Mark Harris
U.S. House · NC-8 · Republicans · since 2025
alsoCandidate for U.S. House · NC-8
Biography
Overview
Mark Harris is a Republican U.S. Representative for North Carolina's 8th congressional district, serving since January 2025. A Baptist pastor and theologian with degrees from Appalachian State University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Harris previously served as lead pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in Mooresville and as president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. This is his third run for Congress after unsuccessful campaigns in 2014 (Senate primary), 2016 (House primary loss), and a controversial 2018 race that was decertified due to ballot fraud allegations involving a campaign operative.
Career
As a freshman representative, Harris has not yet passed major legislation, with his sponsored bills remaining in committee or introduced status. His track record includes successful election to the 8th district in 2024 after two prior unsuccessful House bids, though his 2018 campaign was decertified following election fraud allegations involving his campaign operative (Harris was not personally charged). Prior to Congress, he led Baptist churches and advocated for social conservative positions on education, abortion, LGBTQ rights, and religious issues.
Prior political experience
Harris finished third in the 2014 Senate Republican primary. In 2016, he lost the House primary for the 9th district to incumbent Robert Pittenger by 134 votes in a recount. In 2018, he defeated Pittenger in the 9th district Republican primary but lost the general election after the state board declined to certify results due to alleged ballot fraud by a campaign operative; Harris acknowledged giving inaccurate testimony and withdrew from the ordered new election in February 2019. In 2024, Harris won the Republican nomination for the 8th district with just over 30% of the vote against five opponents and won the general election by approximately 19 points over Democrat Justin Dues.
Biographical material adapted from the Wikipedia article (retrieved April 29, 2026), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Ideology
Liberal–Conservative (DW-NOMINATE dim 1)
Secondary axis (DW-NOMINATE dim 2)(?)
Campaigns targeting Mark Harris
No active campaigns target Mark Harris right now.
Start a campaign targeting Mark HarrisOfficeholding history
| Term | Seat | Term dates | Termination | Predecessor | Successor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | U.S. House NC-8 | 2025–present | In progress | Richard Hudson | — |
Committee assignments
- The Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and AntitrustHouse· 2025–present
- The Constitution and Limited GovernmentHouse· 2025–present
- Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary EducationHouse· 2025–present
- Higher Education and Workforce DevelopmentHouse· 2025–present
- Nutrition and Foreign AgricultureHouse· 2025–present
- General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and CreditHouse· 2025–present
- Livestock, Dairy, and PoultryHouse· 2025–present
- House· 2025–present
- House· 2025–present
- House· 2025–present
Current term legislation
Bills sponsored this term10
- H.R. 8374
Equal Treatment for Farmers Act
Apr 20, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 6715
Child Predators Accountability Act
Dec 15, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 6392
Home School Graduation Recognition Act
Dec 3, 2025INTRODUCED - H.R. 6191
No Taxpayer Funded Abortion Travel for Illegal Aliens Act
Nov 20, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 6142
Ask the Union Members Act
Nov 19, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 6141
Fair Access to Justice for Union Members Act
Nov 19, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 5625
Cashless Bail Reporting Act
Sep 30, 2025INTRODUCED - H.R. 5624
No Funding for Lawless Jurisdictions Act
Sep 30, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 4499
To make technical amendments to update statutory references to provisions reclassified to title 34, United States Code, and to correct related technical errors.
Jul 17, 2025REPORTED - H.R. 4450
National Education Association Charter Repeal Act
Jul 16, 2025IN_COMMITTEE
Bills cosponsored this term10
- H.R. 8403
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to modify the definition of food.
Apr 21, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8236
Designating Hamas Affiliates in America Act of 2026
Apr 9, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8211
Army Security Agency Monument Act
Apr 9, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8206
Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026
Apr 6, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8077
287(g) Cooperation Act of 2026
Mar 25, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8007
SILVER Act
Mar 19, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8028
SNAP Fraud Reporting Act of 2026
Mar 19, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8020
American LNG First Act of 2026
Mar 19, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8021
American Petroleum First Act
Mar 19, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7974
To amend the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 to ensure real-time public access to Federal award information.
Mar 18, 2026IN_COMMITTEE
Elections
| Year | Seat | Result | Vote share | Field |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | Pending | — | — |