Election 2024: Education policy vague in District 1 race

(The Center Square) – Education has taken a backseat in the race for North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, which is shaping up to be one of the most competitive U.S. House nations in the country.

This comes as only 6.6% of all likely North Carolina voters polled said education was their top priority, according to a new Carolina Journal poll.

While Democratic incumbent Don Davis has said education is one of his priorities, both he and Republican challenger Laurie Buckhout have given few specifics about their stances on education issues like school choice, Title IX or curriculums.

The race is considered the only truly competitive congressional race in North Carolina, though Davis is favored to win.

Since first entering office in 2023, Democrats have touted Davis as a “champion” for his support of historically Black colleges and universities.

“With over 20 years of experience as an educator and a Doctorate in education, Don understands the importance of providing quality, affordable education to everyone,” Davis’ campaign website said.

Buckhout has spoken out about issues like women’s sports, which has quickly become a controversial issue in education over the last few years.

“ALL House Democrats, including my opponent Don Davis, voted AGAINST protecting women’s sports,” she said in a post on social media. “Don Davis is enabling the radical Left’s agenda and their crusade on women.”

Buckhout said District 1 needs a change.

“#NC01 needs real leadership in Washington that will stand up for women’s sports and protect our girls,” she said.

In his time as a representative, Davis introduced House Resolution 8627, or the Student Veteran Debt Relief Act of 2024, which was designed to lower the educational “financial burdens” for veterans.

Neither the U.S. House nor the U.S. Senate has voted on the legislation. Davis has said that he continues to want to expand education access for everyone.

“Don is committed to ensuring that all children in eastern North Carolina have access to good public schools, regardless of ZIP code, and to making college and job training more accessible for all North Carolinians,” his website said. “He wants to expand early childhood education, reduce the cost of higher education, and make significant investments in our HBCUs.”