Incumbent Davis to seek re-election in newly drawn First Congressional District

By Outer Banks Voice on December 2, 2025

Congressman Don Davis

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Don Davis has announced that he is seeking re-election in the First Congressional District that was recently redrawn by the North Carolina legislature to make it more likely for a Republican to win.

Four Republicans—NC State Senator Bobby Hanig, Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson, Eric Rouse, Vice-Chair of the Lenoir County Board of Commissioners, and Carteret County Sheriff Asa Buck—have announced their intention to run for the new District 1 seat. Hanig has already filed to run with the NC Board of Elections.

The new map moves Dare and Hyde counties, which had been in the Third Congressional District, into the First Congressional District.

Here are excerpts from Davis’s announcement.

Congressman Don Davis, a native of eastern North Carolina, announces his bid for a third term, this time running under a third redistricting map drawn by the North Carolina General Assembly in North Carolina’s First Congressional District.

“Too many people feel Washington, D.C. isn’t working for them, and the ongoing national redistricting battle proves politics taking priority over what truly matters most to the people—tackling affordability, more jobs, healthcare access, and national security. I am running to ensure everyone in eastern North Carolina has a strong voice in Congress — ‘Our Voices, Our Future!’ No matter how the district lines are drawn, I will keep fighting for eastern North Carolina,” said Davis.

A recent court decision has kept North Carolina at the center of a national mid-decade redistricting battle. Despite this, Congressman Davis remains focused on stability and service, emphasizing that communities should never be caught in the middle of political power struggles.

“Rigging the system to favor any political party is always wrong. The North Carolina General Assembly has redrawn the map at the White House’s request for an advantage that benefits Washington, D.C. insiders not our families. Our community deserves leaders who prioritize them over politics or national agendas, and I remain committed to such,” added Davis.

In the 2024 election, North Carolina’s First Congressional District demonstrated its strength by electing both President Donald Trump and Congressman Davis, reflecting the varying opinions across the region. Since taking office, Davis has engaged with constituents across the political spectrum and earned national recognition for his bipartisan leadership.

In 2025, Congressman Davis’s office was honored by the Congressional Management Foundation with the Best of Bipartisan Engagement and Collaboration Democracy Award. He earned Common Ground Scorecard’s highest bipartisan ranking. The Lugar Center also ranked him among the top five most bipartisan members of Congress and the most bipartisan member of the North Carolina congressional delegation.

Although Davis’ Greene County home was drawn out of the First Congressional District, he plans to live in his new congressional district. The newly drawn congressional district includes 25 counties primarily in the northeast and along the coast.

Congressman Don Davis serves as the vice ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee and sits on the Subcommittees on Tactical Air and Land Forces and Readiness. He is the co-chair of the For Country Caucus, a bipartisan group of veterans serving in the House. Davis graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1994 and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He also serves on the House Agriculture Committee where he serves as the ranking member on the Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee.