North Carolina 2026 primary election: Votes are in, next steps ahead

Congresswoman Valerie Foushee declared victory on Tuesday night, but the closeness of the outcome likely triggers an automatic recount.

As the night wound down, crowds began to dwindle at Nida Allam's watch party in downtown Durham.

Supporters watched results come in. Allam trailed Foushee most of the night, but only by a small margin in their Congressional District-4 race.

Valerie Foushee claimed victory on Tuesday night, but Nida Allam said there will be an automatic recount.

It was expected to be a race to watch, and it lived up to the billing.

A closer look showed Allam leading in Wake and Durham counties, which was not unexpected. Durham is Allam's home base, where she has served as a county commissioner since 2020.

The incumbent Foushee led in Chatham County and in Orange County, where most of her public service life was based.

Allam addressed her supporters just before midnight. She said this race moves to an automatic recount.

With all 142 precincts reporting, Foushee had 61,537 votes (49.18%) to 60,335 (48.22%) for Allam. A third candidate, Mary Patterson, received 3,253 votes.

For her part, Foushee released a statement, saying, in part, "I am incredibly grateful for the outpour of support from my constituents across the 4th District. Serving this district in Congress is my highest honor, and I am deeply humbled to have the opportunity to represent this district for another term. The people of the 4th District demand progressive change like dismantling ICE, ensuring Medicare for All, regulating AI, establishing a Green New Deal, and passing legislation to block arms sales to Israel. This remains my top priority in Congress-no matter what narrative out-of-state groups attempt to cast about my voting record."

Foushee's watch party was a private event.

Former State Rep. Dr. Raymond Smith has emerged as the projected winner in the Democratic primary for North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District, securing 56.6% of the vote with 23,438 votes over opponent Allison Jaslow, with all 191 precincts reporting.

The race drew heightened attention as it marked the first election since lawmakers redrew the state's congressional maps last October, adding Greene, Lenoir, Wayne, and Wilson counties to the district.

Smith, a former educator and combat veteran who previously represented Wayne and Sampson counties in the state legislature, capitalized on his high name recognition and deep community ties.

Former State Rep. Dr. Raymond Smith has emerged as the projected winner in the Democratic primary for North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District.

"Unfortunately, my opponent does not live in the district. She is not from the district and has nothing in common with the district. So, being a native son of this district, knowing this district, having served this district, I feel is very important that the right candidate go forward - and the right candidate should be someone who has familiarity with the district," Smith said after polls closed.

With Wayne County now part of District 3, Smith is seen to have an advantage going into the general election, where he will face Republican incumbent Greg Murphy.

Murphy, who has represented the district for seven years and is a supporter of President Donald Trump, has campaigned on reducing the cost of living and improving community safety.

The November matchup between Smith and Murphy is expected to be closely watched, as both candidates tout strong records of public service and deep connections to the region.

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Senate Leader Phil Berger trailed Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page by just two votes in the GOP primary for Senate District 26.

Page collected 13,077 votes to 13,075 for Berger.

Berger, the most powerful Republican state politician of recent times, trailed by significant margins for much of the evening before closing with just a couple of votes, with all 48 precincts reporting.

A recount is expected after such a close result.

Page was up on Berger by 2 votes.

GOP candidate Laurie Buckhout has won her primary in Congressional District 1.

Buckhout's win sets up a high-profile House race against Democrat Don Davis. It's a rematch of a November 2024 contest in eastern North Carolina.

"I'm grateful to the voters across Eastern North Carolina who rallied behind our campaign tonight. Republicans are united and ready to send a fighter to Washington," Buckhout said. "Don Davis has spent his time in Congress doing little for this district while voting for the largest tax hike in American history and siding with Washington insiders instead of eastern North Carolina's farmers, workers, and small businesses. I spent my career as a U.S. Army Colonel leading troops in combat and defending this country. Now I'm ready to take that same mission-first leadership to Washington - to stand up to weak politicians like Don Davis and fight for safer communities, a stronger economy, and the people of Eastern North Carolina."

Laurie Buckhout's win sets up a high-profile House race against Democrat Don Davis. It's a rematch of a November 2024 contest in eastern North Carolina.

The decorated combat veteran and Bronze Star recipient will now face off again against the incumbent Davis in the November general election. The two faced off in November 2024 in a contest that Davis emerged as the winner by less than two percentage points in one of the tightest House races in the country.

However, this year's rematch will look different. Republican mapmakers redrew the district last year in an effort to make it significantly more favorable to the GOP.

In Tuesday's primary, Davis ran unopposed. His campaign said he would be spending the evening in Washington, D.C., and watching the results as they came in.

"At this point, we can only focus on what we can focus on. They already made their plans to make things," said voter Kamiya Battle. "They're redrawing the margins in different states as well. We can only show up and do what we can do to make things happen."

"I'm not worried about Democrat or Republican," added Erin Pace of Rocky Mount. "I just do the best I can."

With Buckhout as the clear winner, Davis now faces a much steeper climb to hold onto his seat.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) congratulated Buckhout.

"Congratulations to Laurie Buckhout on her primary win! As a retired Army Colonel and former Acting Assistant Secretary of War for Cyber Policy, Buckhout has what it takes to defeat do-nothing Don Davis this fall. In Congress, Laurie will be a strong advocate for Eastern North Carolina and help President Trump improve national security, grow the economy, and ensure the success of America's farmers," said NRCC Spokesman Reilly Richardson.

The RNC also took aim at Davis.

"Don Davis betrayed North Carolina, voting in lockstep with Joe Biden's agenda that delivered sky-high costs, rising crime, and an open border, while standing in the way of the America First priorities North Carolinians voted for. Don Davis is a spineless career politician who puts the radical left ahead of his district, and Laurie Buckhout will send him into permanent retirement this November, RNC spokeswoman Emma Hall said.

Democrats quickly attacked Buckhout.

"Laurie Buckhout has no real interest in serving the people of eastern North Carolina. Her priority is acting as another rubber-stamp for the same Washington politicians who are making everyday life more expensive for North Carolinians," said DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene. "While Don Davis was busy fighting for affordable health care, lowering costs, and bringing money back home, Laurie was rubbing shoulders with Washington elites and doing everything she could to stay out of North Carolina. This November, voters are going to send Don Davis - a trusted fighter - back to Congress."

Buckhout won against a strong challenge from Asa Buck as well as three other candidates in the GOP field. She finished with nearly 40% of the vote with all 292 precincts reporting. Buck finished second with 34.45% of the tally.

The winner of November's general election between Buckhout and Davis could ultimately have an impact on the balance of power for the U.S. House in Washington.