Davis defends North Carolina House seat, defeating Buckhout

Democratic Rep. Don Davis (N.C.) is projected to hold on to his House seat after it was redrawn to favor Republicans in a GOP-led redistricting effort in North Carolina, according to Decision Desk HQ.

The Tar Heel State’s 1st District was redrawn last year to include communities that have historically supported Republican candidates. Davis is projected to defeat Republican challenger Laurie Buckhout to hold the seat.

Davis led Buckhout by 2 percentage points — 49 to 47 percent — with 93 percent of the vote reported by DDHQ as of 12:16 a.m. Tuesday.

Davis, who is an Air Force veteran and a Presbyterian lay minister, previously bested Buckhout in 2024 prior to the state’s redistricting effort.

During his time in the House, the two-term lawmaker has carved out a reputation as a centrist Democrat. He was among the 14 members of his party to back this year’s GOP-authored farm bill, and he has also supported bipartisan legislation to expand resources for veterans and to strengthen the U.S.’s relationship with Israel.

The Democrat campaigned on lowering prescription drug costs, expanding affordable housing, investing in rural infrastructure, increasing education access and improving veteran services.