North Carolina Supplies Republicans Plus-6 in US House

THE CENTER SQUARE—Republicans got a plus-6 boost from North Carolina on Tuesday in a bid to remain the majority party of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Previously an even split among 14 seats, the Grand Old Party couldn’t pull the upset in the 1st Congressional District but rolled to victories as expected in 10 other races. Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Davis won a second term, beating Republican Laurie Buckhout, in the northeastern part of the state in the only truly competitive race.

With 281 of 281 precincts reporting in the district, Davis prevailed by 4,065 votes—49.25%-48.06%—of more than 343,000 votes cast.

Buckhout, a retired Army colonel, was trying to be the first Republican to win an election representing the northeastern part of the state since 1882.

Incumbent Democratic Reps. Deborah Ross in the 2nd, Valerie Foushee in the 4th, and Alma Adams in the 12th also secured reelection.

Republicans returning to Washington are Reps. Greg Murphy (3rd), Virginia Foxx (5th), David Rouzer (7th), Richard Hudson (9th), and Chuck Edwards (11th). Newcomers are Addison McDowell (6th), Rev. Mark Harris (8th), Pat Harrigan (10th), Brad Knott (13th), and record-setting state House Speaker Tim Moore.

“Tonight is a great night for conservatives looking for conservative solutions to the difficult, serious problems the Biden-Harris administration has placed on the American people,” Knott said in a statement. “Whether the open border, runaway spending, intrusive regulations from Washington, etc.—we need conservatives to stand strong and fight for real solutions in Congress. I look forward to being just that.”

Numbers by the districts, with 100% of precincts reporting:

• U.S. House District 1: Davis defeated Buckhout 49.5%-47.9%. Libertarian Tom Bailey earned 2.6%.

• U.S. House District 2: Ross (66.2%) led Republican Alan Swain (31.7%) and Green Party’s Michael Dublin (2.1%).

• U.S. House District 3: Murphy (77.5%) defeated Libertarian Gheorghe Cormos 22.5%.

• U.S. House District 4: Foushee defeated Republican Eric Blankenburg 71.8%-26.2%. Libertarian Guy Meilleur (2%) was also on the ballot.

• U.S. House District 5: Foxx defeated Democrat Chuck Hubbard 59.5%-40.5%.

• U.S. House District 6: McDowell defeated Constitution Party’s Kevin Hayes 69.2%-30.8%.

• U.S. House District 7: Rouzer defeated Democrat Marlando Pridgen 58.7%-41.3%.

• U.S. House District 8: Harris defeated Democrat Justin Dues 59.7%-40.3%. Harris was an Election Day winner in 2018 in what became a notorious ballot harvesting scandal, with his win never certified. He chose not to run in the redo of 2019.

• U.S. House District 9: Hudson defeated Democrat Nigel Bristow 56.4%-37.7%. Shelane Etchison, an unaffiliated registrant, got 5.9% of the vote.

• U.S. House District 10: Harrigan led Democrat Ralph Scott Jr. 57.7%-38%. Libertarian Steve Feldman got 2.8% and the Constitution Party’s Todd Helm 1.4%.

• U.S. House District 11: Edwards defeated Democrat Caleb Rudow 56.8%-43.2%.

• U.S. House District 12: Adams won over Republican Addul Ali 74%-26%.

• U.S. House District 13: Knott, survivor of a 14-candidate primary, turned back Democrat Frank Pierce 58.7%-41.3%.

• U.S. House District 14: Moore defeated Democrat Pam Genant 58.2%-41.9%.

NC SBE Contest Results