North Carolina's 1st Congressional District has shattered spending records, becoming the most expensive House race in U.S. history, according to new ad tracking data released this week. The contest pits Democratic Rep. Don Davis against Republican challenger Laurie Buckhout, a retired Army colonel, in a district redrawn by GOP legislators to boost their chances of a pickup.
AdImpact, a nonpartisan ad tracking firm, reports that $52.9 million has been poured into the race so far, surpassing all previous House general election spending. Of that total, roughly $30 million has backed Davis, while Buckhout has drawn just over $23 million in ad support.
The race is a statistical dead heat, with nonpartisan handicapper The Cook Political Report rating it a “toss-up.” The district was redrawn in a GOP-led effort to create a more favorable map for Republicans, who are fighting to maintain control of both chambers of Congress. Democrats, meanwhile, are eyeing the seat as part of their push to retake the House, with Decision Desk HQ giving them about an 80% chance of winning the lower chamber as of Thursday. The Senate battle is tighter, with Democrats holding a 60% chance of gaining a majority there.
The spending frenzy in the 1st District is part of a broader trend of skyrocketing campaign costs. AdImpact projects that the 2026 midterms could rival or exceed the $11.2 billion spent during the 2024 presidential cycle. Eight of the ten most expensive House races ever recorded are from this year, according to the firm.
Other hotly contested House races have also broken records. Florida's 25th District, where Republican incumbent Mario Díaz-Balart faces a stiff challenge, has seen $49.4 million in spending. Michigan's 7th District, a competitive seat held by Democrat Tom Barrett, has attracted $47.7 million. Both are among the top spenders this cycle.
The previous record for a House race was set in 2024 in New York's 19th District, where Democratic Rep. Josh Riley won after $47.2 million was spent. Maine's 2nd District race in 2024 also remains in the top ten, underscoring how competitive seats across the country are drawing unprecedented financial firepower.
The 1st District race has become a focal point for national parties and outside groups, with both sides pouring in resources in a bid to flip or hold the seat. Davis, a first-term Democrat, won the seat in 2022 with less than $7 million in spending, a stark contrast to this year's astronomical figures.
Political analysts say the record-breaking spending reflects not only the district's competitiveness but also the high stakes of the 2026 midterms, where control of Congress hangs in the balance. As the election nears, both campaigns are expected to intensify their ad blitzes, further inflating the already historic price tag.
For voters in the 1st District, the onslaught of ads has become a daily reality, with television, digital, and mail campaigns saturating the airwaves. The outcome could hinge on turnout in rural and suburban areas, where both parties are mobilizing aggressively.
With the race too close to call, all eyes are on this eastern North Carolina district as a bellwether for the national political landscape. The record spending underscores how a single House seat can become a battleground for the country's political future.
