WASHINGTON, D.C. — If Democrats gain more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives this election, North Carolina is likely to play a key role in getting them there.
Under the state’s recently redrawn congressional map, two Republican House Districts are all but certain to flip blue.
Democrat Deborah Ross is likely to win in the 2nd District, which is newly centered around Raleigh. Democrat Kathy Manning is set for victory in the Greensboro-centric 6th District. The incumbent Republicans in the 2nd and 6th Districts declined to run for re-election.
But election-watchers like Professor Chris Cooper, who teaches political science at Western Carolina University, have their eyes on a handful of other North Carolina congressional races as well, including the 8th and 11th Districts.
“We would expect, all else being equal, that it would end up with the Republican candidate,” he said. “But it appears that all else is not equal and these may actually be interesting races.”
The state's congressional delegation is currently made up of ten House Republicans and three House Democrats. The state's two Senators are both Republicans.
8th Congressional District
In the 8th District, incumbent Republican Congressman Richard Hudson is fending off a challenge from Democrat Pat Timmons-Goodson. Sabato’s Crystal Ball, which rates elections across the country, labels the contest “Leans Republican.”
Both candidates describe themselves as the best option for veterans and military families in the district, which is home to Fort Bragg.
Hudson points to his legislative work on Capitol Hill, and says there is more on his to-do list.
“The Veteran Caregivers Act is one of my top priorities. It's a great program that supports those who take care of our severely wounded veterans, but the program’s got some challenges and some things I'd like to improve on,” he said.
RELATED: Rep. Hudson Introduces Bill to Improve Vet Caregiver Program
Timmons-Goodson, meanwhile, says her experiences growing up in a military family will guide her. She offered her own ideas on what she would like to work on.
“I think that we need very much to staff our veterans’ hospitals, so that our service veterans can receive the quality of care that they're entitled to,” she said.
RELATED: N.C. Congressional Candidate Says Report of Trump Disparaging Service Members Hit Close to Home
Another prominent issue this election cycle: the coronavirus.
Hudson defends President Donald Trump’s handling of the outbreak, pointing to his decision to impose travel restrictions on China and his push for a vaccine.
“We didn't know it was coming, and frankly it's very easy now to Monday morning quarterback and say we could have done things better,” he said.
By contrast, Timmons-Goodson blasts the White House’s response as falling short.
“The state governments are having to assume the leadership, and we've got 50 different states with 50 different leaders and approaches to leadership and that's what we're getting: a disjointed effort,” she said.
11th Congressional District
To find another noteworthy race this cycle, look west to the mountains and the 11th congressional district.
In that contest, 25-year-old Republican Madison Cawthorn is facing off against Democrat Moe Davis, a retired Air Force colonel.
“It has surpassed all expectations of nastiness,” said Professor Cooper. “This one has been ugly every day.”
The seat was left empty when Mark Meadows left Congress for the Chief of Staff job at the White House. On paper, it should be a pretty safe Republican seat. However, a series of scandals have rocked the race.
Social media posts by both candidates have come under scrutiny. And recently, a Cawthorn campaign website accused New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker of trying to “ruin white males running for office.”
The end result: a more competitive race.
“If the Democrats had put up the candidates that they put up in recent years we probably wouldn't be having this conversation. And if Madison Cawthorn hadn't had frankly as many missteps, I don't think we'd be having this conversation,” Cooper said.