 when the national result went the other way, and his campaign presents that as the reason the legislature redrew the district against him rather than beat him at the ballot box.
— The Davis campaign, and Inside Elections' calculation that the redraw moved the district from even to R+8
Arguments against
The National Republican Congressional Committee says he has spent years collecting a paycheck while voting against tax relief for farmers, workers and seniors, and his opponent says his vote against the 2025 budget bill cost the district a share of a $50 billion rural health programme.
Buckhout's first television advertisement, titled "Show up," says that when the vote is hard Davis does not show up — not on the border, not for farmers and not for children.
— Laurie Buckhout campaign advertising
What we couldn’t verify
The missed-votes claim in Buckhout's advertisement is contested by the record: Davis missed 2.9% of roll call votes in this Congress, close to the House norm. Both the claim and the underlying figure are given above.
The rural health programme figure is his opponent's characterisation of the bill he voted against; the district's share of it was not established.
NRCC internal polling released in 2026 showed the race tied at 41% each; internal polls are released by an interested party.
The 2025 reconciliation bill, which she says would send $50 billion nationally to rural health transformation.
Border security and immigration enforcement.
Tax relief for farmers, workers and older residents.
National security and defence, drawing on her Army and Pentagon service.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Retired U.S. Army colonel; served as acting assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy in 2025.
Republican nominee for this district in 2024; lost to Don Davis 47.8% to 49.5%.
Won a five-candidate Republican primary on March 3, 2026.
Endorsed by President Trump and added to the NRCC's MAGA Majority programme as one of nine priority challengers in its first round.
Arguments in favor
President Trump endorsed her and the House Republican campaign committee named her one of nine priority challengers nationally in the first round of its MAGA Majority programme.
— President Donald Trump; National Republican Congressional Committee
She is backed by three veteran members of Congress and by a Republican women's committee, and came within 1.7 points in 2024 on lines less favourable than the ones now in place.
— Reps. Jack Bergman, John McGuire and Ryan Zinke; Maggie's List
Arguments against
Davis's campaign says she left North Carolina after losing in 2024 and only parachutes into the state to run for office, and that voters have not forgotten it.
— The Don Davis campaign
What we couldn’t verify
Buckhout's response to the residency criticism was not established from sources read.
No independent reporting critical of her by name was found for this cycle.
Her fundraising was not established from sources read.
Libertarian candidate for this district in 2024, receiving about 2.6% of the vote.
On the November 3, 2026 general election ballot as the Libertarian nominee.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
Bailey's biography and policy positions could not be established: no campaign website, candidate questionnaire or news profile covering him was located. The standsFor list is left empty rather than filled with guesses.
No published criticism of Bailey by name could be found, and no published case for him beyond the ballot listing.
His 2024 vote share exceeded the margin between the two major-party candidates, which reporting on the rematch has noted.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
North Carolina held its primary on March 3, 2026. This is a rematch: Democratic incumbent Don Davis beat retired Army colonel Laurie Buckhout by 1.7 points in 2024, and Buckhout won a five-candidate Republican primary in 2026. Libertarian Tom Bailey is also on the ballot. The legislature redrew this district on October 22, 2025 in a way that moved it sharply toward Republicans: Inside Elections calculates the baseline shifted from roughly even to R+8. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia and WUNC, CBS News and NC Newsline reporting. Criticism of Bailey by name could not be found, so his entry carries no arguments in either column.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A North Carolina ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at North Carolina State Board of Elections.