(The Center Square) – Democrat Justin Dues and Republican Rev. Mark Harris face off in North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District, a strong GOP area whose incumbent is trying to become state attorney general.
Dues is running on the motto “stronger together” while Harris promises to stand “firm on what matters.” Rep. Dan Bishop is facing U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson for the top state prosecutor spot rather than seeking another term in Washington.
Since 2012, Republicans have held District 8, which is located on the outskirts of Charlotte. Bishop won the district with almost 70% of the vote two years ago, the largest margin since the party won the district in 2012.
Dues is a Marine veteran and his platform includes restoring “trust in the election process,” “removing dark money” from elections, and “restoring the American dream.”
He calls for change, both in the district’s political leadership and Washington.
“Together we can stop those in power from abusing it and cheating the American public out of a system that is designed to work for all,” Dues’ campaign website says.
For Harris, conservative anti-abortion and pro-marriage values, national security, school choice, and enforcing laws are all priorities for his campaign. He said his personal and career experience will make him a good candidate to represent District 8.
“I’m not going to back down. I’m here to fight, but more importantly, I’m here to serve,” he said on his campaign website. “As a pastor, husband, father, grandfather, I cannot sit idly by as the liberals attempt to tear down the values and principles that made America the greatest nation on Earth.”
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Harris was infamously involved in a ballot harvesting scandal in a 2018 bid for the U.S. House. He eventually tearfully said he wasn’t sure what had happened in his campaign and if he was the rightful winner on Election Night. The State Board of Elections never certified the result, held the election again in 2019 and Bishop – Harris did not run – ascended from the state Senate to Washington.
According to documents from the Federal Election Commission up until June 30, Harris raised nearly $700,000 and spent almost $500,000 of that. According to the website, Dues’ campaign numbers are all zeroes.