Paul Barringer Defeats Brad Knott to Represent NC-13

Paul Barringer, left. Brad Knott, right. Source: The Raleigh News & Observer.

In an unexpected and high-profile outcome in North Carolina’s 2026 midterm elections, Democrat Paul Barringer defeated first-term Republican incumbent Brad Knott in the race for North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District. Barringer, an attorney and health care policy expert running for public office for the first time, focused his platform on rural community issues, health care costs, and fiscal discipline. 

The 13th District spans eight counties in central North Carolina, including Caswell, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Person, and portions of Wake County. The electoral boundaries were redrawn by the state legislature following the 2024 election cycle, creating a district that had previously favored Republican candidates based on past election data. 

The electoral boundaries of NC-13, like many other districts in the state, were redrawn by the state legislature in late 2025 to favor Republican candidates. Heading into Election Day, political handicappers and forecasting models, including the Cook Partisan Voting Index (PVI), classified the district ‘likely Republican,’ favoring the Republican incumbent. Prior to election night, major national nonpartisan analysts and prediction models widely projected a Knott victory. 

Campaign finance reports leading up to the election highlighted differing financial approaches by the candidates. Barringer ran a campaign that relied heavily on grassroots contributions, raising about $1.2 million in total. Of that total, more than $700,000.00 came from individual contributions, with limited reliance on national PAC funding. Incumbent Brad Knott raised approximately $1.7 million during the election cycle. This total included over $500,000 in individual contributions, and around $866,000 from PACs and Committee transfers.

Multiple major news outlets have called this race favoring Barringer. According to the New York Times, Barringer defeated Knott 50.5% (159,981) to 48.1% (152,329), with Libertarian candidate Steven Swinton claiming 4,479 votes, or 1.4% of the vote. Strikingly, the district voted 19 points more Democratic than in the 2024 presidential election, when the county voted for President Donald Trump.

In his victory statement following Tuesday’s election, Barringer said, “I’m honored that the folks here in District 13 have placed their trust in me to represent our community… I will always make sure our community is heard in Washington, and I’m so thankful for every voter, volunteer, and supporter who helps us achieve this win.” 

Paul Barringer should take office in January 2027 as a member of the 120th United States Congress.