The 2026 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the 14 U.S. representatives from the state of North Carolina, one from each of the state's congressional districts. The elections will coincide with other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections. The primary elections took place on March 3, 2026, and if there was races where no candidate receives over 30% in a primary, runoff elections would take place on May 12.
Redistricting Background On October 13, 2025, the North Carolina General Assembly announced a plan to pass a new congressional map to help the GOP maintain its control in the United States House of Representatives for the 2026 elections as part of the broader 2025 U.S. redistricting cycle after Texas and Missouri had also passed new maps.
On October 21, 2025, the North Carolina Senate passed Senate Bill 249, which targeted the 1st district, the state's only competitive district, as well as the more heavily Republican-leaning 3rd district, with a party-line vote of 26-20. It passed in the House on October 22, 2025, with a party-line vote of 66-48, approved by the General Assembly without the signature of Governor Josh Stein, who does not have the authority to veto the congressional map. This is the first time in the modern era that North Carolina has redrawn maps mid-decade without being court-ordered to do so.
Legal challenges On October 31, 2025, the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, Common Cause, and individual plaintiffs filed motions to seek an injunction against the newly enacted congressional map to block its use for the 2026 United States House of Representatives elections, arguing that the new map linked to SB 249 violates multiple amendments and targets "the heart of the Black Belt." It was already challenged in its prior configuration as intentionally discriminatory, exacerbating the already-demonstrated vote dilution in NC-01 by massively reducing the district’s Black voting-age population and eviscerating North Carolina’s longstanding Black Belt district. An injunction was set for the November 19th deadline.
A three-judge panel later rejected the injunction to pause the implementation of the new map, ruling that the plaintiffs had not made a clear showing that they are likely to succeed on the merits of any of the claims advanced in their preliminary injunction motions and that they had not shown that their First Amendment claims and Fourteenth Amendment partisanship claim are likely to be justiciable, much less successful. The panel added that the direct evidence shows that partisanship, not race, motivated the reconfiguration of the districts, and that even if the new districts have a disparate impact on Black voters, that doesn’t mean lawmakers acted with discriminatory intent.
In January 2026, the plaintiffs dropped the lawsuit.
Statewide polling Statewide congressional polls Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMarginof errorDemocratic Republican OtherUndecidedCatawba College/YouGovSeptember 4–15, 2026885 (LV)–47%38%1%13%New York Times/Siena UniversityJune 15–27, 2026601 (LV)± 4.7%49%44%–6%Harper Polling (R)May 10–11, 2026600 (LV)± 4.0%48%43%–8%Quantus Insights (R)March 31 – April 1, 2026987 (LV)± 3.5%45%43%3%9%High Point University/YouGovMarch 26 – April 6, 2026703 (LV)± 4.3%48%44%2%7%800 (RV)± 4.1%47%42%2%9%Harper Polling (R)March 22–23, 2025600 (LV)± 4.0%48%43%–7%Catawba College/YouGovMarch 9–18, 20261000 (LV)± 3.5%44%25%–27%Change Research (D)September 2–8, 2025855 (LV)± 3.6%45%42%–13%Harper Polling (R)August 11–12, 2025600 (LV)± 3.9%46%46%–8%
District 1
The 1st district was redrawn on October 22, 2025 to favor Republicans, now including all of Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Edgecombe, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Nash, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrell, Vance, Warren, and Washington counties, as well as a small portion of eastern Granville County. The incumbent is Democrat Don Davis, who was re-elected with 49.5% of the vote in 2024.
Democratic primary Nominee Don Davis, incumbent U.S. representative
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of March 31, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handDon Davis (D)$3,232,086$622,857$2,880,071Source: Federal Election Commission
Republican primary Nominee Laurie Buckhout, former acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy (2025) and nominee for this district in 2024 Eliminated in primary Asa Buck, Carteret County sheriff (2006–present) Bobby Hanig, state senator from the 1st district (2022–present) Eric Rouse, vice chair of the Lenoir County Commission and candidate for the 3rd district in 2019 Ashley-Nicole Russell, attorney
Withdrawn Sandy Roberson, mayor of Rocky Mount (2019–present) and candidate for this district in 2022
Declined Greg Murphy, incumbent U.S. representative from the 3rd district (running in the 3rd district) Sandy Smith, farmer, nominee for this district in 2020 and 2022, and candidate in 2024
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of March 31, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handAsa Buck (R)$339,405$309,045$30,360Laurie Buckhout (R)$2,743,029$1,285,714$1,483,619Bobby Hanig (R)$361,096$360,859$237Ashley-Nicole Russell (R)$216,686$215,602$1,084Source: Federal Election Commission
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin AsaBuck LaurieBuckhout BobbyHanig EricRouse Other UndecidedEmerson CollegeFebruary 6–8, 2026500 (LV)± 4.3%22%26%11%5%1%35%
Results
Libertarian primary Nominee Tom Bailey, contractor, former chair of the Guilford County Libertarian Party, and perennial candidate
Independents Disqualified Pamela Jenkins-Gaylord
Jamie Noble, candidate for Mayor of Elizabeth City in 2025 (write-in)
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of Decision Desk HQ July 14, 2026 The Cook Political Report December 1, 2025 Inside Elections September 17, 2026 Sabato's Crystal BallJuly 30, 2026
Post-primary endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on hand Don Davis (D)$4,287,386$987,862$3,570,366 Laurie Buckhout (R)$3,793,077$1,989,720$1,829,661Tom Bailey (L)$0$0$0Source: Federal Election Commission
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DonDavis (D) LaurieBuckhout (R) TomBailey (L) Other UndecidedGBAO (D)September 8–11, 2026500 (LV)50%43%––7%GQR (D)June 22–28, 2026500 (LV)–45%41%8%–6%co/efficient (R)April 25–29, 2026842 (LV)± 3.4%41%41%––18%GQR (D)January 29 – February 2, 2026500 (LV)–42%39%9%1%9%
Generic Democrat vs generic Republican Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GenericDemocrat GenericRepublican Undecidedco/efficient (R)April 25–29, 2026842 (LV)± 3.4%42%46%12%GQR (D)January 29 – February 2, 2026500 (LV)–43%47%10%
Results
District 2
The 2nd district encompasses portions of central Wake County. The incumbent is Democrat Deborah Ross, who was re-elected with 66.3% of the vote in 2024.
Democratic primary Nominee Deborah Ross, incumbent U.S. representative
Withdrawn Rob Bennett, energy policy analyst
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of March 31, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handDeborah Ross (D)$1,419,040$802,867$1,353,684Source: Federal Election Commission
Republican primary Nominee Gene Douglass, professor and candidate for this district in 2024
Libertarian primary Nominee Matt Laszacs, business director and nominee for North Carolina's 14th Senate district in 2022 and North Carolina's 41st House district in 2024
Independent Candidates Brian McGinnis, anti-war activist, Marine veteran, and firefighter (write-in)
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of Decision Desk HQ July 14, 2026 The Cook Political Report February 6, 2025 Inside Elections March 7, 2025Sabato's Crystal BallApril 10, 2025
Post-primary endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on hand Deborah Ross (D) $1,675,978$1,075,801$1,337,687 Eugene Douglass$0$0$0 Matthew Laszacs$0$0$0 Brian McGinnis (WI)$68,363$19,676$0Source: Federal Election Commission
Results
District 3
The 3rd district was redrawn on October 22, 2025 and now includes all of Duplin, Greene, Lenoir, Jones, Onslow, Pitt, Wayne, and Wilson counties, as well as most of Sampson County. The incumbent is Republican Greg Murphy, who was re-elected with 77.4% of the vote in 2024.
Republican primary Nominee Greg Murphy, incumbent U.S. representative
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of March 31, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handGreg Murphy (R)$1,968,152$903,815$2,647,799Source: Federal Election Commission
Democratic primary Nominee Raymond Smith Jr., former state representative from the 21st district (2019–2023), and candidate for North Carolina's 4th Senate district in 2022 and nominee in 2024
Eliminated in primary Allison Jaslow, non-profit executive and veteran
Disqualified George Papastrat, businessman and Republican candidate for this district in 2022 Chris Schulte, professor and nominee for North Carolina's 15th House district in 2022 and 2024
Declined Don Davis, incumbent U.S. representative from the 1st district (running in the 1st district)
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of March 31, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handAllison Jaslow (D)$273,731$273,731$0Raymond Smith Jr. (D)$115,667$68,461$41,091Source: Federal Election Commission
Results
Libertarian primary Nominee Daniel Cavender, technician and nominee for North Carolina's 30th Senate district in 2024
Disqualified Austin Ayers, entrepreneur
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of Decision Desk HQ July 14, 2026 The Cook Political Report October 22, 2025 Inside Elections March 7, 2025Sabato's Crystal Ball September 29, 2026
Post-primary endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on hand Greg Murphy (R)$2,357,956$1,243,599$2,697,820 Raymond Smith Jr. (D)$223,119$137,467$73,711 Daniel Cavender (L)$0$0$0Source: Federal Election Commission
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin GregMurphy (R) RaymondSmith Jr.(D) UndecidedTulchin Research (D)July 27 – August 2, 2026600 (LV)± 4.0%44%41%15%
Results
District 4
The 4th district includes all of Durham and Orange counties, as well as portions of northern Chatham and eastern Wake counties. The incumbent is Democrat Valerie Foushee, who was re-elected with 71.9% of the vote in 2024.
Democratic primary Nominee Valerie Foushee, incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary Nida Allam, Durham County Commissioner (2020–present) and candidate for this district in 2022 Mary Patterson, HR professional and business analyst
Endorsements Endorsements in bold were made after the primary elections.
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of March 31, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handNida Allam (D)$1,120,856$1,024,277$96,579Valerie Foushee (D)$823,413$878,567$30,541Source: Federal Election Commission
Results
Republican primary Nominee Max Ganorkar, home building contractor and perennial candidate
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of March 31, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handMax Ganorkar (R)$5,531$3,485$17,399Source: Federal Election Commission
Libertarian primary Nominee Guy Meilleur, arborist and perennial candidate
Independents Disqualified Demerius Smith, marketing specialist
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of Decision Desk HQ July 14, 2026 The Cook Political Report February 6, 2025 Inside Elections March 7, 2025Sabato's Crystal Ball April 10, 2025
Post-primary endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on hand Valerie Foushee (D)$912,011$949,918$47,788 Max Ganorkar (R)$5,531$3,485$17,399 Guy Meilleur (L)$0$0$0Source: Federal Election Commission
Results