(Photo: Getty Images)
Democratic challenger Caleb Rudow is narrowly outraising and outspending incumbent U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards for the second straight FEC filing period.
It’s the only congressional race in North Carolina where the challenger is raising and spending more than the incumbent.
The FEC’s third quarter, spanning from July to September, is the penultimate filing period prior to the election in November. Reports were due on Tuesday — three weeks before Election Day.
State Rep. Caleb Rudow (Photo: ncleg.gov)
U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards (Photo: House.gov)
Rudow, who currently serves in the state House of Representatives, reported raising $244,693.97 and spending $218,192.59 during the period. Edwards, meanwhile, received $225,663.06 and expended $89,158.91.
Although Rudow has moved more cash in the past six months than his opponent, as incumbent, Edwards’ war chest dwarfs Rudow: Edwards has $404,858.83 on hand, compared to $168,611.80 for Rudow.
The 11th district encompasses most of western North Carolina and is one of the most Republican-leaning in the state.
Both candidates have devoted their attention to the impacts of Hurricane Helene since it devastated the region.
Edwards, who has been in office since 2023, temporarily suspended his campaign earlier this month in the storm’s aftermath.
“Now is not the time to be campaigning, which is why I am announcing a suspension of all campaign activity,” Edwards wrote. “Although I am suspending campaign operations, I hope you will continue to keep me in mind at the ballot box next month.”
Parts of his official House website are dedicated to providing information about how to help western North Carolina, daily updates about the recovery process, and combating misinformation about the situation.
Rudow, a data scientist, has also prioritized the response to Helene. His campaign Facebook page includes numerous posts and videos on the subject, and he has spoken out frequently about the link between Helene and climate change. At a press conference last week, he said, “I hope this is the beginning of a larger conversation about resilience about building back better and about confronting climate change head-on.”
U.S. Rep. Don Davis (Photo: Lynn Bonner)
Laurie Buckhout (Photo: Lynn Bonner)
Davis leads Buckhout in first district fundraising
In North Carolina’s 1st district, widely considered the most competitive congressional race in the state, Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Don Davis continued to outperform Republican challenger Laurie Buckhout.
Davis took in $2,007,032.23 and spent $2,086,865.80 in the period, retaining $2,541,304.20 in the bank. Buckhout gained $1,323,958.55 and used $931,643.43. She has $992,335.62 in the bank.
Incumbent U.S. Reps. Deborah Ross, Valerie Foushee, Virginia Foxx, David Rouzer, Richard Hudson, and Alma Adams also moved more money than their competitors. One sitting member, U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy, is running unopposed.
There are five open seats in the state’s congressional delegation. The outgoing members are spending their money in different ways.