U.S. Rep. Don Davis (Photo: Lynn Bonner)
As he pursues reelection in the state’s most competitive congressional district, U.S. Rep. Don Davis has been donating heavily to county-level Democratic efforts in eastern North Carolina.
The incumbent reported giving $154,400 to support local parties and candidates in the latest FEC filing period, which spans from Oct. 1 to Oct. 16, with reports due on Thursday. It’s the final FEC filing deadline before the general election.
Most of this money went to county Democratic parties.
Davis gave $15,000 to a committee for the North Carolina Democratic Party’s 1st Congressional District — the seat he’s held since 2023 — as well as $7,500 to the Henderson Vance Black Leadership Caucus.
The congressman also donated $6,400 to Howard Hunter, a Democrat who’s running for the North Carolina House seat he held from 2015 to 2023, but lost in 2022 to Republican challenger Bill Ward.
In total, Davis spent $1,169,177.42 during the period and raised $426,860.19, leaving him with $1,798,986.97 in his war chest.
He continues to outraise and outspend his GOP opponent, Army veteran Laurie Buckhout.
The Republican reported receiving $343,827.92 and disbursing $778,179,36. She has $557,984.18 left in the bank.
Retiring members of Congress distribute cash
Other members of the North Carolina congressional delegation handed out large donations as well.
Five of the 14 incumbents are leaving Congress.
Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, who is retiring from his seat representing the 8th congressional district, donated $1.2 million to the North Carolina Council of State Committee during this filing period. Since he’s running for attorney general, he’ll file his campaign finance reports at the state level, where the next deadline is Oct. 29 for the period between July 1 and Oct. 19.
It’s possible some of this money cycles back to Bishop in his attorney general bid. His Democratic opponent U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson of the 14th congressional district closed his federal banking account on Sept. 20.
Bishop’s expenses detail airfare — he flies American Airlines — and a software fee to Aristotle International, Inc. — a company providing information technology services to political groups — to account for the rest of the $1,201,006.96 he spent this period. There is $47,395.34 left in his federal campaign bank account.
Another outgoing member, Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Manning of the 6th congressional district donated $40,000 to Vice President Kamla Harris’ campaign, $18,000 to the North Carolina Democratic Leadership Committee, and $4,500 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
The remainder of her $64,382.66 in expenditures are for fees and services. She has $13,465.26 left in the bank.
Neither Manning nor Bishop reported bringing in any money during the fundraising period. In fact, Manning hasn’t reported receiving any campaign contributions all calendar year — she announced her decision against seeking reelection in December 2023 due to gerrymandered redistricting maps.
U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel of the 13th District shifted to filing his FEC reports under the Senate instead of North Carolina’s 13th congressional district. The Democrat announced his intention to run for the upper chamber in 2026 after gerrymandering placed his seat in a heavily Republican area.
Republican U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry is retiring from Congress after representing North Carolina’s 10th congressional district since 2005. He has not yet filed his pre-election campaign finance report.