NC's redrawn 1st District tops all House general election races in ad spending

North Carolina's 1st Congressional District is the most expensive House general election race in the country this year. Ad spending and reservations there total $52.9 million, according to figures from AdImpact, a firm that tracks political advertising ².

Democratic advertisers account for $29.6 million of that. Republicans account for $23.3 million ². The total includes ads already aired and future reservations, so it can still change ².

One caution on the word "record." The sources we could read call this the costliest House general election race of 2026. They do not say it is the costliest in history ². An earlier NPR analysis of AdImpact data counted more than $42 million in ads from Sept. 1 through Election Day, a different measure ¹.

A map drawn for Republicans

Republicans redrew the state's congressional map in 2025 ². Peter Francia of East Carolina University said Donald Trump carried the old district by about 3 points in 2024. Under the new lines, he would have won it by nearly 12 points ².

The seat is held by Democratic Rep. Don Davis. His home county was drawn out of the district, and he picked up all or part of six new counties ¹. Davis said: "This is my third run on a third new map." ¹

His Republican opponent is Laurie Buckhout, a retired Army colonel who lost to him two years ago ¹². She is running on tax cuts, lower household and health care costs, and fewer rules for farmers and fishermen. She also tries to link Davis to national Democrats ².

Why it costs so much

Outside groups reported $35.6 million in general election spending through Oct. 26, based on Federal Election Commission filings. That covers ads, mail and door-knocking ². The biggest spenders were the Republican-aligned Congressional Leadership Fund at $10.5 million and the Democratic-aligned House Majority PAC at $8.4 million ².

The district also spans three TV markets: Raleigh, Norfolk and Greenville-New Bern. That makes it expensive to reach voters ². The same race was already North Carolina's costliest congressional contest in 2024, when Buckhout raised about $4.8 million and Davis raised about $5.6 million through the pre-election deadline ³.

Don Davis has always been a tough out.

What happens next

Voters decide Tuesday, Nov. 3. Sabato's Crystal Ball, a forecasting newsletter, moved the race from Toss-Up to Leans Democratic on Oct. 20. The Cook Political Report still rates it a Toss Up ².

Analysts urge caution. Michael Bitzer of Catawba College said Republicans see a chance to flip a Democratic seat, but they face a national mood that favors Democrats ².

That matters because it tests whether a map drawn for one party guarantees a win. A Republican strategist who spoke to NPR without giving a name said "redistricting creates new battlefields, it doesn't create outcomes" ¹.

The Record

1. Dec 6, 2024NC Newsline reported the 1st District was North Carolina's most expensive congressional race of the 2024 cycle ³.
2. Dec 31, 2025Republicans redrew North Carolina's congressional map in 2025, moving the 1st District toward Trump ².
3. Oct 20, 2026Sabato's Crystal Ball moved the race from Toss-Up to Leans Democratic ².
4. Oct 28, 2026AdImpact figures showed $52.9 million in ad spending and reservations, the most of any House general election race this year ².

Sources

1. NPR (via WUNC), “Republicans are spending millions and still may not win districts drawn to favor them” (2026-10-26). wunc.org/2026-10-26/republicans-are-spending-millions-and-st
2. The Daily Tar Heel, “North Carolina's 1st Congressional District draws record ad spending” (2026-10-28). dailytarheel.com/489154/city-state/city-nc01-national-spendi
3. NC Newsline, “First district congressional race was North Carolina's most expensive in 2024 cycle” (2024-12-06). ncnewsline.com/2024/12/06/first-district-congressional-race-

Found an error? Tell the newsroom. Corrections are noted at the top of the story.