Candidate Profile: Laurie Buckhout (U.S. House of Representatives, NC District 1)

Biography: Laurie Buckhout is a retired Army Colonel and decorated combat commander. She was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army Signal Corps in 1984 and spent the next 26 years in assignments around the world, including commanding hundreds of troops in a task force as part of the initial spearhead attack into Iraq in 2003. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from James Madison University, a Master’s of Military Arts and Science in National Military Strategy, and a Master’s of Science in Information Management from Webster University.

Retiring from the Army in 2010, she founded her own business, Corvus Consulting, a strategic consulting and services group specializing in Electronic Warfare and Cyberspace Operations.

Laurie has been married to Paul for 29 years and they have 2 sons, John and Thomas, both College seniors. They reside in Edenton, North Carolina where they are very active in supporting Veterans, conservative causes, the local baseball team (Go Steamers!) and the Boys and Girls Club of the Albemarle.

Why are you running for this office?

I am running for Congress because I don’t like the direction our country is heading. Kamala Harris’ policies have yielded skyrocketing inflation, open borders, and rising crime rates and I can’t sit on the sidelines and watch our country head off a cliff. We need fighters in Congress who will stand up to the DC establishment and work on behalf of the working families of NC’s First Congressional District, and that is what I intend to do in office.

What are your thoughts on the direction of the country?

The Biden-Harris administration has taken our country down the wrong path. Hardworking North Carolinians are struggling to make ends meet due to unprecedented inflation, sky-high gas prices, and the sticker shock at grocery stores across NC all caused by Kamala Harris policies supported by my opponent Don Davis.

Are you backing a presidential candidate and if so why are they fit to run for office?

I’m supporting President Donald Trump because working families across the First District of North Carolina were better off when President Trump was in office. The Kamala Harris policies put forth by Kamala Harris and Joe Biden have yielded record setting inflation that is crippling family budgets across the district.

What are your top 2 or 3 priorities if you’re elected/reelected?

Fixing our broken economy. The reckless spending by Biden & Harris (and supported by Davis) created record setting inflation that has really hit this district hard. Folks in NC-1 aren’t driving pickup trucks to haul golf clubs to a country club, they’re driving pickup trucks because they need them for work. And around here, a 45-minute commute means you’re driving 40 miles. That increase in gas prices starts to hurt after a while. We have to stop the reckless spending and stabilize our economy so we can start creating jobs again. I will fight to do that.

We have to secure our border. Illegal immigration is out of control and our country is being invaded. We need to secure our southern border and that starts by finishing the wall and reimplementing the “Remain in Mexico” policies of the Trump administration. Congress should also increase pay for hardworking border patrol agents and give them the resources that allow them to enforce the laws already on the books. We also need to fix our broken asylum process and deport those that are not here legally.

Supporting our veterans. Having served for 26 years I know the sacrifices of our brave men and women in the military. Our troops deserve a strong leader in Congress who will fight to ensure they receive the very best care when their mission is complete. I will not rest until our veterans receive the proper care they deserve.

How should Congress address the issue of immigration?

Illegal immigration is out of control and our country is being invaded. We need to secure our southern border and that starts by finishing the wall and reimplementing the “Remain in Mexico” policies of the Trump administration. Congress should also increase pay for hardworking border patrol agents and give them the resources that allow them to enforce the laws already on the books. We also need to fix our broken asylum process and deport those that are not here legally.

How should Congress address climate change?

Climate change is a global issue and we cannot solve a global issue by regulating American companies out of business and destroying manufacturing jobs and consuming American farm land.

How should the U.S. approach foreign policy when it comes to Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas war, China and Taiwan relations, etc.?

A strong and ready military deters American enemies and establishes peace here at home. America is safer when we project strength. The reality is the entire world is safer when the United States projects strength. President Biden and Vice President Harris have, unfortunately projected weakness. The fall of Afghanistan telegraphed weakness to the rest of the world. There’s a reason Russia started a land war in Europe during the Biden Administration. There’s a reason Hamas felt emboldened to attack Israel. The world is safer when our great country projects strength around the world.

What are you hearing most from voters in your district?

I hear every day on the campaign trail that people are struggling with inflation. Hardworking folks cannot afford the cost of food, gas, and housing because of the failed policies of Kamala Harris and supported by Don Davis.

What’s an under-the-radar issue that’s maybe not getting enough attention?

The fentanyl that is pouring into our country. It is impacting every community across the country and impacting people of all backgrounds. The amount of fentanyl that is coming into our country is enough to kill every American, and we need more awareness of the dangers of this issue.