In November there will be few close U.S. House races in North Carolina.

The only real swing district is the 1st Congressional District in eastern North Carolina, which is represented by freshman Rep. Don Davis.

On March 5 voters will choose the Republican nominee to run against him.

The newly drawn district is a rural area that includes the cities of Rocky Mount and Goldsboro.

The Republican primary features a political newcomer and an experienced candidate.

Sandy Smith, who describes herself as a business executive, was the Republican nominee in the district in 2020 and 2022. She lost to former Rep. G.K. Butterfield in 2020 and Davis in 2022.

In those runs, the district had more Democratic voters, but this year it has been redrawn by state Republican lawmakers and is closer to being a swing district.

“Had we run under this map last cycle, I would have run," Smith said. "It takes three cycles to build the name ID, build the trust and understand the district."

She’s running against Laurie Buckhout, a retired Army colonel who founded a consulting business.

“As someone who's served the country, and as someone who’s concerned about the future of the country, especially as a parent… I realized it was time to stand up and do something,” Buckhout said.

The candidates have similar stances on the issues.

Both name border security as their top priority but said they would not have voted for the recent bipartisan Senate deal, which they called misguided, to reduce illegal crossings.

Buckhout and Smith also said they want more accountability on Ukraine funding before supporting any additional aid.

They differ on the question of a federal abortion ban. While they both support North Carolina’s current restrictions, Buckhout said federal limits should be discussed, while Smith doesn’t support a ban.

In 2022, though, Smith told Spectrum News 1 she would support a bill restricting abortion if it included exceptions.

Smith accuses Buckhout, who’s from Virginia and moved to North Carolina permanently in 2021, according to her campaign, of not understanding the district.

“I have not made my life fortune…. in the military industrial complex. I’ve been here in the trenches, in the district, with the folks. I know the folks,” Smith said.

Buckout said her military experience is what sets her apart.

“I have actually served our country... having seen the world, and lived all over the world, have a very intimate understanding I think of the preciousness of American freedom."

Smith attended the Jan. 6, 2021, rally in Washington, D.C., but said she left before rioters stormed the Capitol building. She is running on the debunked claim that voters elected Donald Trump in 2020.

Buckhout’s campaign didn’t respond when asked whether she agrees with Smith.

The victor of the March primary will have to win over independent and potentially more moderate Democrats in November. 

“We have… seen what happens when the Republican Party nominates more moderate candidates. We lose in the general [election],… people want a fighter,” Smith said.

“In terms of breaking with Republicans on any issues, I seek to impact the issues that are really impacting my constituents right now. That’s the economy. That’s the concern about the open border,” Buckhout said.

Buckhout has the support of the Congressional Leadership Fund, which is a super PAC supported by House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican leaders in Washington.

While Trump has not endorsed anyone in the race, he did endorse Smith two years ago, but it was after the Republican primary.