Where North Carolina's Congressional Candidates Get Their Funding
A district-by-district look at Federal Election Commission filings for every major-party nominee on North Carolina's November ballot
Early voting in North Carolina begins Thursday, Oct. 15, and runs through Saturday, Oct. 31. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Voters will choose a U.S. senator and all 14 members of the state's U.S. House delegation, under a congressional map the General Assembly redrew in October 2025.
Sourced reviewed the campaign finance reports each major-party nominee has filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The figures below cover the 2025-2026 election cycle through June 30, 2026, the end of the most recent reporting period with complete data. The next round of quarterly reports, covering July through September, is due Oct. 15.
This article does not rate or endorse any candidate. It reports where the money came from, as disclosed by the campaigns themselves.
How to read these numbers
Campaigns report their money in several categories. These are the ones used throughout this article:
- Individual contributions: Money given directly by people. Federal law caps these at $3,500 per person, per election, for the 2025-2026 cycle.
- Small-dollar share: The portion of individual money that is unitemized, meaning it came from donors who gave the campaign $200 or less in total. Campaigns do not have to report those donors by name.
- PAC and committee contributions: Money from political action committees and other political committees, including corporate, trade association, union and leadership PACs.
- Transfers: Money moved in from other committees authorized to raise for the candidate, most often joint fundraising committees. Much of it originates with individual donors, but the FEC reports it as a separate line.
- Self-funding: Money candidates gave or loaned to their own campaigns.
- Cash on hand: What the campaign had in the bank on June 30. For incumbents, this can include money carried over from earlier cycles.
The statewide picture
- The Senate race accounts for most of the money.
Former Gov. Roy Cooper (D) reported $34.98 million in receipts through June 30, and former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley (R) reported $11.27 million. Together, the two Senate nominees raised more than all 28 major-party House nominees combined, who reported about $34.08 million.
- Incumbents in both parties lean on PAC money.
Among the 13 House incumbents on the ballot, 10 received at least a third of their receipts from PACs and other political committees. The highest shares belonged to Rep. Alma Adams (D, NC-12) at 73% and Rep. David Rouzer (R, NC-7) at 61%. Challengers, by contrast, raised most of their money from individuals.
- Two nominees largely funded their own campaigns.
Laurie Buckhout (R, NC-1) loaned her campaign $2.40 million, about 63% of her receipts. Paul Barringer (D, NC-13) gave and loaned his campaign about $462,000, roughly 45% of his total.
- One candidate stands out for small donors.
Richard Ojeda (D, NC-9) raised $1.67 million in unitemized contributions, about 75% of his individual money. No other nominee came close to that share at a comparable fundraising level.
- Two nominees have not yet reported any money.
Eugene Douglass (R, NC-2) had reported no receipts as of June 30. State Rep. Jennifer Balkcom (R, NC-11) joined the race in August, after the reporting period closed, so her first numbers will appear in the Oct. 15 filings.
Share of receipts from PACs and committees, House incumbents
U.S. Senate: Cooper vs. Whatley
The seat is open after Sen. Thom Tillis (R) chose not to seek reelection.
| Roy Cooper (D) | Michael Whatley (R) | |
|---|---|---|
| Total receipts | $34.98M | $11.27M |
| Individual contributions | $13.12M (37%) | $5.47M (48%) |
| Small-dollar share of individual money | 36% | 32% |
| Transfers | $19.82M (57%) | $4.62M (41%) |
| PAC and committee contributions | $750K (2%) | $874K (8%) |
| Self-funding | $0 | $0 |
| Cash on hand, June 30 | $20.72M | $3.46M |
| Total spent | $14.26M | $7.81M |
Where the money came from
Both campaigns brought in a large share of their money through transfers. For Cooper, transfers made up more than half of all receipts. Neither candidate put personal money into the race.
Outside spending
Super PACs and other outside groups report independent expenditures separately from the campaigns, and those groups cannot coordinate with the candidates. Through the June 30 quarterly reports, the FEC listed the following:
- Supporting Whatley: Americans for Prosperity Action, $4.37 million; SLF PAC, $658,000.
- Opposing Whatley: WinSenate, $8.78 million.
- Opposing Cooper: Americans for Prosperity Action, $1.77 million; SLF PAC, $560,000; smaller amounts from CatholicVote.org and Red Senate.
- Supporting Cooper: About $301,000 total across 13 groups, led by Workers Vote at $166,000.
Outside spending in the Senate race
The competitive House races
Four major race-rating outlets (Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball and Decision Desk HQ) rate 12 of North Carolina's 14 House districts as safe or likely for one party. The other two are the 1st and the 11th.
1st District: Rep. Don Davis (D) vs. Laurie Buckhout (R)
The October 2025 map moved Greene, Lenoir, Wilson and Wayne counties out of the 1st District and into the 3rd.
| Don Davis (D) | Laurie Buckhout (R) | |
|---|---|---|
| Total receipts | $4.29M | $3.79M |
| Individual contributions | $2.21M (52%) | $557K (15%) |
| Small-dollar share of individual money | 17% | 15% |
| Transfers | $537K (13%) | $481K (13%) |
| PAC and committee contributions | $1.52M (36%) | $347K (9%) |
| Self-funding | $0 | $2.40M (63%) |
| Cash on hand, June 30 | $3.57M | $1.83M |
| Debts owed by campaign | $0 | $3.50M |
Where the money came from
Davis, the incumbent, raised most of his money from individuals and PACs. Buckhout loaned her campaign $2.40 million this cycle and had repaid $400,000 of it by June 30. Her campaign reported $3.50 million in total debts.
Outside groups reported spending at least $829,000 to support Buckhout through June 30, led by American Mission ($509,000) and the Thank You For Your Attention To This Matter PAC ($191,000). One group, 1st Conservative Fund NC, reported $42,000 opposing her. Groups supporting Davis reported $148,000, from Rolling Sea Action Fund ($120,000) and Progressive Turnout Project ($28,000).
11th District: Jamie Ager (D) vs. Jennifer Balkcom (R)
Rep. Chuck Edwards (R) won the Republican primary in March but ended his reelection campaign on Aug. 5, after the House Ethics Committee recommended he be censured. Edwards has denied wrongdoing. On Aug. 10, the district's Republican executive committee chose state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom of Henderson County, who has served in the state House since 2023, as the replacement nominee.
| Jamie Ager (D) | Jennifer Balkcom (R) | |
|---|---|---|
| Total receipts | $3.05M | No report yet |
| Individual contributions | $2.80M (92%) | No report yet |
| Small-dollar share of individual money | 20% | No report yet |
| Transfers | $18K (1%) | No report yet |
| PAC and committee contributions | $223K (7%) | No report yet |
| Self-funding | $0 | No report yet |
| Cash on hand, June 30 | $2.18M | No report yet |
Ager raised nearly all of his money from individual donors. Balkcom's first FEC report, due Oct. 15, will be the first public look at her fundraising. WelcomePAC reported $250,000 in spending to support Ager through June 30.
All 14 districts
Percentages show each category's share of total receipts, except "Small $," which is the unitemized share of individual money.
| District | Candidate | Receipts | Funding mix | Ind. | Small $ | PAC | Self | Cash on hand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Don DavisDIncumbent | $4.29M | 52% | 17% | 36% | 0% | $3.57M | |
| Laurie BuckhoutR | $3.79M | 15% | 15% | 9% | 63% | $1.83M | ||
| 2 | Deborah RossDIncumbent | $1.68M | 57% | 7% | 41% | 0% | $1.34M | |
| Eugene DouglassR | $0 | No receipts reported | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | $0 | |
| 3 | Greg MurphyRIncumbent | $2.36M | 43% | 3% | 44% | 0% | $2.70M | |
| Raymond Smith Jr.D | $223K | 83% | 38% | 12% | 0% | $74K | ||
| 4 | Valerie FousheeDIncumbent | $912K | 45% | 21% | 54% | 0% | $48K | |
| Mahesh GanorkarR | $12K | 52% | 18% | 8% | 38% | $17K | ||
| 5 | Virginia FoxxRIncumbent | $1.66M | 67% | 2% | 25% | 0% | $3.37M | |
| Chuck HubbardD | $395K | 99% | 46% | 0% | 0% | $100K | ||
| 6 | Addison McDowellRIncumbent | $1.23M | 48% | 3% | 42% | 0% | $382K | |
| Cyril JeffersonD | $200K | 91% | 21% | 3% | 0% | $14K | ||
| 7 | David RouzerRIncumbent | $1.99M | 39% | 1% | 61% | 0% | $2.30M | |
| Kimberly HardyD | $294K | 97% | 35% | 0% | 0% | $65K | ||
| 8 | Mark HarrisRIncumbent | $1.02M | 77% | 9% | 20% | 0% | $518K | |
| Colby WatsonD | $40K | 26% | 68% | 2% | 64% | $2K | ||
| 9 | Richard HudsonRIncumbent | $3.22M | 28% | 24% | 50% | 0% | $1.34M | |
| Richard OjedaD | $2.24M | 99% | 75% | 1% | 0% | $164K | ||
| 10 | Pat HarriganRIncumbent | $1.08M | 57% | 13% | 33% | 0% | $451K | |
| Ashley BellD | $84K | 76% | 47% | 1% | 18% | $26K | ||
| 11 | Jamie AgerD | $3.05M | 92% | 20% | 7% | 0% | $2.18M | |
| Jennifer BalkcomR | No report yet | No receipts reported | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 12 | Alma AdamsDIncumbent | $371K | 26% | 13% | 73% | 0% | $457K | |
| Jack CodigaR | $29K | 89% | 7% | 0% | 11% | $3 | ||
| 13 | Brad KnottRIncumbent | $1.34M | 36% | 6% | 49% | 0% | $708K | |
| Paul BarringerD | $1.02M | 54% | 14% | 0% | 45% | $515K | ||
| 14 | Tim MooreRIncumbent | $1.54M | 72% | 2% | 28% | 0% | $1.58M | |
| Lakesha WomackD | $25K | 91% | 52% | 4% | 0% | -$376 |
Percentages in a row may not add to 100%. Transfers, party committee contributions and other small categories appear in the funding mix bar but not as separate columns.
District notes
2nd District. Ross raised $1.68 million, with 41% from PACs and committees. Douglass had not reported any receipts by June 30.
3rd District. Murphy's PAC and individual totals were nearly even, at $1.04 million and $1.01 million. His $2.70 million in cash on hand is larger than his receipts this cycle because it includes money carried over from earlier campaigns.
4th District. Foushee won a contested March primary against Nida Allam and Mary Patterson. She spent slightly more than she raised during the cycle and entered July with $48,000 in cash on hand.
5th District. Foxx reported $3.37 million in cash on hand, second among House nominees only to Davis in the 1st District. Hubbard raised 99% of his money from individuals, nearly half of it in small-dollar contributions.
7th District. Rouzer received 61% of his receipts from PACs and committees, the highest share among Republican nominees.
8th District. Most of Watson's $40,000 came from his own contributions to the campaign ($25,460).
9th District. Ojeda raised $2.24 million but reported spending $2.07 million of it, leaving $164,000 in the bank on June 30. Hudson reported $1.61 million from PACs and committees, the largest PAC total of any North Carolina House nominee.
12th District. Adams received $271,000 of her $371,000 from PACs and committees.
13th District. Barringer contributed $142,000 to his campaign and loaned it another $320,000. Knott's campaign reported $760,000 in debts as of June 30.
14th District. Moore raised 72% of his money from individuals, though only 2% of that came in small-dollar amounts.
Methodology
All figures come from FEC candidate financial summaries for the 2025-2026 cycle, covering activity through June 30, 2026 (Senate coverage begins when each campaign registered in mid-2025). Sourced included every Democratic and Republican nominee listed on the general election ballot. Libertarian, Green and unaffiliated candidates are not included; none had reported more than about $50,000 in receipts as of June 30.
Percentages were calculated by Sourced from the FEC's reported totals and rounded to the nearest whole number. "Self-funding" combines candidate contributions and loans made by the candidate. Outside spending figures come from the FEC's independent expenditure summaries, which use quarterly, monthly and semi-annual reports and exclude 24- and 48-hour reports.
Sourced did not include a breakdown of in-state versus out-of-state donors. The FEC's state-level data for this cycle was incomplete at the time of review, and it covers only itemized contributions.
Race ratings were compiled by Ballotpedia from Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball and Decision Desk HQ. Candidate lists come from Ballotpedia and were checked against FEC records.
Sourced will update this article after the Oct. 15 quarterly reports are processed.
Sources
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