A North Carolina Democrat in search of re-election within the Home says he’s “combating each day” for the households in his district as he fends off accusations made by his Republican challenger that he is “beholden” to President Biden and dismissive of constituent issues.
Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C., mentioned he and his group have “been working so exhausting to ship for households throughout japanese North Carolina” in an interview with Fox Information Digital.
“Up to now few weeks alone, we have introduced over $13 million in group undertaking funds, 15 totally different initiatives in eight counties.”
Republican Laurie Buckhout, who’s within the race to signify North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, mentioned Davis is a “profession politician” who has “by no means had a day in his life the place he is run a enterprise.”
However Davis, an Air Drive veteran, mentioned he’s “working each single day to be sure that the individuals of japanese North Carolina, that their voices are heard in Washington, D.C., that we’re making connections and telling the story.”
He additionally rejected his Republican challenger’s declare he’s “beholden” to President Biden and Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.
“Let me be clear. I need to thank Col. Buckhout for her service to our nation. However I feel she could not be extra off on that complete remark as a result of this isn’t about being beholden,” he mentioned. “I’ve heard about flipping the seat. However, for me, it is about combating each day for households of japanese North Carolina.”
Davis mentioned he’s “solely beholden to the households of japanese North Carolina,” and pointed to his “battle” for farmers and navy households in his district.
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“I am combating to be sure that our youngsters, our younger individuals, have a future,” he mentioned. “I am beholden to that farmer on the market who’s struggling proper now to determine how they are going to hold the farm open. I am beholden proper now to these younger individuals who see that they’ve a future within the East. I am beholden to these veterans and people navy households who’re placing their lives on the road each single day.
“I am solely beholden to the individuals of japanese North Carolina, and I feel individuals know that about me.”
Buckhout, a former Military colonel and first-time candidate, additionally took purpose at Davis for his voting report.
“We now have to confess that Davis is simply Biden’s, you recognize, surrogate on the bottom,” Buckhout mentioned. “He is his agent, he is his man. He does what Biden says. He votes with Biden.”
Davis, nonetheless, urged voters to take a look at his report as he campaigns within the race, which has been ranked a “Democrat Toss Up” by nonpartisan election analyst the Prepare dinner Political Report.
“Anybody can check out my report. I imply, you are speaking to the third-ranking member of our caucus within the Congress in relation to bipartisanship,” Davis mentioned.
Requested in regards to the chief issues amongst these residing in japanese North Carolina, Davis admitted there are “monumental issues proper now with prices.“
“It is actually pricey once you put the price of meals on prime of paying hire, a mortgage fee, housing. And we all know that we nonetheless have nice well being disparities. And we’ve to then put some price of medicines on prime of that,” he mentioned. “It begins so as to add up, and it locations lots of stress on households.”
Davis mentioned he had made greater than 170 totally different stops within the district as he campaigns for re-election and acknowledges that “individuals are hurting.”
“I really feel the ache, you recognize, with the price of simply attempting to make ends meet,” he mentioned.
Amongst different issues, Davis, who beforehand served because the mayor of Snow Hill, North Carolina, within the early 2000s, mentioned his constituents have been vocal about broadband and infrastructure.
In October 2023, the North Carolina Basic Meeting adopted new congressional district boundaries, including the counties of Chowan, Franklin, Greene, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell and the rest of Vance to the state’s 1st Congressional District. The newly redrawn district now excludes Wayne County.
Davis, who has served in Congress since 2023 and beforehand served for ten years within the North Carolina state Senate, will face off in opposition to Buckhout within the state’s basic election Nov. 5.
