NORTH CAROLINA, USA — Political newcomer Laurie Buckhout has won the Republican nomination for the U.S. House race in North Carolina's 1st Congressional District, defeating Sandy Smith.
As of 11:30 p.m., Buckhout is leading Smith with 54% of the vote.
Buckhout will face sitting Democratic U.S. Don Davis, who is running for a second term in the November general election. While a Democrat has held the congressional district since the 1880s, it has been redrawn to include the more Republican Currituck and Camden counties, making it highly competitive.
"Thank you to the voters of North Carolina’s First Congressional District," Buckhout said, declaring victory. “I am honored you have selected me as your Republican nominee. I would also like to commend Sandy Smith for a hard-fought campaign. I never thought this would be easy and she made me earn this victory tonight. She’s forced me to be a better candidate and I thank her. Now, we all have to work together and move forward because we have to stop the disastrous Joe Biden/Don Davis agenda!"
Leading up to the primary election, Buckhout, a retired Army Colonel, hoped her decades of military experience as a combat commander would propel her to the nomination.
Originally born near the Shenandoah region of Virginia, Buckhout retired to the Edenton area after her active duty service, where she started a "strategic consulting and services group specializing in Electronic Warfare and Cyberspace Operations."
“I know how dangerous small business can be, how risky it is and I know the role of government doesn’t make that easier. So I'm a big proponent of small government and letting businesses thrive," Buckhout told 13News Now.
She adds that she's invested more than $1 million of her own toward the campaign as a sign that she's a serious contender for the nomination.
Buckhout's priorities include border security, lower cost of living, and veterans issues. She is pro-life and a defender of the Second Amendment.
She also pushed back on Smith's claims that Buckhout is the more "moderate" of the two candidates.
Aside from serving in the House since 2023, Rep. Davis is an Air Force veteran, minister, former mayor, and former North Carolina state senator. He succeeded Butterfield, who was elected in 2004.
Davis' priorities include economic investments, healthcare access, helping veterans and military families, and strengthening the quality of public education.
Going into the November election, political forecasters such as Sabato's Crystal Ball and the Cook Political Report consider the 2024 race in North Carolina's 1st District as a tossup between Republicans and Democrats.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.