North Carolina 1st District Voter Guide: Davis, Buckhout and Bailey on Costs and Voting Rules
Three candidates are on the ballot for North Carolina's 1st Congressional District on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Davis, who is seeking a third term, Republican Laurie Buckhout, a retired Army colonel, and Libertarian Tom Bailey, an Army veteran from Greensboro.
The Digital Free Press voter guide video compares the three candidates on the cost of living and voting rules. Here is where each one stands, based on the video, the candidates' own words and public records.
The district covers much of northeastern North Carolina, and it looks different this year. The Republican-led state legislature redrew North Carolina's congressional map in October 2025, and The Center Square reported that Beaufort, Hyde, Dare, Craven, Pamlico and Carteret counties moved into the 1st District while Wilson, Wayne, Greene and Lenoir counties moved out. Spectrum News reported that Republicans redrew the lines hoping to turn the district red, and that the race remains one of the most competitive in the country. Davis defeated Buckhout in 2024, and Bailey was also on that ballot, receiving 2.6% of the vote, according to Spectrum News.
Why Costs and Voting Rules Are Issues
Davis's campaign website says families in eastern North Carolina "are feeling the pain of increased gas prices, higher grocery bills, and rising healthcare costs," and Buckhout's campaign says families need someone who will "reduce their cost of living." Voting rules are also on the ballot in North Carolina this year. Voters already must show photo identification, under a 2018 constitutional amendment for in-person voting and a 2024 state law for mail-in ballots, and a proposed constitutional amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot would require photo ID for all voters regardless of how they vote, Spectrum News reported. In Congress, the House passed the SAVE America Act 218-213 on Feb. 11, 2026. The proposed law would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
Don Davis (Democrat, Incumbent)
Davis, of Snow Hill, graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy and served in the Air Force, reaching the rank of captain. He later became mayor of Snow Hill and served in the North Carolina Senate before he was first elected to Congress in 2022.
On the cost of living, the video says Davis supports lowering prescription drug prices and housing costs. His campaign website says he "is working to make life more affordable, expand opportunity, and deliver real results for our coastal and rural communities." In 2025, Davis and Rep. August Pfluger, a Texas Republican, introduced the Reducing Drug Prices for Seniors Act, which would base what Medicare drug-plan patients pay in coinsurance on a drug's net price, which is lower than its list price, according to Pfluger's office. Davis told Spectrum News, "We're working right now to bring costs down," and said he wants to reinstate and "enhance subsidies" under the Affordable Care Act. He also said families, not data centers, should get tax breaks. The Digital Free Press did not find a specific housing plan on his campaign website.
On voting rules, the video says Davis voted against requiring proof of American citizenship to register for federal elections. That matches the record: Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas was the only Democrat who voted for the SAVE America Act when it passed the House on Feb. 11, 2026, meaning Davis voted against it.
Laurie Buckhout (Republican)
Buckhout, of Edenton, is a retired Army colonel and Iraq War veteran who founded a cyber and defense business, according to her campaign. In 2025 she served in the Trump administration as the Pentagon's acting assistant secretary for cyber policy. This is her second run against Davis after losing to him in 2024. In August 2026, the prediction market Kalshi suspended Buckhout for three years and fined her $2,589.96 for betting on her own race, which she called "a dumb mistake," NC Newsline reported.
On the cost of living, the video says Buckhout supports cutting taxes to reduce the cost of living for working families. Her campaign website says, "Laurie will fight to cut taxes so hardworking families can get ahead," and says she will back policies that "directly impact their pocketbooks and reduce their cost of living." It also says she would cut regulations on farmers, fishermen and the seafood industry.
On voting rules, the video says Buckhout says photo identification should be required for voting. In her candidate questionnaire on iVoterGuide, she wrote, "Photo ID should be required for voting as it is for hundreds of other aspects of our private and public society."
Tom Bailey (Libertarian)
Bailey, of Greensboro, served in the Army from 1968 to 1971 during the Vietnam War, according to his iVoterGuide profile, and is a retired roofing contractor. He served on the Guilford County Board of Adjustments and, as chairman of the Libertarian Party of North Carolina's legal action committee, oversaw a federal lawsuit, McCloughlin v. Marsh, that he says struck down two state laws as unconstitutional. He advanced to the general election after the Libertarian primary was canceled.
On the cost of living, the video says Bailey supports federal taxes on state governments only rather than on individuals. In a candidate questionnaire posted on iVoterGuide, Bailey proposed amending the 16th Amendment to read, "The Federal government may only tax states," which he said would repeal all other federal taxes. Asked how to bring down unemployment, he wrote, "Cut regulations, cut government costs. Restore the Free Market."
On voting rules, the video says Bailey supports restoring citizens' voting rights and protecting fair ballot access. The Digital Free Press did not find a separate published statement from Bailey on voter ID or proof of citizenship. In the same questionnaire, he listed "National IDs" among what he called "the signposts on the road to tyranny."
Where to Follow the Candidates
Don Davis: @DonDavisNC (campaign) and @RepDonDavis (House office) on X. Laurie Buckhout: @lauriebuckhout on X, Instagram and Facebook. Tom Bailey: no campaign social media accounts were found.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. This guide is for information only; The Digital Free Press does not endorse any candidate.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
Hold Everyone Accountable.
Sources: Spectrum News, "Davis hopes to hold onto House seat in altered district" (Oct. 21, 2026): https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2026/10/21/davis-hopes-to-hold-onto-house-seat-in-altered-district ; Spectrum News, "Don Davis in tough re-election fight after redistricting" (Oct. 7, 2026): https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2026/10/07/don-davis-laurie-buckhout-redistricting ; Spectrum News, NC constitutional amendments: voter ID (Oct. 1, 2026): https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2026/10/01/nc-constitutional-amendments-voter-id ; The Center Square, "Election 2026: Buckhout's challenge to Davis headlines": https://www.thecentersquare.com/north_carolina/article_73539af9-4906-4b9c-91e0-9c7fe876f8c9.html ; Don Davis campaign: https://www.votedondavis.com/ ; Wikipedia, Don Davis (North Carolina politician): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Davis_(North_Carolina_politician) ; Office of Rep. August Pfluger, "Pfluger, Davis Introduce Bill to Lower Prescription Drug Costs for Seniors" (March 3, 2025): https://pfluger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2295 ; Wikipedia, Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safeguard_American_Voter_Eligibility_Act ; Laurie Buckhout campaign, Issues: https://www.lauriebuckhoutforcongress.com/issues ; Laurie Buckhout campaign, About: https://www.lauriebuckhoutforcongress.com/about ; iVoterGuide, Laurie Buckhout: https://ivoterguide.com/candidate/77557/race/24490/election/1371?culture=en-us ; NC Newsline, "'A dumb mistake': NC congressional candidate banned and fined for prediction market bet" (Aug. 31, 2026): https://ncnewsline.com/2026/08/31/a-dumb-mistake-nc-congressional-candidate-banned-and-fined-for-prediction-market-bet/ ; iVoterGuide, Thomas Aaron "Tom" Bailey: https://ivoterguide.com/candidate/42274/race/1745/election/595?culture=en-us ; Smarter.Vote, Tom Bailey: https://smarter.vote/races/nc-house-01-2026/tom-bailey/
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