(The Center Square) – Redrawing the 1st and 3rd congressional districts last October was by design to give North Carolina a chance to help President Donald Trump have 11-3 backing in the U.S. House of Representatives, up one from the 119th Congress.
The final month of campaigning arrives for the 2026 midterms with Republican Laurie Buckhout’s chances 50-50 to unseat Democratic Rep. Don Davis in the 1st Congressional District and Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards having dropped his reelection bid in the 11th amid ethics scandal.
Not surprisingly for a switch of parties in the White House from the 2024 presidential election cycle, Republicans are tugging disapproval ratings of the second-term Republican Trump and Democrats correspondingly feel optimistic. Still, the state’s only U.S. House race closer than 13% in 2024 was in the 1st Congressional District.
Early voting began with absentee requests put in the mail on Sept. 4. Early voting in person is Oct. 15-31, and Election Day is Nov. 3.
Republicans' 220-215 edge won in November 2024 is today 218-214 with one independent formerly Republican caucusing with his former party, and two vacancies. Thus, North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District has long been considered pivotal to Republicans retaining majority. More recently as campaigning, increasing disapproval with Trump, and the ethics censure of Edwards have evolved, Democrats believe they have chances in the 9th, 11th and 13th.
As for the redrawn 3rd, Republicans felt the move of counties with the 1st – all 12 other districts remained as drawn – would still be strong enough to win.
Beaufort, Hyde, Dare, Craven, Pamlico and Carteret counties change from the 3rd to the 1st Congressional District; Wilson, Wayne, Greene and Lenoir counties change from the 1st to the 3rd.
1st Congressional District
The 1st Congressional District is the most northeastern corner of the state and has not been won by a Republican since the 1882 election cycle. That’s an 0-for-71 skid. Davis, the two-term incumbent from Snow Hill, is challenged by Edenton’s Buckhout and Libertarian Tom Bailey of Greensboro.
Rules do not require a candidate live in a U.S. House district. Davis’ Greene County was drawn out, and he’s said if victorious he would move into the district; Bailey is more than an hour’s drive from the western edge of the district.
Davis is campaigning on lowering the cost of living; jobs and economic growth; education and “living the American Dream”; rural infrastructure; support of military and veterans; and what he calls “a practical approach” he defines as working across the aisle. Buckhout’s campaign points have been to turn the economy around; border security; protections for farmers and fishermen; protection of the Second Amendment; support for active military and veterans; and making the United States a leader on technology and artificial intelligence ahead of China.
3rd Congressional District
The 3rd Congressional District is in eastern North Carolina, inclusive of eight counties and most of a ninth between Interstate 95 and the coast. Fourth-term Republican Rep. Dr. Greg Murphy of Greenville, unopposed by a Democrat two years ago, is challenged by Democrat Dr. Raymond Smith of Goldsboro and Daniel Cavender of Lexington.
Murphy, a practicing urologist at Eastern Urological Associates and within the ECU Health Medical Center umbrella, campaigns on the issues of improving the economy; border security; affordable healthcare; veterans; active military; and farmers. Smith, former educator with doctorate degree and former two-term member of the state House of Representatives, is campaigning on fighting corruption and promoting good government; lowering costs for families; quality, accessible healthcare; 21st century infrastructure; protections for veterans and military families; and strong public education.
9th Congressional District
The 9th Congressional District in the central part of the state stretches along a corridor of U.S. 421, from Guilford and Alamance counties to Hoke and Cumberland counties. Alamance, Randolph, Moore and Hoke counties are included in full; Guilford, Chatham and Cumberland are partial.
Seventh-term Republican Rep. Richard Hudson of Southern Pines is challenged by Democrat retired Army Maj. Richard Ojeda of Aberdeen.
Hudson is campaigning on border security; environmental protection, including with regard to chemicals polluting the Cape Fear River; healthcare; support of veterans and active military; Second Amendment protections; job creation; no increase in taxes; and anti-abortion policies, from conception to natural death. Ojeda’s platform pushes investments for the state; support of veterans and active military; education; environment; “fixing immigration”; healthcare; standing up for families; and saving Social Security.
11th Congressional District
The 11th Congressional District is in the mountains, from Avery to McDowell and Polk counties north-south extending to the southwestern tip of the state. It's the heart of cleanup from Hurricane Helene’s remnants coming through in September 2024.
Following Edwards’ withdrawal from the race, state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom of Hendersonville was chosen by the Republican Party for the ticket. She’ll face Democrat Jamie Ager of Fairview and Libertarian Travis Groo of Greensboro.
Balkcom has focused on “mountain values” in her campaigning, calling for economic help and lower costs; recovery from Hurricane Helene; healthcare access and affordability; and conservative positions backing the Second Amendment, tax cuts, school choice, deregulation and property tax caps. Ager’s platform emphasizes the third year of recovery from Hurricane Helene recovery; affordable and accessible healthcare; lower costs; “stopping government waste and corruption”; immigration reform; benefits and services for active and retired military; small business and jobs growth; agriculture and a “healthy food system”; environmental policies; and safe communities.
13th Congressional District
The 13th Congressional District is a reverse C-shape around the capitol, catching some of Wake and Granville counties and all of Caswell, Person, Franklin, Johnston, Harnett and Lee counties.
First-term incumbent Republican Rep. Brad Knott of Raleigh is challenged by Democrat Paul Barringer of Sanford and Libertarian Steven Swinton of Sanford.
Knott’s campaign priorities are border security; support of school choice; “ending wasteful spending”; protection of free speech; support of law enforcement; “protecting the unborn”; and defending gun rights. Barringer lists a dozen campaign issues: affordable healthcare; foreign policy; fair and secure immigration; disciplined fiscal policy; education; support of police and criminal justice; freedom of choice on reproductive health; Second Amendment rights; agriculture and farming; veterans support; conservation, and public lands; and opposition to blanket tariffs.
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