Vulnerable House Democrat Takes Aggressive Stance on Immigration — Far from the Border
Republicans perceive this House Democrat as susceptible regarding border issues, prompting him to directly address the criticisms.
TroibNews 
ROCKY MOUNT, North Carolina — This contentious congressional district in eastern North Carolina, located over a thousand miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, finds immigration issues front and center as next month’s election approaches.
Republicans have made immigration a pivotal part of their strategy to unseat Democratic Rep. Don Davis. His Republican opponent, retired Army Col. Laurie Buckhout, prioritizes the border in her campaign, frequently mentioning it during interviews. The majority of campaign ads from both candidates focus on this issue. In response, Davis has attempted to assert himself, highlighting his multiple visits to the border — “not once or twice, but three times” — and promoting his congressional votes aimed at enhancing border security.
The Democratic approach is clear: adopt a proactive stance on immigration instead of merely defending against Republican critiques. The effectiveness of House Democrats in countering immigration narratives could signal important implications for Vice President Kamala Harris and her efforts on the same front.
At first glance, the intense emphasis on border issues in this race seems illogical. The district, primarily rural and still influenced by a tobacco economy, is predominantly composed of 49 percent white, 40 percent Black, and only 7 percent Latino residents, lacking a significant immigrant population. Nonetheless, the influence of border politics is undeniable across numerous competitive races this cycle, particularly in this swing district, crucial for the Electoral College.
“Every state's a border state. People are really impacted by it here,” Buckhout stated during an interview at the Wilson County GOP dinner, where party members enjoyed roasted oysters and barbecue. “There's the issue of the economy. There's the issue of fentanyl. People throughout the district feel they have been impacted by immigration and they talk about it.”
Democrats acknowledge this sentiment. Speaking to a largely Black congregation at a church that had been converted from a Home Depot, former President Bill Clinton used the topic of deportations as a rallying point for applause.
“When President Obama was in office, we sent people who tried to get here without following the law, away, actually more than Donald Trump,” Clinton remarked, drawing cheers as he campaigned for various Democratic candidates, including Davis. “What Donald Trump did was to scare off legal immigrants, people we need to do jobs and create jobs.”
“Donald Trump can accuse Joe Biden and Kamala Harris of being for open borders. That’s not true,” he added.
Clinton spent the weekend campaigning in the pivotal counties of Nash and Wilson alongside Davis, who has faced intense criticism from Buckhout over border-related issues. She has linked him to the Biden administration's performance and the rise in fentanyl and drug-related problems, also targeting his vote against a conservative border bill passed by House Republicans last year.
This district narrowly favored Joe Biden by less than 2 points in the last cycle after being redistricted from one that had given Biden a 9-point margin in 2020. While recent internal Democratic polling shows Davis with a notable lead, Republicans are hopeful that they can reduce the margin as election day nears, leveraging strong appeals on immigration and aligning themselves with Trump’s messaging. The two candidates have not engaged in any debates, focusing instead on advertising to reach broader voter segments.
Davis has aligned himself with a tough-on-border approach, mirroring strategies that helped Rep. Tom Suozzi win a special election earlier in the year—a tactic that Democrats planned to emulate widely. He frequently emphasizes his three border visits in ads and has occasionally sided with Republicans on related congressional votes.
“We know that these illegal drugs are making it into communities across America and right here in North Carolina. And I believe families want us to look at this and do something. This is Democrats, Republicans alike,” he said in an interview following an event with Clinton and local Democrats. He expressed his support for both “comprehensive immigration reform” and a stricter border policy.
Local Democrats recognize that the rhetoric from former President Trump, now widely adopted by the GOP, has greatly influenced the race dynamics.
“That's because Trump made that an issue,” noted Nash County Democratic Party Chair Cassandra Conover, whose hair was dyed blue to represent their "unapologetically blue" county. “The issues that the local candidates have are all Trump's issues.”
As Carly Lindsay, a 60-year-old physician, pointed out before a Democratic canvassing event: “It's not as if they come across illegal immigrants on a daily basis here.”
Despite abortion being a significant topic in many congressional races this year, Buckhout has attempted to differentiate herself from more hardline GOP positions on the issue, such as a national ban.
“I am pro-life, and I support all the standard exceptions, and so a national ban is not on the table as far as I'm concerned,” she emphasized.
Republicans express optimism about flipping Davis’ seat and closing the gap in the race during the final days. Mick Rankin, the chair of the Wilson County Republican Party, conveyed confidence yet acknowledged the challenge ahead, describing Davis as “a nice guy” who is well-known in the community.
He did, however, slightly temper his criticism of Davis, stating, “He hasn't done a whole lot to bring a lot of money into the 1st District. It's only his first term. I'll give him that.”
Complicating matters further are controversies surrounding GOP gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, which could negatively impact other Republican contenders, many of whom are aligned with the lieutenant governor. In response, Democrats have run ads featuring both Buckhout and Robinson. Buckhout chose to address questions about her stance on Robinson cautiously.
“Mark is running his race. I'm running mine. So this is about policies, not personality. So I'm running my race, and I feel good about it,” she said.
Robinson’s issues have not discouraged much of the Republican base in Wilson County, where enthusiasm for November remains, even in light of skepticism about their gubernatorial nominee's prospects.
“I don't think he's going to win. And I think abortion is what’s going to get him — too far right,” said Bentley Massey, a 63-year-old retiree, while shucking oysters. He had voted for Robinson and expressed strong support for Buckhout, stating, “She’s my girl.”
Both candidates are sticking firmly to their party lines on immigration. When asked about preferred border legislation, Buckhout declared, “We definitely have to close the border” and expressed support for the conservative border bill passed by House Republicans this Congress. She described the previous “Remain in Mexico” policy established during Trump’s presidency as a “good start” and expressed approval for his border initiatives.
In turn, Davis noted the bipartisan border deal that had been discussed in the current Congress, which Democrats, including Harris, have used to argue that Republicans aren't approaching the immigration issue earnestly: “I believe there's a lot of legislation that is already out there that we can refine and tune.”
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
Republicans have made immigration a pivotal part of their strategy to unseat Democratic Rep. Don Davis. His Republican opponent, retired Army Col. Laurie Buckhout, prioritizes the border in her campaign, frequently mentioning it during interviews. The majority of campaign ads from both candidates focus on this issue. In response, Davis has attempted to assert himself, highlighting his multiple visits to the border — “not once or twice, but three times” — and promoting his congressional votes aimed at enhancing border security.
The Democratic approach is clear: adopt a proactive stance on immigration instead of merely defending against Republican critiques. The effectiveness of House Democrats in countering immigration narratives could signal important implications for Vice President Kamala Harris and her efforts on the same front.
At first glance, the intense emphasis on border issues in this race seems illogical. The district, primarily rural and still influenced by a tobacco economy, is predominantly composed of 49 percent white, 40 percent Black, and only 7 percent Latino residents, lacking a significant immigrant population. Nonetheless, the influence of border politics is undeniable across numerous competitive races this cycle, particularly in this swing district, crucial for the Electoral College.
“Every state's a border state. People are really impacted by it here,” Buckhout stated during an interview at the Wilson County GOP dinner, where party members enjoyed roasted oysters and barbecue. “There's the issue of the economy. There's the issue of fentanyl. People throughout the district feel they have been impacted by immigration and they talk about it.”
Democrats acknowledge this sentiment. Speaking to a largely Black congregation at a church that had been converted from a Home Depot, former President Bill Clinton used the topic of deportations as a rallying point for applause.
“When President Obama was in office, we sent people who tried to get here without following the law, away, actually more than Donald Trump,” Clinton remarked, drawing cheers as he campaigned for various Democratic candidates, including Davis. “What Donald Trump did was to scare off legal immigrants, people we need to do jobs and create jobs.”
“Donald Trump can accuse Joe Biden and Kamala Harris of being for open borders. That’s not true,” he added.
Clinton spent the weekend campaigning in the pivotal counties of Nash and Wilson alongside Davis, who has faced intense criticism from Buckhout over border-related issues. She has linked him to the Biden administration's performance and the rise in fentanyl and drug-related problems, also targeting his vote against a conservative border bill passed by House Republicans last year.
This district narrowly favored Joe Biden by less than 2 points in the last cycle after being redistricted from one that had given Biden a 9-point margin in 2020. While recent internal Democratic polling shows Davis with a notable lead, Republicans are hopeful that they can reduce the margin as election day nears, leveraging strong appeals on immigration and aligning themselves with Trump’s messaging. The two candidates have not engaged in any debates, focusing instead on advertising to reach broader voter segments.
Davis has aligned himself with a tough-on-border approach, mirroring strategies that helped Rep. Tom Suozzi win a special election earlier in the year—a tactic that Democrats planned to emulate widely. He frequently emphasizes his three border visits in ads and has occasionally sided with Republicans on related congressional votes.
“We know that these illegal drugs are making it into communities across America and right here in North Carolina. And I believe families want us to look at this and do something. This is Democrats, Republicans alike,” he said in an interview following an event with Clinton and local Democrats. He expressed his support for both “comprehensive immigration reform” and a stricter border policy.
Local Democrats recognize that the rhetoric from former President Trump, now widely adopted by the GOP, has greatly influenced the race dynamics.
“That's because Trump made that an issue,” noted Nash County Democratic Party Chair Cassandra Conover, whose hair was dyed blue to represent their "unapologetically blue" county. “The issues that the local candidates have are all Trump's issues.”
As Carly Lindsay, a 60-year-old physician, pointed out before a Democratic canvassing event: “It's not as if they come across illegal immigrants on a daily basis here.”
Despite abortion being a significant topic in many congressional races this year, Buckhout has attempted to differentiate herself from more hardline GOP positions on the issue, such as a national ban.
“I am pro-life, and I support all the standard exceptions, and so a national ban is not on the table as far as I'm concerned,” she emphasized.
Republicans express optimism about flipping Davis’ seat and closing the gap in the race during the final days. Mick Rankin, the chair of the Wilson County Republican Party, conveyed confidence yet acknowledged the challenge ahead, describing Davis as “a nice guy” who is well-known in the community.
He did, however, slightly temper his criticism of Davis, stating, “He hasn't done a whole lot to bring a lot of money into the 1st District. It's only his first term. I'll give him that.”
Complicating matters further are controversies surrounding GOP gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, which could negatively impact other Republican contenders, many of whom are aligned with the lieutenant governor. In response, Democrats have run ads featuring both Buckhout and Robinson. Buckhout chose to address questions about her stance on Robinson cautiously.
“Mark is running his race. I'm running mine. So this is about policies, not personality. So I'm running my race, and I feel good about it,” she said.
Robinson’s issues have not discouraged much of the Republican base in Wilson County, where enthusiasm for November remains, even in light of skepticism about their gubernatorial nominee's prospects.
“I don't think he's going to win. And I think abortion is what’s going to get him — too far right,” said Bentley Massey, a 63-year-old retiree, while shucking oysters. He had voted for Robinson and expressed strong support for Buckhout, stating, “She’s my girl.”
Both candidates are sticking firmly to their party lines on immigration. When asked about preferred border legislation, Buckhout declared, “We definitely have to close the border” and expressed support for the conservative border bill passed by House Republicans this Congress. She described the previous “Remain in Mexico” policy established during Trump’s presidency as a “good start” and expressed approval for his border initiatives.
In turn, Davis noted the bipartisan border deal that had been discussed in the current Congress, which Democrats, including Harris, have used to argue that Republicans aren't approaching the immigration issue earnestly: “I believe there's a lot of legislation that is already out there that we can refine and tune.”
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
