Laurie Buckhout Wins GOP Nomination in NC’s Redrawn First Congressional District

Republican voters in North Carolina’s First Congressional District selected Laurie Buckhout as their nominee on March 3, setting up a November rematch against incumbent Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.) as the GOP looks to keep its majority in the House of Representatives.

Buckhout secured the nomination with 38.9 percent of the vote with 93 percent of the votes counted, emerging from a crowded primary field. The victory positions her for a second consecutive showdown with Davis after a narrow defeat in 2024.

Rematch in a Redrawn District

Buckhout has centered her campaign on border security, support for working families, Second Amendment protections, and strong backing for the military and veterans. She has also emphasized the need for U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence policy.

Davis, who did not face a primary challenger, will defend his seat in a district that has shifted politically. After the North Carolina General Assembly redrew the state’s congressional map last year, the First Congressional District is now considered to lean Republican—potentially giving Buckhout a structural advantage heading into the general election.

Several candidates competed for the GOP nomination.

State Sen. Bobby Hanig, an Army veteran, entered the race with extensive legislative experience. Hanig chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee on General Government and Information Technology as well as the State and Local Government Committee, and serves as vice chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Local Government. Though he did not release a detailed platform, his campaign emphasized fiscal responsibility, economic growth, public safety, and efficient government.

Former sheriff Asa Buck, one of the longest-serving sheriffs in the state and a past president of the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association, campaigned on limited government, lower taxes, and protecting individual liberties.

Lenoir County Commissioner Eric Rouse focused his campaign on support for former President Donald Trump’s agenda, border security, and opposition to what he described as “wokeness.”

Attorney and small-business owner Ashley Nicole Russell ran on a platform that included lowering inflation, balancing the federal budget, cutting government spending, imposing term limits, securing the southern border, defending gun rights, banning transgender medical procedures for minors, and restricting boys from competing in girls’ sports.

An Emerson College poll conducted ahead of the primary showed Buckhout leading with 26 percent support, four points ahead of Buck at 22 percent, suggesting a competitive contest in the weeks before Election Day.

North Carolina’s Eleventh District

The First District primary was not the only closely watched race in the Tar Heel State.

In North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, Jamie Ager won the opportunity to challenge incumbent Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.), defeating his nearest rival by more than 50 percent with 99 percent of the vote counted. Although Edwards won reelection comfortably in 2024, Democrats are aiming to flip the seat.

The Democratic field included farmer Jamie Ager, educator and advocate Zelda Briarwood, physician Richard Hudspeth, cancer researcher and professor Paul Maddox, and civil engineer Lee Whipple.

Ager’s campaign focused heavily on recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene, as well as lowering costs, improving health care affordability, immigration reform, and public safety. An internal Democratic poll shared with Newsweek shows him leading Edwards by one percentage point.

Briarwood called for increased funding for rural health care, Medicaid expansion, restrictions on private equity ownership of residential housing, and legislation to provide free community college.

Hudspeth campaigned on hurricane recovery, more affordable health care, and expanded support for veterans.

Maddox’s platform included hurricane recovery in addition to raising the federal minimum wage, expanding access to abortion, and protecting Western North Carolina’s public lands.

Whipple made hurricane recovery a central focus of his campaign.

With redistricting reshaping the political landscape and competitive primaries in multiple districts, North Carolina is once again poised to play a pivotal role in determining control of the House in November.

Joseph Lord contributed to this report.