(Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)
The campaign arm of U.S. House Republicans is throwing more support behind its candidate in North Carolina’s most competitive district, as the incumbent Democrat carefully navigates a new dynamic at the top of the ticket.
Laurie Buckhout, who is challenging Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Davis in the eastern 1st District, was named one of 26 candidates on the National Republican Congressional Committee’s “Young Guns” program on Monday.
The program helps mentor candidates and sets specific “benchmarks” to ensure they “remain competitive, well-funded and communicative within their districts,” according to the NRCC. It focuses on candidates in battleground districts, with resources tailored to each campaign.
“Extreme House Democrat Don Davis has fueled the border, crime and cost of living crises that are wreaking havoc on North Carolinians’ safety and security,” spokesperson Delanie Bomar said in a statement. “Laurie Buckhout is in a prime position to flip North Carolina’s 1st District red and help grow our House majority in November.”
Buckhout, a retired Army Colonel, aims to unseat Davis, an Air Force veteran and educator, in a district decided by about 12,000 votes in 2022. With control of the House balanced on a razor-thin majority, both parties are closely monitoring the race.
Last week, Davis joined numerous Democrats in backing Vice President Kamala Harris for the party’s presidential nomination.
But a day before that endorsement, he voted in support of a Republican-backed resolution criticizing Harris’ record on immigration — one of six Democrats to do so.
“The stakes of this presidential election are incredibly high, with far-reaching implications,” said Davis, who also backed Gov. Roy Cooper as vice president. “At the same time, the administration and Congress must address the concerns of the southern border. These issues cannot be overlooked. I will continue to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform, including securing the border and other issues impacting eastern NC families.”
The vote and subsequent endorsement, signal that Davis — who is no stranger to voting against his party — will continue to toe the political line as he runs for another term in the toss-up district.
He raised just over $1 million last fundraising quarter, leading all of North Carolina’s congressional candidates, while Buckhout raised just over $700,000.