North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District is one of 15 toss-up districts across America that could determine control of the next US House of Representatives.

While the current House of Representatives is controlled by Republicans, 220-212, the small margin leaves the door open as to who will control the chamber in 2025. Across the nation, just 15 House seats spanning 12 states are considered toss-up districts, placing each district in the front-line battle for the House majority. Democrats need a net gain of four seats for a majority, with the most likely outcomes ranging from Republicans gaining five seats, to Democrats gaining five seats.

The largest congressional district in North Carolina, District 1 also stands out as the only toss-up seat in the Tar Heel State out of 14 House seats, putting the region at the center of national focus. Laurie Buckhout, the Republican candidate, and US Rep. Don Davis, the Democratic incumbent, both have a chance to win the district, which spans the northeastern part of the state from Wayne to Currituck counties.

Ad buys show the weight being put into NC-1 as well. According to InsideElections data, Davis is in the second-most vulnerable Democratic House seat in the country. As such, Buckhout affiliates have invested millions in securing a Republican win.

“Republicans are all-in to help Laurie Buckhout flip this seat in November,” said National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Delanie Bomar. “For the next month, North Carolinians will hear about Don Davis voting with China and missing key votes in Congress.”

The NRCC recently announced a $1.45 million hybrid ad reservation with the Buckhout campaign, including a $725,000 direct investment from the NRCC. Though Buckout has spent more than Davis in the district, Democratic groups across the nation have outspent Republicans $9.5 million to $3.7 million on ads targeting NC-1 by the end of September, according to AdImpact.

“The numbers are already high for North Carolina’s only competitive congressional district,” said Jim Stirling, research fellow at the John Locke Foundation. “But with how much focus Harris and Trump have in the state, I expect that both parties will look to invest more in the First District in the coming weeks.”

From the Republican side, the open border, crime, and fentanyl are top-of-mind issues for voters across NC-1, and Buckhout says they will be her top priority in Congress.

“NC-1 is 22 counties of working families who have all seen their family budgets decimated by Kamala Harris’ policies supported by Don Davis,” Buckhout told Carolina Journal, pointing to record-setting inflation, gas prices, and “sticker shock” at the grocery store. “And all 22 counties are now border counties, for all intents and purposes, thanks to the disaster that is our southern border at the moment.”

The Buckhout campaign says hundreds of volunteers are out in the district knocking on doors, meeting voters, and making the case for sending Buckhout to Congress. Grassroots captains across the district work with staff to help recruit, organize, and deploy volunteers in their communities.

“This is a large district, so we are doing our best to leave no stone unturned when it comes to taking Laurie’s message to voters,” said Jonathan Felts, senior adviser for the Buckhout campaign.

The Davis campaign lists education, environment, equity and justice, healthcare, the rural economy, and veterans as key priorities. Over the weekend, Davis was seen with Vice President Kamala Harris in Greenville at East Carolina University.

The Davis campaign did not respond to requests for comment for this story.

The current even split of seven House Republicans and seven House Democrats from North Carolina is likely to change as congressional maps have redrawn the boundaries of several districts. In addition to this swing district, North Carolina’s new maps have 10 districts projected to favor Republicans and three likely to favor Democrats.