Smith Leads Murphy in North Carolina's 3rd District

Democrat Raymond Smith holds an early lead over Republican incumbent Greg Murphy in the race for North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections

Flat-color editorial illustration of a plain government building facade and a lone flagpole above rolling pine-covered hills, in deep red and cream. — Democrat Raymond Smith held an early lead over Republican incumbent Greg Murphy in North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District after mid-decade redistricting reshaped the seat. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Would you support a change in your U.S. House representative this election?

Democrat Raymond Smith held an early lead over Republican incumbent Greg Murphy in North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District. The race follows Republicans' redrawing of the neighboring 1st Congressional District, which changed the composition of the 3rd District.

Why it matters

The early returns put a Republican-held seat in contest after the mid-decade redistricting altered the district's makeup. The outcome will show how the reshaped boundaries affect the balance of North Carolina's congressional delegation.

Murphy has served three full consecutive terms, having first been elected in a 2019 special election. The district includes Pitt, Onslow and Duplin counties, and the margin and final tally were not available at the time of reporting.

The players

Raymond Smith

Raymond Smith is a Democrat and U.S. Army veteran who previously served in the North Carolina state House and is challenging the incumbent in the 3rd District.

Greg Murphy

Greg Murphy is a Republican physician who was elected to Congress in a 2019 special election and is seeking reelection in North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District.

The details

Smith, a U.S. Army veteran and former state House member, is challenging Murphy, a physician who previously served in the North Carolina state House. The contest is taking place in a district whose boundaries shifted after Republicans redrew the neighboring 1st Congressional District.

2019: Murphy is elected to Congress in a special election.
November 3, 2026: Voters cast ballots in the election in which Smith holds an early lead.

Political Context

The 3rd District's composition changed after Republicans redrew the adjacent 1st District, and the early result tests whether the altered boundaries shift the district's partisan balance. Opposition arguments over the redistricting were not included in the source extraction.

Voters in Pitt, Onslow and Duplin counties are choosing a representative for a district whose lines changed after redistricting. The result determines who represents these counties in Congress for the next term.

The takeaway

Redistricting can reshape a seat's competitiveness without changing its number, so election results after map changes are worth watching closely. Early returns can shift as more ballots are counted, so readers should wait for final tallies before drawing conclusions.