On the final campaign day of election 2024, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-LA, spoke to a packed Elks Lodge in Nashville, North Carolina in support of First Congressional District candidate, Republican Laurie Buckhout.

“On the merit of her talent, her experience, and background, Buckhout is going to win North Carolina,” said Johnson.

Johnson predicted that Trump will win the White House and the GOP will capture the US Senate, but Johnson said a stronger GOP US House majority is key to advancing the Trump agenda.

“The heart of the US House majority, runs through North Carolina,” added Johnson.

The sprawling, rural First Congressional District covers 22 counties, including Nash, Wayne, and Wilson. Not since 1883 has a Republican from North Carolina’s First District (NC-1) served in Congress. But the district is now rated as a toss-up and is North Carolina’s most competitive congressional district. NC-1 became a swing district after Pitt and Franklin counties were removed and some GOP leaning counties, including Currituck, were added.

Republicans would love to pick up the seat to gain some breathing room in the narrowly divided US House.  Republican Congressman Richard Hudson, NC-9, leader of the US House Republicans campaign efforts attended the event and told the crowd. “with Laurie Laurie Buckhout we are going to pick-up four seats in North Carolina.”

“The heart of the GOP majority runs through North Carolina,” said Hudson. “Our goal is not just to keep the majority but grow the majority.”

North Carolina GOP Congressional Candidates Mark Harris, Brad Knott  and Pat Harrigan, who are expected to be new GOP members of the US House, also attended the event hoping Buckout will be part of their new North Carolina delegation.

Retired US Army Colonel Buckhout has focused on her military leadership and service. The Edenton Republican commanded 800 troops in Iraq, and helped develop technology to defend against roadside bombs killing US soldiers.

In 2006, she stood up the Army’s Electronic Warfare Division with the goal of reducing the number of casualties caused by improvised explosive devices in Iraq and Afghanistan, ending her career as chief of electronic warfare for the US Army. Buckhout said the systems she implemented have saved thousands of lives. She also worked on similar defense projects in the private sector, founding Corvus Consulting after retiring from the military.

“She fought for our freedoms,” said Johnson. “As (Ronald) Reagan reminded us, freedom is not inherited. It has to be fought for, preserved, taught to the next generation.”

“Please get out and vote tomorrow,” Buckhout said. “It would be such and honor to represent you and serve alongside Speaker Johnson.”

American Majority Action has been organizing in the district for over a year focused on early voting turnout. The early voting numbers have disadvantaged Democrats in the district, with Republican turnout hitting historic levels as Democrat turnout is down double digits compared to the close of early voting in 2020.

 Other outside groups have spent millions on television to help Buckhout. 

First-term Democratic Congressman Don Davis is defending the seat following his election 2022 against Republican opponent Sandy Smith.

For twenty years the seat was held by Democrat GK Butterfield, who did not seek reelection in 2022, and instead backed Davis. Before Butterfield, the seat was held by Democrat Eva Clayton for five terms. A Republican has not held the NC-1 seat since 1883.

Davis has worked to bolster his moderate image throughout his term and before in the State Senate.

Davis recently urged Americans to reject referring to individuals and communities as “garbage” following President Joe Biden expressing distain for referred to Trump supporters as outright garbage.

“We must lower the temperature on all fronts and reject referring to individuals or communities as ‘garbage,’” Davis said in a statement to the Carolina Journal. “Our campaign remains focused on uniting, and not dividing eastern North Carolina families and the American people.”