Don Davis and Laurie Buckhout Battle in Costly NC Race
Incumbent Don Davis and Republican Laurie Buckhout compete in North Carolina's 1st Congressional District, a race complicated by infrastructure failures and a Libertarian spoiler candidate.
Democratic incumbent Don Davis and Republican challenger Laurie Buckhout are competing in the most expensive congressional race in American history, with spending exceeding $52 million for North Carolina's 1st Congressional District. The contest takes place in a district recently redrawn by the North Carolina General Assembly to favor Republicans, though Davis's conservative record on agribusiness and border security remains a factor.
Infrastructure failures in Dare County have become a central issue, as repeated washouts of Highway 12 have isolated communities on Hatteras Island and damaged the tourism economy. While the Federal Emergency Management Agency provided a $101 million relief package on October 22 for home demolitions, local residents argue that federal authorities lack a long-term plan for the shifting shoreline.
Libertarian candidate Tom Bailey has emerged as a potential spoiler in the close race. In 2024, Bailey received nearly 10,000 votes, a figure that exceeds the 6,300-vote margin by which Davis previously defeated Buckhout. The First District Republican Party has run ads accusing Bailey of spreading conspiracy theories, while the American Forge Coalition, a dark money group, has promoted his candidacy. Republican Party Chairwoman Mary Helen Pelt Warren characterized Bailey as a spoiler candidate, while Bailey has criticized both major parties as partners in a scam.
