Two Congressional districts that observers say could flip this year — one Democratic-held seat in the eastern part of North Carolina, one Republican-held in the west — have settled on their primary nominees for 2026.
NC-01 Republican primary
North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District covers the northeastern portion of the state and several Black Belt counties, as well as parts of the Inner Banks and Research Triangle. It’s been represented by a Black Democrat for decades, but was redrawn in 2025 to more heavily favor a Republican candidate. Five GOP contenders vied for the chance.
U.S. Army veteran Laurie Buckhout appears to have secured the GOP nomination. With 81% of the precincts reporting, Buckhout had secured 38.73% of the vote compared to Carteret County sheriff Asa Buck’s 35.40% in unofficial results, and will face incumbent Democratic Rep. Don Davis in a rematch of the 2024 race.
Buckhout also defeated three other Republicans: state Sen. Bobby Hanig, Lenoir County Commissioner Eric Rouse, and family attorney Ashley-Nicole Russell.
It’s a pricey race with the highest fundraising numbers for U.S. House contests in the state. The 2024 matchup between Buckhout and Davis was the most expensive congressional race for fundraising in North Carolina’s 2024 cycle.
State Republican lawmakers redrew the district last October to make it lean even more Republican, aiming to bring the state’s 14-member congressional delegation from 10 Republicans and four Democrats to 11 Republicans and three Democrats. The new map carved Davis’ Snow Hill home out of the district.
Still, Davis, a former Air Force officer, is seeking his third term in the House. Congressional candidates are not required to live within their district.
Voting rights groups and individual voters filed a lawsuit against the new district lines, but dropped the case in January.
The contest has gained national attention. It’s pivotal to the fight for the control of Congress. Republicans currently hold a 218-214 majority in the House, with three vacancies.
NC-11 Democratic primary
Jamie Ager appears to have secured the Democratic nomination for western North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District and will likely face incumbent GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards in November.
Ager, a fourth-generation farmer from a political family, received 65% percent of the vote in unofficial results. He defeated family physician Richard Hudspeth with 16%, mental health professional Zelda Briarwood with 13%, cancer researcher Paul Maddox with 5% and civil engineer Lee Whipple with 1%.
“This is a campaign for everyone, Democrat, Republican, or Independent,” Ager said in a statement. “Together, we’re going to bring home the billions of dollars of Helene recovery funding that Chuck Edwards won’t, we’re going to build an economy that supports our working families, and we’re going to fix the broken, corrupt system in Washington so that politicians will go to DC to serve the people, not to get rich.”
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added Ager to its “Red to Blue” program last week, which targets U.S. House seats the group believes could flip from Republican to Democratic with more resources, training and fundraising support. It’s unclear how much DCCC plans to invest in the November contest.
At the moment, Republicans hold a 218-214 majority in the House. There are three vacancies.
The support indicated national Democrats are backing Ager against his primary opponents and Edwards, who is seeking his third term.
Briarwood, Hudspeth and Maddox joined a coalition of political hopefuls across the country, each running in a primary against a DCCC-backed candidate, in criticizing the group for what they say is interference early in the election cycle.
Ager’s grandfather Jamie Clark represented the 11th Congressional District from 1983 to 1985 and 1987 to 1991. His brother Eric serves in the state House, as did their father John.
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