Rep. Don Davis, a candidate in North Carolina\u2019s 1st Congressional District, officially launched his campaign in the state\u2019s most competitive district Saturday in Rocky Mount. Davis said he\u2019s fighting to ensure that Eastern North Carolina does not get left behind.<\/p>\n
Read more New on Netflix in June 2026 \u2013 The Full List of Movies and TV Shows<\/a><\/p>\n The Snow Hill Democrat said he\u2019s advocating for the often-overlooked needs of Eastern North Carolinians, including more money for education, protections for farmers, improved healthcare and support for seniors.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026 Within [North Carolina\u2019s] 100 counties, we get two counties [that have] two-thirds of the growth: Wake and Mecklenburg. We can do better than this,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat about the other 98 counties? \u2026 My fight is for Eastern North Carolina.\u201d<\/p>\n Davis began his first term in Congress in 2023 and was re-elected in 2024 after fighting off Republican Laurie Buckhout, winning by 6,000 votes. He will face Buckhout again this fall.<\/p>\n About 50 people attended Davis\u2019 event at Meet and Bread Company, a local Rocky Mount restaurant. Rocky Mount, which straddles Nash and Edgecombe counties, has a population of 54,000, with a majority Black population. Davis said that after spending much time in the newly added counties in his district, he chose to launch his campaign in a \u201cvery important part of the district.\u201d<\/p>\n Before Davis spoke, the crowd heard from Cassandra Conover, chair of the Democratic Party in Nash County, and Rep. Glenn Ivey, a congressman from Maryland\u2019s 4th Congressional District. Ivey, who is from Rocky Mount, said the mission of Democrats is to encourage change in Congress and push back against the actions of the Trump administration.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need folks like Don to make sure that we continue this fight and win,\u201d Ivey said.<\/p>\n Davis, a moderate Democrat and an occasional swing voter, said that Washington, D.C., is corrupt and identified himself as a representative that is \u201cnot a part of the division.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t do this with Democrats alone,\u201d Davis said. \u201cWe need to bring Republicans with us.\u201d<\/p>\n Davis began by reflecting on his childhood and being raised by his grandmother, who brought him to church and emphasized the importance of education, he said. The crowd was responsive and could relate to the experiences Davis shared about growing up in the region, and the issues that he saw around him.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to let young people in Eastern North Carolina know [that] they don\u2019t have to leave. They shouldn\u2019t feel forced to leave because there are no real opportunities here,\u201d Davis told The News & Observer. \u201cWe need to make sure that there are real opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n His inspiration for running for office, he said, was a pothole. When he returned to Snow Hill as an adult after joining the military, he noticed that a pothole he used to avoid on his bike as a child still hadn\u2019t been filled. He later ran for mayor of Snow Hill and won, becoming the youngest mayor in the town\u2019s history. Davis later served in the state Senate from 2013 to 2023.<\/p>\n The rematch with Buckhout comes after the state legislature redistricted<\/a> the congressional map, expanding the district to bring in thousands of Republican voters.<\/p>\n The legislature passed the new map just three days after it was introduced following calls by President Donald Trump<\/a> to Republican-led states to create more Republican-leaning districts. North Carolina\u2019s constitution requires that a new map be drawn after every decade in accordance with the census, but it does not bar redistricting after that.<\/a> And with the legislature\u2019s near Republican supermajority, the new map passed with little friction.<\/i><\/p>\n The last congressional election in 2024 brought the state\u2019s congressional representation from an even 7-7 party split to a 10-seat majority for Republicans. The state\u2019s new map could drop Democratic representation from four to three seats.<\/p>\n Buckhout, a retired Army colonel, worked in the Department of Defense in the Trump administration as acting assistant secretary of war for cyber policy. In early May, she received the president\u2019s endorsement.<\/p>\n Davis will also face Tom Bailey, a Libertarian from Greensboro.<\/p>\n According to The Cook Political Report<\/a>, a political analysis organization that predicts nationwide and gubernatorial races, Davis is \u201cwithout a doubt, the most vulnerable House Democrat in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n Read more GE Vernova CEO highlights challenges complicating data center builds<\/a><\/p>\n Although Davis\u2019 district has gotten a new look, Davis said he\u2019s not concerned because he believes that his \u201cpeople-driven\u201d campaign can reach enough voters.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they want to redistrict [us] into the Atlantic Ocean, I\u2019ll go talk to the fishes,\u201d Davis said, drawing laughter from the crowd.<\/p>\n After winning her primary election, Buckhout that she plans to take a \u201cmore aggressive\u201d approach. Davis said his campaign is now focused on coalition building with voters in the northeastern corner of the state, all the way down the coast. Davis said that this new relationship building has been focused on finding ways to improve tourism, infrastructure and industries such as fishing and shrimping.<\/p>\n Davis addressed North Carolinians\u2019 struggle with affordability, especially at the gas pump, calling it a \u201cserious concern.\u201d However, he did not make clear his position on the war in Iran, which has been the primary driver of increased gas prices. He did say that he would like to see more involvement of Congress on the matter.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to make sure that we\u2019re addressing affordability costs, and for me, that means that [the role of Congress] is important, even providing oversight,\u201d Davis said. \u201cThat\u2019s essential.\u201d<\/p>\n The event drew many older community members, local candidates and county leaders of the Democratic Party. Alfreda Perkins, who chairs the Democratic Party in Edgecombe County, said that Davis advocates for voters who think that they \u201cdon\u2019t have a vote.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe need a spokesperson [and] that we do have in him,\u201d Perkins said. \u201cHe\u2019s advocating for the people for Eastern North Carolina and so when he\u2019s fighting that fight, he\u2019s not just fighting for the Democrats. He\u2019s fighting for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n Davis has faced controversy for voting against his party<\/a> at times. He did, however, vote with his party against House Resolution 1, or the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.<\/p>\n Davis\u2019 vote against the bill has received harsh criticism from his Republican opponent, who says that he voted against tax relief for his constituents.<\/p>\n Davis says that he does support tax relief, including Social Security tax relief and eliminating taxes on tips, especially because it would help grow the middle class in the region. But Davis said some of the provisions within the bill were a matter of \u201clife or death.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the \u201clife or death\u201d changes Davis referred to was cuts to Medicaid. Improving the quality and affordability of healthcare appears to be among Davis\u2019 chief concerns. Four in 10 people rely on Medicaid in Eastern North Carolina, Davis said. And with rising healthcare costs, attention to healthcare is crucial for the region.<\/p>\n Davis told The N&O that one of his goals is to reopen Martin General Hospital in Williamston, about 30 miles north of Greenville, which closed abruptly in 2023<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I think about Martin General Hospital closing, the solution is not sending people to Greenville,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s a backlog of people waiting in Greenville. We have to make sure we\u2019re addressing these issues.\u201d<\/p>\n Darlene Spencer, an attendee, said that Davis\u2019 key to victory is engaging with his constituents.<\/p>\n \u201cNo matter how they draw these lines, it won\u2019t matter as long as he continues to stay engaged and that\u2019s what going to win the election for him.\u201d<\/p>\n