In the First Congressional District of North Carolina, a new television advertisement is targeting incumbent Democrat Rep. Don Davis (D‑NC) over his vote on a federal tax‑cut measure. The ad, produced by a nonprofit that backs Republican challenger Laurie Buckhout, a retired Army colonel from Edenton, claims Davis voted against a bill that would lower taxes on overtime pay, tips and Social Security benefits.
Local impact highlighted in the ad
The commercial opens with a young adult who describes himself as a four‑year veteran of heating and air‑conditioning installations. He says, “Eastern North Carolina is hot and expensive. Hot is good for business, but expensive makes it hard to raise a family. No tax on overtime makes it a little bit more worth it when you have to spend a little extra time away from the family.” He urges viewers to call Davis and ask him to prioritize working families in the region.
While the ad focuses on the personal story of a local tradesperson, the underlying issue is a roll‑call vote (No. 145) that took place in the U.S. House on May 22, 2025. The measure, known as the Working Families Tax Cut, sought to eliminate federal taxes on overtime earnings, tips and for Social Security beneficiaries. The resolution passed the chamber by a narrow 215‑214 margin, with two Democrats absent and one Republican voting present.
Davis’ vote and the broader political context
Rep. Davis, along with fellow North Carolina Democrats Deborah Ross, Valerie Foushee and Alma Adams, voted against the proposal. Their opposition placed them on the opposite side of a bipartisan coalition that framed the bill as the largest tax cut in American history for working families.
The ad also references the 2024 election in which Davis defeated Buckhout by 6,307 votes, a margin of 49.5% to 47.8%. That race was the closest in the state’s congressional contests, falling well within the 13.5% threshold that triggers a recount under North Carolina law.
Funding and national relevance
The nonprofit behind the ad is part of a larger $1.3 million advertising effort in the district, which was redrawn in October 2023 to improve Republican competitiveness in the northeastern corner of the state—a region that has not elected a Republican to Congress since the 1882 election.
Nationally, the American Action Network reported spending $22 million on issue‑advocacy campaigns related to the Working Families Tax Cut across 41 congressional districts. The organization characterizes the measure as a historic tax reduction and accuses House Democrats of raising taxes on working families while supporting “radical priorities” such as taxpayer‑funded pediatric gender treatments.
What voters can expect
North Carolinians will have another chance to weigh in on federal representation when absentee ballots are mailed on September 4, ahead of the November 5 primary. In addition to the congressional race, voters will select a U.S. senator, all 14 members of the House, and the entire 170‑member General Assembly.
Both campaigns are emphasizing how federal tax policy affects everyday households, especially those relying on overtime income and Social Security benefits. As the election approaches, the district’s voters will hear continued arguments about whether cutting taxes on overtime and tips truly eases the financial strain on families or whether other fiscal priorities should take precedence.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
