(The Center Square) – Families in eastern North Carolina were the priority, U.S. Rep. Don Davis said of his vote to help reopen the federal government on Wednesday evening.
Davis, one of six Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives to vote yea on an amended continuing resolution, laid fault on both major parties. He also changed his vote from September.
Davis represents the northeastern part of the state, where a new congressional map is already in litigation and has a primary intent from its architects to flip the seat from blue to red for the first time since the 1882 election.
“Families in eastern North Carolina must remain the priority, which is why I initially voted against the original continuing resolution in the hopes of sincere discussions on extending the ACA premium tax credits,” Davis said in a statement. “An increasing number of families have shared with me that they have been suffering daily over the past 49 days and 15 rounds of votes in the Senate, as many families in North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District are dealing with high costs and limited resources.”
Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 – as House Resolution 5371 is officially known – passed the lower chamber 222-209. Two Republicans – Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Gregory Steube of Florida – were against it.
If the six Democrats had voted no and all other votes stayed the same, including two not voting, passage would have been 216-215.
In North Carolina, yeas were recorded for Republican Reps. Dr. Greg Murphy, Virginia Foxx, Addison McDowell, David Rouzer, Rev. Mark Harris, Richard Hudson, Pat Harrigan, Chuck Edwards, Brad Knott and Tim Moore. Nays were from Democratic Reps. Deborah Ross, Valerie Foushee and Alma Adams.
Of the 14, only Davis changed his vote from September.
The 43-day shutdown ended with all federal agencies funded through Jan. 30, most at fiscal year 2025 levels. Full fiscal year appropriations, meaning through Sept. 30, are in place for the Department of Agriculture, the Legislative Branch, and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs.
Nine regular appropriation bills or a new continuing resolution would need to be passed by Jan. 30 to avoid another shutdown. This stoppage set a record in length, eclipsing the last time when it was 35 days from Dec. 22, 2018, to Jan. 25, 2019.
“Support for our military families, veterans, farmers and those in need is now included in the updated continuing resolution,” Davis statement went on. “To support my constituents, alleviate the suffering of our families as the holidays approach, and bring vital resources to eastern North Carolina, I voted to reopen the government. While some Washington politicians from both parties have failed rural communities, the battle for health care is not over.”
In the battle for the new congressional map, those drawing the maps believe a stronger Republican district with Murphy can be changed to strengthen the district where Davis is the representative. If successful, Republicans could have 11 of 14 seats for North Carolina.
If wrong and Democrats manage to win both districts, the expected divide would be 9-5 Republicans.
“This was all done to protect Sen. Chuck Schumer’s political career and push the egregious demands of the progressive left,” Murphy said in a statement after the vote. “They failed. At last, we can put this nightmare behind us, and I look forward to getting back to the people’s business.”
