Vice President Vance campaigned Friday in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, focusing on the redrawn 1st Congressional District that Republicans hope to flip in November. Laurie Buckhout, a military veteran and former defense official, won the GOP primary and will rematch Rep. Don Davis, who beat her by 1.5 points in 2024. Vance framed his remarks around President Trump’s economic agenda amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East, and Politico reported he has voiced skepticism about recent strikes in Iran.
Vance Campaigns in North Carolina Battleground as GOP Targets Redrawn 1st District
Vice President Vance campaigned Friday in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, speaking in the state's newly redrawn 1st Congressional District — a seat Republicans are targeting as a potential pickup this November.
The district was redrawn this cycle to create another opportunity for the GOP. Laurie Buckhout, a military veteran and longtime defense official, won the Republican primary earlier this month and will face Rep. Don Davis (D) in a rematch. Davis defeated Buckhout by just 1.5 percentage points in 2024, making the race one of the most closely watched contests in the state.
Political strategists view the district as one of the Republican Party’s best pickup chances amid a challenging national landscape for the GOP to retain its House majority. Vance has spent much of the year delivering campaign-style speeches to promote President Trump’s economic agenda ahead of the midterm elections, and Friday’s remarks in Rocky Mount continued that effort.
His appearance came 13 days into the conflict in Iran. Politico reported Friday that Vance had been a skeptical voice in the White House about the recent strikes, a stance that added geopolitical context to his campaign messaging.
Event details: Vance was scheduled to speak at 2 p.m. EDT. A replay of the event is available for viewers who missed the live remarks.
Help us improve.
