SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — One of the tightest midterm races locally comes down to the U.S. Congress District 7 seat: Republican David Rouzer against Democratic challenger Kim Hardy. The district’s multiple counties makes up more than 800,000 voters and with all precincts reporting so far, the margin is a little more than 2,400 votes.
Rouzer has 159,985 (49.89%) votes thus far compared to Hardy’s 157,560 (49.13%), according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections. This is the tightest election since Rouzer took the office in 2014. He won with almost 59% of the votes in 2024 against Marlando Pridgen, nearly 58% in 2022 against Charles Graham and 60% in 2020 against Christopher Ward.
Early Wednesday morning, Rouzer announced on social media his presumptive win:
“Tonight’s victory is a testament to the hard work and dedication of so many people who believe in the principles that make America great and a stronger future for Southeastern North Carolina. I am deeply grateful to the voters for their continued trust and confidence and to our supporters and volunteers who made this victory possible. It is an honor to serve, and I look forward to continuing to deliver results for the people of North Carolina.”
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However, not all ballots have been counted, including some provisional, military and overseas mail-in and absentee ballots. District 7 also makes up eight counties, with the canvass — or ballot certification process — not being complete until Friday, Nov. 13
Hardy responded to Port City Daily per Rouzer’s post that he can “take a victory lap.”
“We are waiting for the process to play out one way or the other, and that’s it,” she said. “We won’t know what the final count is on the provisional ballots and stuff. We’ll be chasing and curing ballots in our congressional district.”
Hardy could challenge the contest for a recount, as state statute allows a candidate to do so if the margin between the total ballots cast is 1% or less; the District 7 race falls within the margin at roughly 0.75%. Should a recount take place, it would require all eight county election boards processing the request.
However, Hardy is uncertain about filing for the recount.
According to the New Hanover County Board of Elections, a candidate can request a recount after the completion of the county canvass. The deadline to request a recount is Nov. 16 at 5 p.m.
Rouzer was at Kickback Jacks on Tuesday evening where the New Hanover County GOP hosted its Election Night watch party; more than two dozen Republicans were there, including Rouzer’s staff. The mood was trepidatious but still hopeful as precincts reported numbers.
“All across the country, I knew it would be a rough night for Republicans,” Rouzer told Port City Daily.
Democrats flipped seats, even in the most unlikely places — in Texas and South Carolina. In North Carolina, former Governor Roy Cooper won the retiring Sen. Thom Tillis’ seat, marking the state’s first Democratic Senator since 2008.
The state house took a blue turn for the first time in 16 years and the U.S House of Representatives also has a Democratic majority.
When asked how he would approach the changing congressional landscape with new colleagues, Rouzer pointed to his position as a ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, allowing him to work across the aisle.
“The number two person, Rick Larsen, and I get along really, really well,” Rouzer told Port City Daily. “He’ll be the chairman of the committee. So, from the standpoint of addressing fundamental needs of the country in that realm — in the infrastructure environment — I don’t think there’ll be a tremendous difference.”
Regardless of the results, Rouzer said he would still pursue extending the deadline for the federal grant awarded to the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement project, as exclusively reported by Port City Daily in October. Rouzer said he’d be returning to Washington D.C. on Monday and his team would be working until Christmas Eve to secure the extension.
However, he was also aware of what lies ahead: “The Democrats are going to try to take the country in a very different way.”
Hardy, who also serves as the vice chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, attributed the blue wave from Tuesday’s election to rising costs not matching wages and an overreach in federal power. If she receives enough yet-counted votes to secure a win, Hardy explained her first goal would be to end the war in Iran.
“Let’s start working on getting the Strait of Hormuz back open. Let’s start working on these gas prices,” Hardy said.
The N.C. General Assembly passed a relief bill in October to temporarily suspend the gas tax until Nov. 30 due to the rapid increase of the fuel costs from the war.
Hardy hopes to also initiate a raise in the federal minimum wage; the last time the wage was increased was in July 2009 to $7.25 an hour. In addition, she aims to establish a wealth tax, and pointed to a group of called “Patriotic Millionaires,” who backed her idea and endorsed her candidacy.
Also top-of-mind: hosting town halls throughout the district. For each of the eight counties, Hardy said she held two town halls in the span of eight days this election season. She also attended community events, candidate forums and provided mutual aid for her district. Hardy said if she was officially elected, she would continue to host town halls in “every county, every year, at minimum,” as well as meet with agricultural leaders and farmers; District 7 is primarily made up of rural communities.
Hardy cited the importance of having public-facing offices in every county, too, so constituents can easily access her and her team. Hardy pointed out Rouzer’s offices in downtown Wilmington are closed; his current space is in an office building on Independence Boulevard, according to Rouzer’s website. He often holds mobile hours in varied counties, too.
Hardy said the person holding the District 7 the seat should always be accessible and communicative.
“There is a need for someone who will represent the interests and needs of these folks, and I know I can be that for them,” Hardy said, confirming if the election doesn’t turn out in her favor after all ballots are counted and confirmed, she would run again against Rouzer.
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