The winner of a North Carolina toss-up race could help decide who controls the US House

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A pathway for Republicans to support nan U.S. House aliases for Democrats to return power of it whitethorn partially hinge connected who is victorious successful North Carolina’s only toss-up legislature district.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Davis, who is successful his first term, and GOP force Laurie Buckhout are engaged successful a fierce conflict to triumph North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, 1 of nan fewer competitory districts crossed nan Southeast. The title has attracted millions of dollars from some parties to either flip aliases support nan district, which spans from Currituck County to a mini information of Granville County successful nan state’s northeast.

The district’s governmental scenery is simply a spot different for Davis compared to erstwhile he defeated Republican force Sandy Smith successful 2022. Last year, nan GOP-controlled authorities legislature added a fistful of conservative-leaning counties to nan district, making it little bluish than it erstwhile was.

Davis was calved and raised successful Snow Hill and has held various governmental positions successful nan region, including arsenic his hometown’s politician and a authorities senator. He besides is simply a U.S. Air Force veteran.

Buckhout served successful nan U.S. Army for much than 25 years earlier retiring and starting a Virginia-based subject exertion consulting company. She sold nan institution and moved to Edenton a fewer years ago.

Both Davis and Buckhout person sought to necktie each different to nan unpopular policies aliases arguable behaviors of different candidates successful their respective parties.

Buckhout’s run has many times tried to necktie Davis pinch Vice President Kamala Harris’ economical and migration policies arsenic a measurement to triumph complete voters dissatisfied pinch nan Biden-Harris administration. Davis voted pinch House Republicans successful July to condemn Harris’ activity astatine nan U.S.-Mexico border, past endorsed her statesmanlike tally a time later. He has besides campaigned pinch her, speaking astatine 1 of her rallies successful Greenville successful October.

Democratic groups supporting Davis, meanwhile, person tried to tie connections betwixt Buckhout and Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, whose gubernatorial run has been fighting backmost against a CNN study alleging that he made respective schematic intersexual and racist comments connected an online pornography forum astir a decade ago. Robinson has denied nan claims, and The Associated Press has not independently verified them.

Those groups besides person utilized photos successful which Buckhout appears pinch Robinson to necktie her to nan lieutenant governor’s shifting stance connected abortion restrictions. Buckhout has antecedently said that she’s focused connected her ain title alternatively than Robinson’s.