U.S. House · North Carolina's 1st District

Eastern North Carolina, including Elizabeth City, Rocky Mount and Goldsboro.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

✓ Fact-checked 2026-09-25: 28 claims re-checked against their sources · 1 corrected · 0 removed

A second, independent research pass re-opened every cited source for this race and corrected or removed anything the source didn’t support.

  • Context attributed a specific 'D+0.3 to R+8' partisan-lean shift to analyst Nathaniel Rakich of Inside Elections; the cited Ballotpedia elections page contains no such attribution and instead lists the new district's Cook PVI as R+5. Replaced the unsupported analyst quote/figure with the verified R+5 PVI fact.

On the ballot · 3 candidates

Where they stand — side by side

Only positions documented in a cited source are shown. Where an officeholder’s recorded votes speak to an issue, the votes set the position (marked “votes”). A dash means we found no clear public position — not that the candidate has none.

ISSUEDonald Davis
D
Laurie Buckhout
R
Tom Bailey
LIB
Stricter gun laws—Opposes[5]—
Expand immigration enforcement and deportationsMixed[11][12][13][14][15]votesSupports[5]—
Raise taxes on high earners or corporationsSupports[12][13][14]votes——
Expand public health coverageSupports[12][13][14][16]votes——
Faster transition away from fossil fuelsSupports[12][13][14]votes——
Broad tariffs on imported goodsOpposes[17]votes——

The candidates, in full

Donald Davis

DINCUMBENTU.S. Representative (since 2023)

Don Davis is the Democratic incumbent seeking re-election in North Carolina's 1st Congressional District, now redrawn to lean more Republican. He is an Air Force veteran, educator and former state senator serving his second term in Congress, where he is ranking member of the Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.[2]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Key votes in Congress

  • YesWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · H. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · 2026-06-03 roll call ↗The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans.
  • YesResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · H.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · 2026-02-11 roll call ↗The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy.
  • YesConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government funding · H.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · 2026-02-03 roll call ↗The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026.
  • YesBreaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · H.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · 2026-01-08 roll call ↗The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans.
  • YesWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela · H. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · 2025-12-17 roll call ↗The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region.
  • YesNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage · S. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · 2025-12-10 roll call ↗The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year.
  • YesEpstein Files Transparency Act · H.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · 2025-11-18 roll call ↗The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support.
  • YesContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote · H.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · 2025-11-12 roll call ↗The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively.
  • YesCLARITY Act — digital asset market structure · H.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries.
  • YesGENIUS Act — stablecoin regulation · S. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law.
  • NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · 2025-07-03 roll call ↗H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025.
  • NoRescissions Act of 2025 · H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · 2025-06-12 roll call ↗The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades.
  • NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · 2025-05-22 roll call ↗H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients.
  • NoSAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · H.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · 2025-04-10 roll call ↗The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls.
  • NoFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 · H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · 2025-03-11 roll call ↗The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations.
  • YesLaken Riley Act — final passage · S. 5 · Passed 263–156 · 2025-01-22 roll call ↗The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions.
  • NoSecure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · H.R. 2 · Passed 219–213 · 2023-05-11 roll call ↗Would have resumed border-wall construction, restricted asylum eligibility, expanded detention, and mandated E-Verify for employers.

On the record — official actions

  • action2025 · Serves as ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development, and as vice ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, also sitting on its Readiness and Tactical Air and Land Forces subcommittees.[3]
  • bill2026-09-17 · Introduced H.R. 10448, the Reverse Big Ugly Tax Breaks for Data Centers Act, to exclude data centers from bonus depreciation and Opportunity Zone tax breaks created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.[9]

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted yes on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08).[12][13][14][16]

    What they say: Cosponsor of the COVER Now Act to help states expand Medicaid, and relaunched the State Medicaid Expansion Caucus to close the Medicaid coverage gap.[7]

  • SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.[12][13][14]

    What they say: Led legislation, the Reverse Big Ugly Tax Breaks for Data Centers Act, to end tax breaks that data center and Big Tech companies received under the 2025 reconciliation law.[9]

    “Washington is giving handouts to Big Tech companies while American families are drowning”
  • MixedExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations. Voted no on Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2, 2023-05-11).[11][12][13][14][15]

  • SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.[12][13][14]

  • OpposesBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11).[17]

In their words — priorities

  • Congressman Davis' top priority in Congress is expanding access to affordable health care because he knows it is vital to keeping rural hospitals open, making health care accessible to those who need it most, and improving treatment for victims of addiction.[7]
  • As the Vice Ranking Member of the House Committee on Agriculture, Congressman Davis is fighting for fair and just policies and investments that promote equity and accommodate the diversity of the district's agricultural products.[10]

Background

  • Born and raised in Snow Hill, North Carolina; graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1994 and served eight years as an Air Force officer, including duties coordinating Air Force One and CODEL operations.[2]
  • Taught national security affairs, military history and leadership as an assistant professor of Aerospace Studies at East Carolina University's Air Force ROTC detachment; was an educator for over 20 years.[2]
  • Became the youngest mayor of Snow Hill at age 29, serving seven years, before being elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2008, where he served 12 years.[2]
  • Holds a bachelor's degree in social sciences from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a master's degree in administration from Central Michigan University.[2]

Campaign money

Raised $4.3M · spent $988K · $3.6M cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Laurie Buckhout

R

Won the March 3, 2026 Republican primary.

Laurie Buckhout is the Republican nominee challenging incumbent Donald Davis in North Carolina's redrawn 1st Congressional District. She is a retired U.S. Army colonel and combat veteran who founded her own business after leaving the military.[4]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Positions on the issues

  • OpposesStricter gun laws

    Says she will stand strong against additional restrictions on law-abiding gun owners, citing her background as a combat veteran defending the right to keep and bear arms.[5]

  • SupportsExpand immigration enforcement and deportations

    Says she will focus on ensuring border patrol agents have the resources they need to keep drugs out of the country.[5]

In their words — priorities

  • Lowering costs and cutting taxes for families in Eastern North Carolina.[5]
  • Border security, including resourcing border patrol agents.[5]
  • Cutting regulations affecting farmers and fishermen, and supporting the military and veterans.[5]

Background

  • Born in Virginia and lives in Edenton, North Carolina.[4]
  • Earned a bachelor's degree from James Madison University, a master's of military arts and science in national military strategy, and a master's of science in information management from Webster University.[4]
  • Served in the U.S. Army, reaching the rank of Colonel, including combat service; after leaving the military she founded her own business.[4]

Campaign money

Raised $3.8M · spent $2.0M · $1.8M cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Tom Bailey

LIB

Advanced from a canceled Libertarian Party primary.

Tom Bailey is the Libertarian Party nominee in North Carolina's 1st Congressional District. He is a Vietnam veteran and longtime Libertarian Party activist focused on ballot access and election law.[6]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

In their words — priorities

  • Restoring voting rights of citizens to put control of government back in the hands of the people.[6]
  • Major federal tax reform limiting the federal government to taxing only state governments.[6]
  • Restoring the Bill of Rights with an emphasis on due process.[6]

Background

  • Served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1971; earned a high school diploma from South Bakersfield High School and graduated from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington in 1993.[6]
  • Served on the Libertarian Party of North Carolina Executive Committee and as chairman of its Legal Action Committee, where he helped lead the federal ballot-access lawsuit McLoughlin v. Marsh.[6]

Research notes & limits

District 1 was redrawn for 2026 and is now rated more favorable to Republicans than its prior lines. Federal key votes and FEC totals for Davis, the sitting incumbent, are added by a separate script.

Sources · 17

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.About Don · Office of Rep. Don Davis · 2026-09-25 Official record
  3. 3.Committees and Caucuses · Office of Rep. Don Davis · 2026-09-25 Official record
  4. 4.Laurie Buckhout · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  5. 5.Campaign website · Laurie Buckhout for Congress · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  6. 6.Tom Bailey - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026 Candidate's own words
  7. 7.Health Care · Office of Rep. Don Davis Candidate's own words
  8. 8.Congressman Davis Stands with Eastern North Carolina Cattle Producers Amid Federal Move to Expand Foreign Beef Imports · Office of Rep. Don Davis · 2026-09-02 Candidate's own words
  9. 9.Reps. Davis, McDonald Rivet Lead New Push to Stop Tax Giveaways for Data Centers · Office of Rep. Don Davis · 2026-09-17 Candidate's own words
  10. 10.Agriculture · Office of Rep. Don Davis Candidate's own words
  11. 11.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  12. 12.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  13. 13.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  14. 14.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  15. 15.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
  16. 16.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  17. 17.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record