NC · Candidate
Colby Watson
DCandidate
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: U.S. House · North Carolina's 8th District
Biography
Colby Watson is the Democratic nominee for North Carolina's 8th Congressional District, a small business owner and Union County native running for office for the first time.[1][2][3] He says he built a business with his brother that grew to employ more than 50 people.[3] He describes his campaign as focused on ending corruption and money in politics, along with housing, health care costs, and farming.[2][3]
Watson was born in Indian Trail, North Carolina, within the 8th District, and describes himself in his Ballotpedia survey as a lifelong North Carolinian, born and raised there.[1][2] He earned a high school diploma through homeschooling, and WFAE reports he says he does not hold "a fancy degree."[1][3]
Watson works as a small business owner.[1][3] According to WFAE, he describes his work as a federal contractor and says he built a business with his brother that "grew to employ more than 50 people."[3]
Watson won the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary with 47.9 percent of the vote over Kevin Clark and Jesse Oppenheim, and he has not previously held elected office.[4][3] He describes himself as a husband and father, and WFAE describes him as a father of two.[2][3]
- 1.Colby Watson · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.Colby Watson - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
- 3.U.S. House of Representatives NC-8 candidates · WFAE · 2026-09-22 News report
- 4.United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.
