Butterfield makes his endorsement for which Democrat should replace him in Congress

U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield has endorsed state Sen. Don Davis, a Greene County Democrat, in the campaign to succeed him in Congress.

Butterfield chose Davis from among four Democratic candidates vying for the party’s nomination to run for his seat in the House of Representatives. Among them, Davis and former state Sen. Erica Smith have emerged as front-runners. In a potentially competitive district that leans Democrat, several Republicans have also entered the race.

“Having served in Congress for 18 years, I know what people of the first district expect from their representatives,” Butterfield said in a news release Monday morning. “Don has the legislative experience and is prepared to fight for the Democratic agenda of empowering America’s families and communities.”

“I’m confident Don Davis will fight to protect voting rights, provide a safety net for those who have been left behind due to the pandemic, and advocate for public-private partnerships to build much needed infrastructure in the first district,” Butterfield said.

Butterfield, a 74-year-old Democrat from Wilson, has served North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District since 2004. A civil rights advocate and former judge, he announced his retirement last year after new political maps left him in a less favorable district.

“It is extremely humbling that he would think enough to support our campaign,” Davis told The News & Observer Monday morning. “The congressman is very thoughtful and thorough and this is what I see as a rally cry for the residents of Eastern North Carolina.”

Davis, a six-term state senator, is a former Air Force officer and mayor of the town of Snow Hill.

He said the endorsement is about something much bigger than himself: fighting for the future of the district.

“He understands the U.S. House and what it takes to be successful and for him using that knowledge base to lend his support and voice to our campaign, and more importantly for him to say, ‘Hey I’m voting for Don Davis and I encourage others to do so,’ Davis said, “I’m just really, really honored.”

Other Democrats in the race include Jullian Bishop Sr. and Jason Spriggs.

While the Eastern North Carolina district leans to the left, its newly drawn lines are less secure than the Democratic stronghold it was before. With redistricting, its demographics have also shifted from majority-minority to majority-white, The N&O reported.

Democratic front-runners

Butterfield’s endorsement could tip the scales in a potentially close race between Davis and Smith.

Smith, a former candidate for U.S. Senate, has held the edge in fundraising, with more than $785,000 raised, according to Federal Election Commission data. Davis has accrued more than $426,000.

“Congressman Butterfield has served this district with distinction from almost 20 years and any candidate would be proud to have his endorsement,” Smith said in a statement Monday. “I congratulate Don Davis on securing his support.”

In the same statement, Smith said she has support from members of Congress including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Katie Porter as well as from more than 15 political action committees and organizations that include Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Sunrise Movement, Higher Heights, Elect Black Women, the Collective PAC and more than 100 community leaders and local elected officials.

Smith, a former educator and minister who served in the state Senate from 2015 through 2021, has run twice for the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate.

In the 2020 election, she sought the party’s nomination to challenge Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, but lost the bid to Cal Cunningham. Tillis would go on to win reelection.

The two Democratic front-runners have clashed recently over abortion rights, with Smith’s campaign and advocacy groups criticizing Davis on his voting record, The Charlotte Observer reported. Critics pointed to a 2020 vote to block some taxpayer dollars from health care providers that provide abortions.

But Davis said he supports access to abortion and reproductive health care.

“I want to be perfectly clear: I’m not going to have any opponent define my record,” he said at the time. “My record speaks for itself, and particularly I’m not going to allow any of my opponents to distort my record.”

Butterfield’s decision

In a news release Monday, Butterfield said he considers both Davis and Smith friends but did not allow either friendship to play into his decision.

He told the two candidates they had until mid-April to put together platforms and to demonstrate their ability to defeat what he assumes will be a well-funded Republican challenger.

Davis told The N&O he believes Butterfield saw the fighter in him and that a fierce voice is needed in Washington to help constituents in Eastern North Carolina. Davis said North Carolina can’t be successful if politicians leave behind the eastern parts of the state and he wants to be their voice in Washington.

“The 1st District is no longer a solid and reliable Democratic district,” Butterfield said. “It can fall in either direction depending on strengths and weaknesses of the Democratic nominee and Democratic turnout.”

He listed 11 factors he weighed from their education and family support, to their ability to work across the aisle and garner grassroots support.

“I have concluded that Don Davis meets and exceeds my criteria for the strongest Democratic nominee to enter the General Election in November,” Butterfield said.

For more North Carolina government and politics news, listen to the Under the Dome politics podcast from The News & Observer and the NC Insider. You can find it at https://campsite.bio/underthedome or wherever you get your podcasts.

This story was originally published April 25, 2022 at 11:00 AM.