Chinese farmland ownership concerns highlighted in NC-01 race

A New York Post article described incumbent Democratic Rep. Don Davis’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party

President Joe Biden, center, speaks while first lady Jill Biden, left, and Rep. Don Davis listen during a tour of Nash Community College in June 2023. F. (Susan Walsh / AP Photo)

RALEIGH — A recent article in the New York Post highlighting the tight race for North Carolina 1st Congressional District between incumbent Democrat Rep. Don Davis and Republican Laurie Buckhout focuses on land owned by the Chinese Communist Party.

The article delves into Davis’ past connections to the Chinese Communist Party, such as taking an all-expenses-paid trip to China funded by an affiliated organization in 2013 and speaking to Wuhan University exchange students on health care topics in 2014.

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Chinese influence when it comes to property and farmland purchases near U.S. military bases has become a rising national concern.

“North Carolina is home to one of the country’s largest concentrations of Chinese-owned farmland,” the New York Post reported, later citing that Davis’ district contains 6,500 acres of Chinese-owned farmland and as the “vice ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee,” Davis has been “mum on the issue.”

Davis is one of 16 vulnerable House Democrats seeking reelection this year who made 133 trips combined to the White House over the past three years, per Fox News. Davis was cited in the White House visitor logs as having made four visits.

Fox News also reported that President Joe Biden — who has been on the defensive during his reelection campaign regarding his alleged declining mental acuity — was present for “roughly 75% of those meetings or gatherings during each visit.”

The National Republican Congressional Committee has launched an ad buy targeting Democrats in key swing states who met with Biden, including a 30-second ad targeting Davis titled “Cover Up.”

“The scandal of the century. Our president lacks the mental fitness for office, and Don Davis covered it up,” the ad states. “Davis met privately with Joe Biden. He witnessed Biden’s mental failures up close but allowed crises to rage under Biden’s frail leadership.”

The ad shows of a clip of Davis striding through the halls of Congress attempting to avoid answering a question from a campaign tracker on whether Biden should still be the Democratic nominee.

About A.P. Dillon 1449 Articles
A.P. Dillon is a North State Journal reporter located near Raleigh, North Carolina. Find her on Twitter: @APDillon_