Mark Harris

Mark Everette Harris is a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing North Carolina's 8th Congressional District, first elected in 2024. Born on April 24, 1966, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, he earned a B.S. in political science from Appalachian State University and a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Harris spent much of his professional career as a Baptist pastor, serving at churches in North Carolina and Georgia and leading the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina as its president. Harris previously ran for the U.S. Senate in 2014 and the U.S. House in 2016 and 2018. His 2018 campaign for the 9th District resulted in an uncertified election after the North Carolina Board of Elections investigated allegations of absentee ballot fraud involving a campaign contractor. While Harris himself was not charged, a new election was ordered, in which he chose not to run. He returned to electoral politics in 2024, winning the seat for the 8th District to succeed Dan Bishop. In the 119th Congress, he serves on the House Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Harris advocates for an "America First" economic agenda, prioritizing the permanent extension of the 2017 tax cuts, deregulation, and energy independence to reduce inflation. He is a prominent supporter of social conservative issues, identifying as pro-life and advocating for traditional family values, including previous leadership in the campaign for North Carolina's 2012 marriage amendment. On immigration, his platform focuses on strengthening border security through increased enforcement and the utilization of advanced technology. Additionally, Harris supports parental choice in education, favoring policies that empower families to choose between public, private, charter, or homeschooling options and advocating for local control over federal mandates.