Can Democrat Don Davis take credit for money Congress sent to NC?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Davis handed out nearly $8.4M tied to two 2026 appropriation bills.
- Buckhout accused Davis of claiming credit for district funds.
- Records show Davis voted for H.R. 5371 and H.R. 6938 funding local projects.
Rep. Don Davis spent the first three days of his district work period, last week, traveling to nine locations in northeastern North Carolina passing out giant checks worth nearly $8.4 million.
The same week, a post on social media by his Republican opponent, Laurie Buckhout, said he was taking undue credit for money he voted against.
The post in question tells her followers that Davis voted no on the One Big Beautiful Bill. That much is true.
“Republicans passed it ... and delivered for our communities,” Buckhout wrote on social media. “Now Davis is trying to claim credit. You can’t vote against your district in Washington and pretend you fought for it back home. Eastern North Carolinians see right through his charade.”
When Davis voted against the bill, he said in a written statement, “While I wholeheartedly support safeguarding the American people by strengthening our national defense and securing our border, it is also deeply concerning that the average hardworking family in eastern North Carolina will bear the brunt of H.R. 1’s out-of-touch spending, as the wealthiest individuals and Washington, D.C. insiders stand to benefit the most.”
Buckhout’s post also includes a graphic with a picture of Davis in front of an NBC News headline: “Democrats tout projects funded by a bill they voted against.”
And this is where things get messy.
Misconstrued money
The article in question does not mention the One Big Beautiful Bill, nor does it mention Davis.
It does mention House Resolution 5371, a bill Davis did vote in favor of, against his party’s wishes, that ended a 43-day government shutdown. It’s also one of the two bills that funded many of the projects Davis passed out checks for last week.
“Congressman Davis voted for the government funding legislation that provides the funding for these projects,” said Hannah Spengler, his spokeswoman. “Unfortunately, Laurie Buckhout has been misleading voters on social media by falsely claiming Congressman Davis is ‘taking credit’ for projects he didn’t vote for. That claim is simply wrong.”
Several people began commenting on social media posts saying that he was taking credit for funding he did not get the district. In one post showing Davis passing out a check, someone wrote, “He actually got the tax money from the Big Beautiful Bill in which he voted against.” Another person wrote that Davis was “trying to claim credit” for funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill.
A third, on Buckhout’s post, said, “Those cheks he’s runing around the district giving out from the BBB should have Donald Trumps name on it not his.” Buckhout “liked” the message.
Appropriate appropriations
The money Davis distributed last week came from two appropriation bills: the one that ended the shutdown, H.R. 5371, labeled Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026; and House Resolution 6938, described as Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026.
Here’s a list of checks he passed out in the first three days and which bill the money was allocated in:
- Greene County Senior Center: $1,015,000 (House Resolution 5371)
- Town of Tarboro : $1,092,000 (House Resolution 6938)
- Town of Whitakers: $1,015,000 (H.R. 5371)
- Town of Sharpsburg: $1,092,000 (H.R. 6938)
- Gates County: $1 million (H.R. 5371)
- Hertford County Sheriff’s Office: $386,000 (H.R. 6938)
- Hertford County: $1,092,000 (H.R. 6938)
- Town of Ahoskie: $606,000 (H.R. 6938)
- Northampton County: $1,092,000 (H.R. 6938)
Davis voted for both bills.
“Congressman Davis supported the government funding bills that finance these projects and worked to deliver these resources to eastern North Carolina,” Spengler said. “Buckhout’s comments suggest either a fundamental misunderstanding of how the appropriations process works, which would be concerning for someone seeking a seat in Congress, or a deliberate attempt to mislead voters in order to score political points.”
At the time of H.R. 6938’s passage, Davis wrote in a news release: “Every eastern North Carolinian deserves clean water and safe streets. When aging water systems break down, and law enforcement officers lack the equipment they need, our communities suffer. By modernizing water infrastructure and investing in public safety, we are giving towns like Garysburg, Sharpsburg, Ahoskie, and Tarboro the foundation to grow and thrive for generations.”
When H.R. 5371 passed, Davis wrote: “Support for our military families, veterans, farmers, and those in need is now included in the updated continuing resolution. To support my constituents, alleviate the suffering of our families as the holidays approach, and bring vital resources to eastern North Carolina, I voted to reopen the government. While some Washington politicians from both parties have failed rural communities, the battle for healthcare is not over.”
One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Buckhout’s team doubled down, to McClatchy, saying it was Davis’ team misconstruing what they wrote.
“Don Davis can’t argue the facts — so he is trying to pick apart a social media graphic to save his failed career in politics,” Buckhout’s campaign said in a written statement to McClatchy. “Buckhout‘s post did not mention the bills he is referencing, and did point out his hypocrisy.”
Buckhout’s team pointed McClatchy to two news releases from Davis about the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion strategy from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to bolster health care in rural areas, including North Carolina. The program was authorized through The One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
In December, Davis announced leading a letter with 10 members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation, including both senators, asking CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz to approve North Carolina’s application for the program. The letter explained that 3 million rural residents live in 85 counties across North Carolina, giving the state the second-largest rural population in the nation.
Eleven days later, Davis announced the state was awarded $213 million for 2026 from the program.
“Don Davis voted against the very bill that authorized funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program he now claims to support,” the Buckhout campaign said. “After years in office, Davis continues to leave Eastern North Carolina behind. He had the opportunity to deliver historic tax relief for workers, families, and farmers, yet sided with far-left allies and opposed the Working Families Tax Cuts. He can tout the $213 million investment in rural hospitals all he wants — but he tried to block it. Laurie Buckhout will keep reminding voters of Davis’s record and why it’s time for new leadership in the First District.”
1st District race
Davis, 54, of Snow Hill, is facing off against 65-year-old Buckhout, of Edenton to represent North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District.
Davis is serving his second term in Congress and Republicans are eyeing his seat as a potential pickup in order to maintain the majority.
In September, rumors circulated that Senate leader Phil Berger agreed to redistrict North Carolina’s congressional maps in exchange for an endorsement from the president. Berger denied the agreement, but said he would work with the president on redistricting if asked.
Weeks later, Republicans in the General Assembly voted to change Davis’ district from competitive to red-tinged.
And Trump did endorse Berger, whose seat is now in jeopardy following the primary, despite Trump’s support.
That led to a deluge of Republican candidates filing to run against Davis, though Buckhout came out victorious.
On Friday, Vice President JD Vance visited the 1st District and bolstered Buckhout’s campaign in an event announced by the vice president’s office.
Buckhout and Davis will face off on Nov. 3 in the general election.
