Election 2024: National debt gets little attention in Buckhout, Davis race

(The Center Square) – Republican Laurie Buckhout and North Carolina 1st Congressional District incumbent Democrat Don Davis are split on tax policy, both taking up the talking points of their respective national parties.

In one of the tightest U.S. House races in the nation, Buckhout and Davis are fighting to win the only truly competitive congressional race in North Carolina.

In District 1, voters are concerned about issues like inflation and the economy, which are the focus of the candidates. Yet, there is little concern across the nation for tax policies and governmental spending, even as the federal national debt skyrockets.

According to last Thursday's release of a Carolina Journal poll , only 6% of North Carolina likely voters listed taxes/spending as a top concern. In contrast, nearly half said either inflation/prices or jobs/economy were their top priorities.

For both voters and candidates, there seems to be a disconnect between issues like inflation and the economy and national taxes, spending and debt.

Buckhout, a staunch “America first” Republican, has backed many of former President Donald Trump’s economic policies, including his tax and spending proposals.

Buckhout has supported Trump's plan for no taxes on tips, Social Security or overtime pay.

She has blamed Biden administration policies, and Davis, for hurting voters and has called for change in the district, which has not voted a Republican U.S. House candidate into office since 1883.

“Unfortunately, Kamalanomics is devastating our family farms with skyrocketing inflation and high prices,” she said on social media . “We need a leader in Washington who will fight for economic policies that help the farmers in #NC01…and I’m ready to do just that!”

Davis has been aligned with the Biden administration on many of its tax and spending priorities, recently endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.

“The stakes of this presidential election are incredibly high, with far-reaching implications,” Davis said .

Since entering office in 2023, Davis has said that it is “essential” for the United States to repay its national debt. It hit $35 trillion this year.

As a representative, Davis voted against a bill that would lower the corporate tax rate. He also voted in favor of a bill that increased child tax credits.

Buckhout has drawn a very stark line between Trump tax policies and the policies she says Harris and Democrats will enact if elected.

“Kamalanomics is already directly impacting the pocketbooks of North Carolinians, and if she wins in November...we will pay the price,” she said on social media . “Under Kamala’s plan, the people of North Carolina will pay upwards of $2,265 MORE per year in taxes. True insanity!”

Buckhout told Neuse News in an interview in the spring she believes in limited government.

“I'm a Reagan Republican,” Buckhout said. “My first vote ever was for Ronald Reagan. You got to stop the spending. The debt is so insane. The interest on the debt, all of it’s contributing to inflation. As far as legislation and laws go, I’m big into ‘less is more.’”