Mark Harris (North Carolina politician)

This article is about the American pastor and politician. For other people with the same name, see Mark Harris.

Mark Harris
Harris in 2018
Member-elect of the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Carolina's 8th district
Assuming office
January 3, 2025
SucceedingDan Bishop
Personal details
Born (1966-04-24) April 24, 1966 (age 58)
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseBeth Harris
Children3
EducationAppalachian State University (BA)
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv, DMin)

Mark Everette Harris[1] (born April 24, 1966) is an American pastor and political candidate from North Carolina. A member of the Republican Party, he is the member-elect for the redrawn North Carolina's 8th congressional district.[2]

Harris first ran for the United States Senate in 2014, placing third in the Republican primary. He then ran to represent North Carolina's 9th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives in the 2016 and 2018 elections. In 2016, he was defeated in the Republican primary by incumbent Robert Pittenger.

Harris ran for the 9th district again in 2018, narrowly defeating Pittenger in the Republican primary. In the general election against Democratic opponent Dan McCready, initial tallies appeared to show Harris winning the election but an election panel declined to certify these results after allegations of ballot fraud involving McCrae Dowless, a Republican political operative employed by the Harris campaign. Dowless was later criminally charged in connection with the alleged fraud, but Harris was not. In February 2019, the bipartisan North Carolina Board of Elections dismissed the results of the election and called for a new election to be held. Harris was not a candidate in the new election, which was won by fellow Republican Dan Bishop.

Harris then announced his bid for the 8th district in 2024, following Bishop's decision to retire and instead run for Attorney General. After defeating five opponents to win the Republican nomination, Harris went on to win the general election in what was described by multiple outlets as a comeback bid.[3][4]

  1. ^ "Mark Harris". FEC. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  2. ^ Noel, Rebecca (March 5, 2024). "Mark Harris is GOP's 8th District nominee six years after election fraud prompted do-over". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  3. ^ Harrison, Steve (March 5, 2024). "Mark Harris wins Republican primary, completing his political comeback in the 8th District". WUNC (FM). Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  4. ^ "Charlotte-area Republicans win Congressional races, including Mark Harris comeback". WFAE. November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.