Vulnerable House Dem 'fighting' to retain his seat rejects GOP challenger's claim he's 'beholden' to Biden

A North Carolina Democrat seeking re-election successful the House says helium is "fighting each day" for the families successful his territory arsenic helium fends disconnected accusations made by his Republican challenger that he's "beholden" to President Biden and dismissive of constituent concerns.

Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C., said helium and his squad person "been moving truthful hard to present for families crossed eastbound North Carolina" successful an interrogation with Fox News Digital.

"In the past fewer weeks alone, we've announced implicit $13 cardinal successful assemblage task funds, 15 antithetic projects successful 8 counties."

Republican Laurie Buckhout, who is successful the contention to correspond North Carolina's 1st Congressional District, said Davis is simply a "career politician" who has "never had a time successful his beingness wherever he's tally a business." 

FORMER ARMY COLONEL SEEKING TO FLIP NORTH CAROLINA HOUSE SEAT SAYS DEM OPPONENT IS 'BEHOLDEN' TO BIDEN

Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C., the Democratic nominee, volition look disconnected against Republican Laurie Buckhout successful the contention to correspond North Carolina's 1st Congressional District. (Getty Images, Laurie Buckhout campaign)

But Davis, an Air Force veteran, said helium is "working each azygous time to marque definite that the radical of eastbound North Carolina, that their voices are heard successful Washington, D.C., that we're making connections and telling the story."

He besides rejected his Republican challenger's assertion helium is "beholden" to President Biden and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.

"Let maine beryllium clear. I privation to convey Col. Buckhout for her work to our country. But I deliberation she couldn't beryllium much disconnected connected that full remark due to the fact that this is not astir being beholden," helium said. "I've heard astir flipping the seat. But, for me, it's astir warring each time for families of eastbound North Carolina."

Davis said helium is "only beholden to the families of eastbound North Carolina," and pointed to his "fight" for farmers and subject families successful his district.

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"I'm warring to marque definite that our children, our young people, person a future," helium said. "I'm beholden to that husbandman retired determination who is struggling close present to fig retired however they're going to support the workplace open. I'm beholden close present to those young radical who spot that they person a aboriginal successful the East. I'm beholden to those veterans and those subject families who are putting their lives connected the enactment each azygous day.

"I'm lone beholden to the radical of eastbound North Carolina, and I deliberation radical cognize that astir me."

Buckhout, a erstwhile Army colonel and first-time candidate, besides took purpose astatine Davis for his voting record.

"We person to admit that Davis is conscionable Biden's, you know, surrogate connected the ground," Buckhout said. "He's his agent, he's his guy. He does what Biden says. He votes with Biden."

"I'm lone beholden to the radical of eastbound North Carolina, and I deliberation radical cognize that astir me," Davis told Fox News Digital. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Davis, however, urged voters to look astatine his grounds arsenic helium campaigns successful the race, which has been ranked a "Democrat Toss Up" by nonpartisan predetermination expert the Cook Political Report.

"Anyone tin instrumentality a look astatine my record. I mean, you're talking to the third-ranking subordinate of our caucus successful the Congress erstwhile it comes to bipartisanship," Davis said.

Asked astir the main concerns among those surviving successful eastbound North Carolina, Davis admitted determination are "enormous concerns close present with costs."

"It's truly costly erstwhile you enactment the outgo of nutrient connected apical of paying rent, a owe payment, housing. And we cognize that we inactive person large wellness disparities. And we person to past enactment immoderate outgo of medications connected apical of that," helium said. "It begins to adhd up, and it places a batch of accent connected families."

Davis said helium had made much than 170 antithetic stops successful the territory arsenic helium campaigns for re-election and recognizes that "people are hurting."

"I consciousness the pain, you know, with the outgo of conscionable trying to marque ends meet," helium said.

Among different concerns, Davis, who antecedently served arsenic the politician of Snow Hill, North Carolina, successful the aboriginal 2000s, said his constituents person been vocal astir broadband and infrastructure.

Davis stands alongside Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., and Jared Golden, D-Maine, during a quality league astatine the U.S. Capitol successful Washington, D.C., March 6, 2024. (Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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In October 2023, the North Carolina General Assembly adopted caller legislature territory boundaries, adding the counties of Chowan, Franklin, Greene, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell and the remainder of Vance to the state's 1st Congressional District. The recently redrawn territory present excludes Wayne County.

Davis, who has served successful Congress since 2023 and antecedently served for 10 years successful the North Carolina authorities Senate, volition look disconnected against Buckhout successful the state's wide predetermination Nov. 5.