KINSTON — A third Republican has entered the race to unseat Democratic Rep. Don Davis in North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, setting up a competitive GOP primary ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Eric Rouse, 53, of Kinston, announced his congressional campaign on Monday, becoming the latest Republican to seek his party’s nomination. Rouse, a small business owner and vice chairman of the Lenoir County Board of Commissioners, made the announcement first to McClatchy.
“I’m running for Congress because I will fight in support of President Trump and the America First Agenda,” Rouse said in a news release. “I will support an agenda where the top priority is protecting and promoting more and better American jobs for American workers.”
Rouse will face state Sen. Bobby Hanig of Currituck County and Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson in the Republican primary, scheduled for March 3, 2026. The winner will challenge Davis, who has represented the district since 2023.
This is not Rouse’s first foray into congressional politics. He previously campaigned in a 2019 special election held after the death of Rep. Walter Jones, a Republican who represented North Carolina’s 3rd Congressional District. Before redistricting, Lenoir County was part of that district.
The 1st Congressional District, which stretches across northeastern North Carolina, includes parts of the state’s rural and coastal communities. The district has been a competitive battleground in recent election cycles.
The general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
One response to “Third Republican Joins Primary Race to Challenge Rep. Don Davis in NC’s 1st District”
[…] Three Republicans have announced plans to run against Don Davis in 2026: state Senator Bobby Hanig of Currituck County, Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson, and Lenoir County businessman Eric Rouse. […]