2026 Elections · North Carolina

North Carolina's 8th Congressional District Candidates 2026

See every declared 2026 U.S. House candidate running in this North Carolina congressional district, with FEC campaign finance and where they stand on the issues.

Source:FECUpdated Oct 19, 2026Report a correction

Who is running in North Carolina's 8th Congressional District in 2026?

Mark Harris (Republican), Colby Watson (Democratic) and Bo Whitehead (Green).

  • Mark HarrisRepublicanIncumbent✓ Verified
    $1.2M raised
    • Official FEC
    • Positions sourced
    See Mark Harris's sponsored bills →
  • Colby WatsonDemocratic✓ Verified
    $53K raised
    • Official FEC
    • Positions sourced
  • Bo WhiteheadGreen✓ Verified
    • Positions sourced

Where they stand

Sources under every entry. Sentences are AI-written from the linked source.

Where the candidates stand, by issue
IssueMark HarrisRepublicanColby WatsonDemocraticBo WhiteheadGreen
Economy & Jobs

Harris promotes economic policies that benefit all Americans and aims to help families thrive through better financial conditions.

Candidate's own wordsSource ↗Verified Oct 19, 2026AI-written

Harris supports free enterprise, low taxes, cutting regulations, and pro-growth policies to empower small businesses and put American workers first.

Own words (office website)Source ↗Verified Oct 19, 2026AI-written

Harris votes yea on bills supporting technology use in regulation, capital access, privacy protection, terrorism risk insurance, and financial exploitation prevention, but nay on the KIDS Act.

Official recordSource ↗Verified Oct 15, 2026AI-written

Watson supports fair, incentive-based markets that reward hard work, innovation, and entrepreneurship while ensuring opportunity for all.

Candidate's own wordsSource ↗Verified Oct 18, 2026AI-written

Whitehead supports raising the minimum wage to $25 and improving workers' rights including mandatory maternity leave, vacation, and fair truck driving industry regulations.

Candidate's own wordsSource ↗Verified Oct 19, 2026AI-written

Whitehead supports raising the federal minimum wage to $25 per hour.

ReportedSource ↗Verified Oct 8, 2026AI-written

Healthcare

Harris votes yea on acts reauthorizing early care, rural care, Medicaid protections, and lowering premiums, but nay on the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act.

Official recordSource ↗Verified Oct 15, 2026AI-written

Watson supports healthcare focused on healing people, ensuring no one faces financial ruin for care, and opposes profit-driven healthcare.

Candidate's own wordsSource ↗Verified Oct 18, 2026AI-written

Whitehead supports universal healthcare, universal childcare, and a complete overhaul of the mental health system to create a modern system that heals without causing debt.

Candidate's own wordsSource ↗Verified Oct 19, 2026AI-written

Whitehead supports passing universal healthcare.

ReportedSource ↗Verified Oct 8, 2026AI-written

Where they differ on Healthcare: Mark Harris votes yea on acts reauthorizing early care, rural care, Medicaid protections, and lowering premiums, but votes nay on the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act 1. Colby Watson supports healthcare focused on healing people, ensuring no one faces financial ruin for care, and opposes profit-driven healthcare 2. Bo Whitehead supports universal healthcare, universal childcare, and a complete overhaul of the mental health system to create a modern system that heals without causing debt 34.
Immigration

Harris supports securing the border with advanced technology and strict enforcement of immigration laws to protect American citizens and national sovereignty.

Candidate's own wordsSource ↗Verified Oct 19, 2026AI-written

Harris prioritizes border security, restoring law and order, and protecting American citizens from unchecked immigration.

Own words (office website)Source ↗Verified Oct 19, 2026AI-written

Harris votes yea on multiple immigration enforcement and security acts and resolutions, but nay on a national emergency resolution related to immigration.

Official recordSource ↗Verified Oct 15, 2026AI-written

No public position found. Check their site ↗

Whitehead supports abolishing ICE.

ReportedSource ↗Verified Oct 8, 2026AI-written

Public Safety & Crime

Harris believes in strict enforcement of laws and holding criminals accountable to build safer communities where citizens can live and thrive securely.

Candidate's own wordsSource ↗Verified Oct 19, 2026AI-written

Harris votes yea on acts enhancing guard safety, prison staff safety, privacy in purchases, veterans' 2nd amendment rights, cashless bail reporting, and keeping violent offenders off streets.

Official recordSource ↗Verified Oct 15, 2026AI-written

Watson supports well-trained local law enforcement, cracking down on fentanyl traffickers, treating addiction as a disease, and expanding mental health and crisis intervention.

Candidate's own wordsSource ↗Verified Oct 18, 2026AI-written

No public position found. Check their site ↗

Abortion

Harris supports pro-life policies, believing in the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural end and advocating for traditional family values.

Candidate's own wordsSource ↗Verified Oct 19, 2026AI-written

Harris is pro-life, opposing abortion and chemical abortion drugs, and supports laws protecting unborn children and traditional family values.

Own words (office website)Source ↗Verified Oct 19, 2026AI-written

No public position found. Check their site ↗

Whitehead supports a healthcare system that provides women better and safer options for reproductive health.

Candidate's own wordsSource ↗Verified Oct 19, 2026AI-written

Taxes & Government Spending

Harris works to cut excessive government spending and fight inflation to increase take-home pay for families and promote economic thriving.

Candidate's own wordsSource ↗Verified Oct 19, 2026AI-written

Harris opposes reckless government spending and supports slashing wasteful spending and cutting bureaucratic red tape to secure a strong future.

Own words (office website)Source ↗Verified Oct 19, 2026AI-written

Harris votes yea on tax relief for fraud victims, AGOA extension, budget resolutions, continuing appropriations, and various appropriations acts.

Official recordSource ↗Verified Oct 15, 2026AI-written

No public position found. Check their site ↗

Whitehead criticizes current government spending priorities and advocates reallocating resources to build communities rather than enriching billionaires.

Candidate's own wordsSource ↗Verified Oct 19, 2026AI-written

Energy & Environment

Harris votes yea on disapproving EPA rule, marine conservation, battlefield protection, consumer fuel choice, and HEATS Act, but nay on Diesel Emissions Reduction Act.

Official recordSource ↗Verified Oct 15, 2026AI-written

No public position found. Check their site ↗

Whitehead supports protecting the environment by holding corporations accountable, expanding wind and solar power, updating the power grid, and regulating data centers.

Candidate's own wordsSource ↗Verified Oct 19, 2026AI-written

Foreign Policy & Defense

Harris votes nay on resolutions to remove US forces from Iran and Lebanon, yea on defense authorization and veterans clinic naming, and yea on FISA Amendments Act extension.

Official recordSource ↗Verified Oct 15, 2026AI-written

Watson opposes endless wars, supports Congress's authority over war powers, and advocates for foreign policy guided by human rights and accountability.

Candidate's own wordsSource ↗Verified Oct 18, 2026AI-written

No public position found. Check their site ↗

Common questions

When is the election?

The general election is on November 3, 2026.

How do the candidates differ on Healthcare?

Mark Harris votes yea on acts reauthorizing early care, rural care, Medicaid protections, and lowering premiums, but votes nay on the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act. Colby Watson supports healthcare focused on healing people, ensuring no one faces financial ruin for care, and opposes profit-driven healthcare. Bo Whitehead supports universal healthcare, universal childcare, and a complete overhaul of the mental health system to create a modern system that heals without causing debt.