Republican candidate Laurie Buckhout conceded the race for North Carolina’s only toss-up congressional district on Wednesday following a tight race against incumbent first-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Davis. The Associated Press has not yet called the race, but with the vast majority of precincts reporting, Davis and Buckhout were separated by a narrow margin. Buckhout issued a statement announcing her loss and calling on Davis to work with President-elect Donald Trump’s administration on immigration and economic issues. Davis also put out a statement declaring victory and thanking his supporters, expressing his dedication to understanding and addressing the challenges of everyday citizens in the community.
The contest between Davis and Buckhout attracted millions of dollars from both parties, with the goal of flipping or maintaining the district, which extends from Currituck County to a small portion of Granville County in the state’s northeast. The district’s political landscape changed for Davis last year when the GOP-controlled state legislature added conservative-leaning counties to the district, making it less blue than before. Davis, a Snow Hill native, has held various political positions in the region and is a U.S. Air Force veteran. Buckhout, on the other hand, served in the U.S. Army for over 25 years before retiring and starting a military technology consulting company in Virginia. She later sold the company and moved to Edenton.
During the campaign, both candidates sought to tie each other to the unpopular policies or controversial behaviors of other members in their respective parties. Buckhout’s campaign attempted to link Davis with Vice President Kamala Harris’ economic and immigration policies, while Davis voted with House Republicans to condemn Harris’ work at the U.S.-Mexico border, then endorsed her presidential run. Democratic groups supporting Davis tried to draw connections between Buckhout and Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, whose gubernatorial campaign has faced allegations of making graphic sexual and racist comments on an online forum. Robinson denied the claims, but the associations were used to tie Buckhout to his shifting stance on abortion restrictions.
Despite the election result and concessions, the race between Davis and Buckhout highlighted the intense competition in North Carolina’s only toss-up congressional district. Both candidates engaged in aggressive campaigning and attempts to connect their opponents with controversial figures or policies within their parties. Moving forward, Davis will continue to represent the district, emphasizing his dedication to serving the community and working with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. Buckhout, after her concession, called on Davis to prioritize immigration and economic issues in collaboration with the incoming presidential administration. The outcome of this race will have implications for the constituents of the district and may shape future political dynamics in the region.
