Laurie Buckhout fined and banned from Kalshi for betting on own race

Laurie Buckhout, the Republican nominee for North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, has been fined $2,500 and banned from the prediction market platform Kalshi for three years after wagering on her own campaign.

Buckhout, a former Pentagon official and retired Army colonel, described the incident as a “dumb mistake,” stating she “literally” bet on herself and acted to resolve the matter once she realized it violated platform rules. Kalshi confirmed that Buckhout cooperated with their inquiry and agreed to the settlement.

The details regarding the specific timing and size of the wager, or whether the bet concerned the primary or general election, have not been disclosed. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee criticized the move, suggesting the incident raises questions regarding Buckhout's ethics as a potential representative.