BIOGUIDE H001102 · FEC H4NC08066
Mark Harris
U.S. Representative (since 2025)RINCUMBENT
- Race
- U.S. House · North Carolina's 8th District
- Result
- Mark Harris, projected winner
- Opponents
- Colby Watson (D); Bo Whitehead (G)
- Research
- Basic
Party line16 votes tracked
With party = voted the same way as most Republicans who voted.
Said vs. did4 statements · 16 votes
Congressman Harris remains steadfast in defending Americans' constitutional right to self-defense, resisting any efforts to undermine this fundamental freedom.
Stricter gun laws
Compare statements with votes ›On the ballotU.S. House · 8
2026-11-03
| Mark Harris R | incumbent |
| Colby Watson D | challenger |
| Bo Whitehead G | challenger |
Said vs. did
Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.
Congressman Harris remains steadfast in defending Americans' constitutional right to self-defense, resisting any efforts to undermine this fundamental freedom.
Says he will resist efforts to undermine gun rights, describing the right to bear arms as not negotiable.[5]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Cosponsored H.R. 22, the SAVE Act (119th Congress), which would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. Cosponsored H.R. 7296, the SAVE America Act (119th Congress), which would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
- YESSAVE Act (H.R. 22, 2025-04-10).[8]
1 of 1 vote point the same way as the statement
Cosponsored H.R. 28, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (119th Congress), which would bar transgender girls and women from girls' and women's school sports programs that receive federal funds.
Documented position[9]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Cosponsored H.R. 722, the Life at Conception Act (119th Congress), which would extend legal personhood from the moment of fertilization.
Documented position[10]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- NOWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela (H. Con. Res. 64, 2025-12-17), which would have directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela absent congressional authorization.[15]
- NOWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities (H. Con. Res. 86, 2026-06-03), which directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization.[16]
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- NOResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11), which disapproved the tariffs on Canadian imports.[17]
Biography
Mark Harris is the Republican U.S. Representative for North Carolina's 8th Congressional District, a former Baptist pastor who was elected to the U.S. House in 2024, and won re-election on November 3, 2026, according to unofficial results. He previously ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2014 and for the U.S. House in 2016, and was the Republican candidate in the 2018 race for the 9th District, a result the State Board of Elections did not certify. In Congress he serves on the Agriculture, Judiciary, and Education and Workforce Committees.[1][2][3][4]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Harris was born and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the youngest of five children, according to his Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, and graduated from R.J. Reynolds High School.[1] He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Appalachian State University (1987) and, according to his House website, a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.[1][2]
Harris worked as a pastor in North Carolina and Georgia, including as senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Charlotte for over a decade, according to his House website and survey responses.[1][2] He served as president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina from 2011 to 2013, and has served as a trustee of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and on the board of directors of the Biblical Recorder.[1]
Harris ran in the 2014 Republican U.S. Senate primary, finishing third with 17.5 percent behind Thom Tillis and Greg Brannon, and in the 2016 Republican primary for the 9th District, where he trailed incumbent Robert Pittenger by 133 votes after a recount.[1] He won the 2018 Republican primary in the 9th District over Pittenger, and led Democrat Dan McCready by 905 votes in unofficial general-election returns.[1] The State Board of Elections did not certify the result after questions about absentee-ballot irregularities in Bladen and Robeson counties; Harris called for a new election during a January 2019 hearing and did not run in the September 2019 special election.[1][3] WBTV reports no charges were filed against Harris in the related probe.[3]
Harris entered the 8th District race in September 2023 after Rep. Dan Bishop announced a run for attorney general, won the 2024 general election over Democrat Justin Dues, 59.6 percent to 40.4 percent, and took office January 3, 2025.[1][3] In the 2025-2026 Congress he serves on the House Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on the Judiciary (Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Subcommittee; Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee), and the Committee on Education and the Workforce.[1][2] One bill he introduced, requiring the U.S. Attorney General to publish the names of jurisdictions that release people charged with violent crimes without cash bail, passed the House in the current session, according to WFAE.[18] According to his House website, he is married to Beth, and they have three adult children and eleven grandchildren.[2] He won the November 3, 2026 general election with 50.4% of the vote to Colby Watson's 48.6% and Bo Whitehead's 1.0%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[4]
Recent votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-03 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilitiesH. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–1 · Republicans 4–207 |
| 2026-02-11 | With partyvoted no | Resolution disapproving tariffs on CanadaH.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–1 · Republicans 6–210 |
| 2026-02-03 | With partyvoted yes | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government fundingH.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 21–193 · Republicans 196–21 |
| 2026-01-08 | With partyvoted no | Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extensionH.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–0 · Republicans 17–196 |
| 2025-12-17 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution on VenezuelaH. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 208–1 · Republicans 3–212 |
| 2025-12-10 | With partyvoted yes | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · roll call ↗Democrats 115–94 · Republicans 197–18 |
| 2025-11-18 | With partyvoted yes | Epstein Files Transparency ActH.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–0 · Republicans 216–1 |
| 2025-11-12 | With partyvoted yes | Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · roll call ↗Democrats 6–207 · Republicans 216–2 |
Showing the 8 most recent of 16 votes.
All 16 recorded votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-03 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilitiesH. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–1 · Republicans 4–207The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans. |
| 2026-02-11 | With partyvoted no | Resolution disapproving tariffs on CanadaH.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–1 · Republicans 6–210The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy. |
| 2026-02-03 | With partyvoted yes | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government fundingH.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 21–193 · Republicans 196–21The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026. |
| 2026-01-08 | With partyvoted no | Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extensionH.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–0 · Republicans 17–196The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans. |
| 2025-12-17 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution on VenezuelaH. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 208–1 · Republicans 3–212The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region. |
| 2025-12-10 | With partyvoted yes | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · roll call ↗Democrats 115–94 · Republicans 197–18The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year. |
| 2025-11-18 | With partyvoted yes | Epstein Files Transparency ActH.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–0 · Republicans 216–1The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support. |
| 2025-11-12 | With partyvoted yes | Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · roll call ↗Democrats 6–207 · Republicans 216–2The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively. |
| 2025-07-17 | With partyvoted yes | CLARITY Act — digital asset market structureH.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · roll call ↗Democrats 78–134 · Republicans 216–0The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries. |
| 2025-07-17 | With partyvoted yes | GENIUS Act — stablecoin regulationS. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · roll call ↗Democrats 102–110 · Republicans 206–12The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law. |
| 2025-07-03 | With partyvoted yes | One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passageH.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–212 · Republicans 218–2H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025. |
| 2025-06-12 | With partyvoted yes | Rescissions Act of 2025H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–208 · Republicans 214–4The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades. |
| 2025-05-22 | With partyvoted yes | One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passageH.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–212 · Republicans 215–2H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients. |
| 2025-04-10 | With partyvoted yes | SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registrationH.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 4–208 · Republicans 216–0The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls. |
| 2025-03-11 | With partyvoted yes | Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 1–212 · Republicans 216–1The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations. |
| 2025-01-22 | With partyvoted yes | Laken Riley Act — final passageS. 5 · Passed 263–156 · roll call ↗Democrats 46–156 · Republicans 217–0The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions. |
On the record
Official actions: bills, executive acts, filings and court records.
- actionAssigned to the House Committee on Agriculture (Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture; Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry; General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit), the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Education and the Workforce for the 2025-2026 Congress.[19]
In their own words
Priorities
- Wants to reduce regulatory burdens on farmers and champion agricultural policy as a member of the House Agriculture Committee.[5]
- Supports cutting taxes and regulation for small businesses and opposes new government programs to grow the economy.[5]
- Wants to return control of education to states and local communities rather than the federal government.[5]
Campaign money$1.0M raised · 80% from individuals · FEC through 2026-06-30
Totals this cycle
Bars share one scale (raised = full). Cash on hand can include money carried over from earlier cycles.
Who gave
- Individuals $786K
- PACs & committees $200K
- Party $750
Largest committee contributions
- Buckeye Liberty Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- Build Political Action Committee of the National Association of Home Builders (Buildpac) PAC$8,500
- National Association of Realtors Political Action Committee PAC$8,000
- The Farm Credit Council Political Action Committee PAC$7,500
- Crop Insurance Professionals Association Pac-Cipa PAC PAC$5,500
- National Cattlemen's Beef Association Political Action Committee (Ncba-Pac) PAC$5,000
- American Crystal Sugar Company Political Action Committee PAC$5,000
- International Franchise Association Franchising Political Action Committee Inc PAC$5,000
- American Resort Development Association Resort Owners Coalition PAC (Arda-Roc PAC) PAC$5,000
- National Pecan Federation Inc. Political Action Committee (PECAN PAC) PAC$5,000
Direct contributions only; outside spending is not included. Individual donors are itemized in the FEC’s receipts. All itemized receipts ↗ FEC filing ↗
Profile: /people/mark-harris-nc
Where they stood out
Voted against most of their party on 4 of 471 party-divided votes on file.
Amendment (Self) to H.R. 7567 — Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026
A yes vote adopted an amendment (Self) adding soda, defined as a carbonated beverage with over 1 gram of added sugar, sweetener or flavoring per serving, to the items SNAP benefits cannot buy. (AI-written)
What it does: Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 This bill (commonly known as the farm bill) reauthorizes through FY2031 and modifies Department of Agriculture programs that address commodity support, conservation, trade…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 29–183, Republicans 156–55
Apr 30, 2026Official record ↗
ROTOR Act
What it does: Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform Act or the ROTOR Act This bill addresses aviation safety by increasing requirements for aircraft tracking and communication using Automatic Dependent Surveillanc…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 187–1, Republicans 77–131
Feb 24, 2026Official record ↗
Amendment (Perry) to H.R. 4553 — Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026
A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 30 to the Energy and Water appropriations bill, which cuts $16,003,526 from the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission and credits it to the spending reduction account. (AI-written)
What it does: Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 This bill provides FY2026 appropriations for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works projects, the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Rec…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–211, Republicans 120–95
Sep 3, 2025Official record ↗
Their votes on the most contested roll calls
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
- Yes
With most of their party · Passed 214–212 · Yes 214–No 212 · Democrats 0–211, Republicans 214–0
Jun 9, 2026Official record ↗
- No
Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act
With most of their party · Failed 214–217 · Yes 214–No 217 · Democrats 214–0, Republicans 0–216
Feb 11, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Passed 217–215 · Yes 217–No 215 · Democrats 0–214, Republicans 216–1
Feb 25, 2025Official record ↗
- No
With most of their party · Failed 215–215 · Yes 215–No 215 · Democrats 213–0, Republicans 2–214
Jan 22, 2026Official record ↗
- No
With most of their party · Failed 213–213 · Yes 213–No 213 · Democrats 211–0, Republicans 2–212
Jun 4, 2025Official record ↗
Compare all 3 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.Mark Harris (North Carolina) · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.Meet Mark · Office of Rep. Mark Harris Official record
- 3.Mark Harris enters race for NC's District 8 Congressional seat following 2018 scandal · WBTV · 2023-09-12 News report
- 4.North Carolina 8th District U.S. House election results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 5.Issues · Office of Rep. Mark Harris Candidate's own words
- 6.H.R. 22, the SAVE Act (SAVE Act) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 7.H.R. 7296, the SAVE America Act (SAVE America Act) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 8.Roll call: SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-04-10 Official record
- 9.H.R. 28, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 10.H.R. 722, the Life at Conception Act (Life at Conception Act) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 11.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
- 12.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
- 13.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
- 14.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
- 15.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-12-17 Official record
- 16.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
- 17.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
- 18.U.S. House of Representatives NC-8 candidates · WFAE · 2026-09-22 News report
- 19.Mark Harris (North Carolina) · Ballotpedia Reference