NC’s congressional candidates rake in cash with new maps expected this week

North Carolina’s congressional candidates are readying their war chests as Republicans draw new electoral maps, setting up fierce, expensive battles as the GOP aims to flip Democratic seats.

Although the state currently has seven Democrats and seven Republicans representing it in Congress, that ratio is unlikely to remain after a court decision favoring Republicans regarding gerrymandering.

North Carolina’s current congressional maps were drawn by a group of “special masters” appointed by a panel of judges, after the courts found that the first two maps drawn by the legislature were unconstitutionally gerrymandered to give Republicans an advantage.

However, after Republicans swept statewide judicial elections in 2022, those rulings were reversed, and the court’s new GOP majority ruled that it has no jurisdiction over claims of partisan gerrymandering. The U.S. Supreme Court has also held that it will not rule on partisan gerrymandering.

House Speaker Tim Moore told reporters last week that the plan was to release new maps on Oct. 20.

Since maps haven’t been approved yet, the potential challenges aren’t exactly set in stone. Depending on how redistricting works out, some candidates may decide to drop out or run in a different area.

With all of that in mind, here’s where some of the major races stand:

NC-1: Don Davis vs. Laurie Buckhout

Freshman Democratic Rep. Don Davis served over 10 years in the North Carolina Senate before being elected to the U.S. House in 2022.

He’ll likely face off against Laurie Buckhout, a retired army colonel who announced her campaign on Monday. Davis is also a veteran, having served in the U.S. Air Force.

Buckhout announced she’ll invest $1 million of her own money into the campaign.

Davis himself currently has nearly $500,000 cash on hand, per recent FEC filings.

The district, as currently drawn, covers much of Eastern North Carolina, including Rocky Mount and Greenville.

NC-13: Wiley Nickel vs. Erin Paré

A particularly expensive race is shaping up between U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel, another freshman Democrat in the U.S. House, and state Rep. Erin Paré, a Republican who has served two terms in the state House.

Nickel’s campaign reported raising over $1.3 million so far this cycle. Paré, who launched her campaign at the end of August, has pulled in $200,000 so far after investing $400,000 of her own money to start.

Paré’s campaign so far has touted her conservative bona fides, noting her work to pass a 12-week abortion ban and North Carolina’s “Parents’ Bill of Rights,” which bans curriculum on gender and sexuality in early grades.

Nickel’s campaign, on the other hand, has played up his work in the Obama administration and focused on liberal priorities like abortion access and voting rights.

NC-13 currently includes southern Wake County as well as Harnett, Johnston and Wayne counties. This will be one of the most closely watched areas in the redistricting process and could be subject to significant changes.

NC-14: Jeff Jackson vs. Pat Harrigan

Democratic Rep. Jeff Jackson, an Army National Guard member and first-term lawmaker who has become somewhat famous for his TikTok account explaining issues in Congress, will likely face off against Green Beret veteran Pat Harrigan, a Republican.

Jackson has brought in about $780,000 so far this cycle. Harrigan, who announced his campaign at the end of August, has quickly caught up, bringing in about $250,000 in contributions on top of the $500,000 he personally invested in his campaign.

Jackson has already predicted that state Republicans will use redistricting “as an opportunity to take me out,” saying that they will redraw the maps to ensure a member of the GOP represents the area.

Currently, NC-14 includes Mecklenburg and Gaston counties.