Trump endorses Laurie Buckhout in North Carolina’s 1st District race
Trump gives his complete and total endorsement to retired Army colonel Laurie Buckhout, who is challenging Democratic Rep. Don Davis in North Carolina's 1st Congressional District.
WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald J. Trump endorsed Laurie Buckhout, a retired Army colonel and Republican candidate, in the race for North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District.
Here is the full post on truthsocial: “ Laurie Buckhout has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next U.S. Representative from North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District — SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN! Trump” on September 18, 2026 at 2:25 PM ET.
This is Trump’s 10th message released today, and the last post was 7 minutes ago, and it is not part of a thread. On average, Trump produces 18 posts per day since his inauguration on January 20, 2025. The move fits a broader pattern in Trump’s recent messaging, with 82 of his 571 posts over the last 30 days classified as Elections posts.
Trump paired the endorsement with a 90-second video urging voters to back Buckhout in November. “This November, I’m asking you to vote for Colonel Laurie Buckout, highly respected, to be the next representative North Carolina’s first congressional district,” Trump said in the video. He attacked the incumbent, saying Don Davis “voted against no tax on tips” and “voted against no tax on overtime.” Trump described Davis as “a weak and ineffective leader” and told supporters to “go out and defeat Don Davis.”
Buckhout is a retired Army colonel who worked in the Department of Defense. She was the Republican nominee for the 1st Congressional District in 2024, losing to Davis by fewer than 7,000 votes, according to wtkr. She won the Republican primary in March, setting up a rematch against Davis in November, according to cbsnews. “I know what it’s like to fight for your country,” Buckhout said during the primary debate. “I’m a workhorse, not a show horse. I’m ready to beat Don Davis. I’m ready to get up there and fight with President Trump,” according to wtkr.
47th President of the United States Donald J. Trump endorsed Laurie Buckhout at Washington D.C.
Margo Martin / X (formerly Twitter)
© copyright Zenger.News
Buckhout, of Edenton, ended her 26-year military career as chief of electronic warfare for the U.S. Army after serving in leadership and staff positions, according to carolinajournal. She founded Corvus Consulting, a strategic consulting and services group, and served as its chief executive until selling the business in 2019, according to carolinajournal. She served as an Army officer from 1984 to 2010 and attended James Madison University, and her awards include the Distinguished Service Medal and the Bronze Star, according to nova.afceachapters.
Don Davis is the Democratic incumbent representing North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District. He is considered one of the most vulnerable House Democrats in the midterm elections, facing a tough reelection bid in a district that has leaned further to the right after several rounds of redistricting by state Republicans, according to cbsnews. Davis held off Buckhout in the 2024 election, winning by less than two points after the GOP-controlled legislature redrew the congressional map in 2023, according to cbsnews.
The newly redrawn district is the most competitive in the state, and voters will decide the seat in the November general election, according to wtkr. Trump did not endorse a candidate in the GOP primary, which had five candidates, according to cbsnews.
NewsFindr Chart Maker
Photo by Zenger real-time database of all Truth Social posts.
Zenger analysis
Photo by Zenger analysis