Eastern NC congressional race is most expensive in US history

The 2026 race for North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District has broken records to become the most expensive U.S. House general election in history, according to new ad spending data. 

In a district that Republican state lawmakers redrew last year to favor their party, GOP Army veteran Laurie Buckhout is challenging Democratic incumbent Don Davis. 

Inside Elections shifted the race from “toss up” to “tilt Democratic” on Thursday.

A mammoth $52.9 million has poured into ad spending for the district, according to ad tracking firm AdImpact. The number includes spending on aired ads and future ads reserved as of Oct. 27. 

Democrats have spent $29.6 million to support Davis, and Republicans have deployed $23.3 million to back Buckhout. 

The pair faced off in 2024, when Davis defeated Buckhout by 6,307 votes. It was the most competitive congressional race in North Carolina that election cycle. 

In 2024, Democrats bought $23 million in ads for the district, compared to $15.5 million for Republicans, according to AdImpact.

Vice President JD Vance visited Kinston on Wednesday to rally support for Buckhout, U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley, and other Republicans on the ballot. 

With five days remaining until the general election, Democrats are making pushes across the map. 

Where are the tightest races for US House control right now? Here’s the rundown.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is placing a coordinated ad buy with Richard Ojeda in North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District. The ad, titled “Corrupt,” begins airing in the Greensboro media market on Friday. 

Ojeda, also an Army veteran, is seeking to unseat Republican incumbent Richard Hudson, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. Hudson has represented the district since 2013, and President Donald Trump won the district by nearly 16 points in 2024. 

While only $16,000 in ad buys have been reserved as of Thursday, the total buy will reach into the six figures, DCCC spokesperson Madison Andrus confirmed to NC Newsline.

The buy will boost ad spending in the 9th District, which so far has totaled $571,000 for Republicans and $351,000 for Democrats, according to AdImpact. 

Inside Elections moved its rating for the 9th District contest from “solid Republican” to “likely Republican” on Thursday.