U.S. House race · November 3, 2026
U.S. Representative, North Carolina District 1
Represents the district in the U.S. House of Representatives, which writes federal laws, approves the federal budget and taxes, and oversees the executive branch.
2-year term. Under the map the General Assembly redrew in October 2025, the district covers northeastern and coastal North Carolina, including the Outer Banks and all or part of about two dozen counties such as Nash, Edgecombe, Halifax, Vance, Warren, Pasquotank, Dare, Currituck, Beaufort, Craven and Carteret; its cities include Rocky Mount, New Bern, Elizabeth City, Henderson and Morehead City. The race is a rematch of 2024, when Rep. Don Davis (D) defeated Laurie Buckhout (R). No certified write-in candidates were identified.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name.
Tom Bailey
Retired roofing contractor; Vietnam War veteranTom Bailey is a retired roofing contractor, Vietnam War Army veteran and longtime Libertarian Party activist from Greensboro who was the party's 2004 U.S. Senate nominee and its nominee for this seat in 2024. In past candidate surveys he has emphasized free markets, fewer regulations and limited government.
Laurie Buckhout
Retired U.S. Army colonel; former acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber PolicyLaurie Buckhout is a retired Army colonel, Iraq War veteran and founder of a cyber and electronic-warfare consulting firm who worked on cyber policy at the Defense Department in 2025 and was the Republican nominee for this seat in 2024. She won the March 2026 Republican primary, and her campaign focuses on lowering costs and taxes, border security, the military and veterans, and technology.
Don Davis
U.S. Representative, North Carolina District 1 (since 2023)Don Davis is a two-term Democratic congressman, Air Force veteran, former state senator and former mayor of Snow Hill who is seeking a third term in a district the legislature redrew in 2025. His campaign focuses on lowering the cost of living, agriculture, the military and veterans, working across party lines and what his campaign calls "a practical approach".
Compare on the issues
Summaries of each candidate's stated positions. See each profile for sources and details.
| Issue | Tom Bailey Libertarian | Laurie Buckhout Republican | Don Davis Democratic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | No public position found yet | Says she would stand up for farmers, fishermen and the seafood industry by cutting unnecessary regulations and providing community resources. | Voted in the House Agriculture Committee to advance the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, introduced a bipartisan bill to expand the use of artificial intelligence on farms, and urged the president to secure a firm timeline for Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans. |
| Foreign Policy | In a 2018 candidate survey, called for bringing U.S. troops home while agreeing that keeping the peace requires a strong military. | Supports investing in military strength to deter China, Iran and Russia and to defend allies such as Israel. | No public position found yet |
| Health Care | In a 2018 candidate survey, opposed government health insurance and said, "If you want to provide healthcare, build hospitals and hire doctors." | No public position found yet | Says expanding access to affordable health care is his top priority; voted to extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and cosponsored the COVER Now Act, aimed at covering people in states that have not expanded Medicaid. |
| Taxes | In a 2018 candidate survey, proposed amending the 16th Amendment so that the federal government could tax only states. | Says she would cut taxes and pass policies to lower the cost of living, including health care costs, so working families can get ahead. | No public position found yet |
| Abortion | In a 2018 candidate survey, said abortion is a decision for a woman and her doctor, not the government. | No public position found yet | No public position found yet |
| Economy & Jobs | No public position found yet | Supports the president's authority to impose tariffs and disagreed with the Supreme Court ruling against them; says the U.S. should stay ahead of China in artificial intelligence by cutting regulations and expanding energy supply. | No public position found yet |
| Elections & Democracy | No public position found yet | No public position found yet | Says politics should focus on policy rather than party labels and has called for a "new model" with "more authenticity in our politics"; signed a pledge to uphold the Forward Party's values in 2024. |
| Immigration | No public position found yet | Says "border security is national security" and wants Border Patrol agents to have the resources to keep drugs from entering the country. | No public position found yet |
| Infrastructure | No public position found yet | No public position found yet | Lists rural infrastructure among his priorities and says his state Senate record included legislation to expand broadband internet access, lower utility rates and fund rural schools. |
| Veterans | No public position found yet | No public position found yet | Supports the Major Richard Star Act, which would let combat-injured veterans receive both full military retirement pay and disability compensation, and says he is working to expand education, career training, health care and housing help for veterans and military families. |