Democratic U.s Rep. of N.C Announces Run For Re-election

This news follows the approval by the Republican-led General Assembly of a new congressional map in October, which has been criticized for gerrymandering his district, making it more challenging for a Democrat to secure a victory. The revised map alters several counties between the 1st and 3rd congressional districts, both situated in eastern North Carolina. Notably, the new 1st District excludes Greene County, where Davis resides; however, U.S. House members are not mandated to live within their districts.

Even though Greene County, where Davis lives, has been removed from the 1st District, his campaign has indicated that he intends to reside in his new congressional district. Davis now faces a significantly tougher re-election campaign, as the new 1st District will include a larger number of voters who lean Republican. At present, the 1st District is viewed as a competitive seat that could be claimed by either a Republican or a Democrat.

Last month, Republican legislative leaders, who hold the majority in both chambers of the General Assembly, approved new congressional districts aimed at providing the GOP with a stronger foothold in the area — part of a larger strategy to maintain control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The updated map has removed Davis’s Snow Hill residence from the district, placing it within the 3rd Congressional District, currently represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy. This change has transformed the district from a competitive seat into one that is anticipated to favor a Republican candidate in 2026.

Davis had previously expressed his intention to run for re-election, though he had not specified which district he would represent; members of Congress are not required to reside in the districts they serve. In a statement released on Monday, Davis confirmed his plans to relocate so that he can live in the new 1st District.

Photo Courtesy: Ballotpedia - Don Davis