Civibus

Biography

Mark Everette Harris (born April 24, 1966) is an American Baptist pastor and politician from North Carolina. A member of the Republican Party, he is the U.S. representative for North Carolina's 8th congressional district since 2025. 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 election, but 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 following 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 charged. 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 a comeback bid.

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