Buckhout defeats Smith in North Carolina’s swingiest congressional district

Retired Army Col. Laurie Buckhout has advanced to the general election against Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Davis.

Retired Army Col. Laurie Buckhout discusses her Republican bid for North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District in an interview.

Retired Army Col. Laurie Buckhout has won her primary in North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District. Her victory ends businesswoman Sandy Smith’s third attempt at carrying the eastern North Carolina district that has long been in Democratic hands.

Buckhout campaigned heavily on the issue of immigration, inundated voters with television ads highlighting her 26-year military career and presented herself as the more mild-mannered Republican in the race best equipped to take on Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Davis in the general election.