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Colby Watson
From Ballotpedia
Colby Watson (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent North Carolina's 8th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]
Watson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Colby Watson was born in Indian Trail, North Carolina. He earned a high school diploma through homeschooling. His career experience includes working as a business owner.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: North Carolina's 8th Congressional District election, 2026
Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for U.S. House North Carolina District 8
The following candidates are running in the general election for U.S. House North Carolina District 8 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Mark Harris (R) | |
Justin Bunting (D)  | ||
| Kevin Clark (D) | ||
 | Justin Dues (D) | |
 | Jesse Oppenheim (D) | |
 | Colby Watson (D) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Colby Watson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Watson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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First and foremost, I am a lifelong North Carolinian, born and raised in Indian Trail right here in the 8th District. I’m a husband, father, and small business owner. I’m a lover of democracy and a firm believer that government should serve the people, not special interests. I believe deeply in fairness, equality, and justice for all.
- End corruption and take money out of politics. Our democracy has been hijacked by big money and special interests. I’m running to restore power to the people by ending the influence of super PACs and corporate lobbyists. Real change begins when we remove corruption from our political system.
- Tackle the cost of living crisis and the growing wealth inequality. The cost of living keeps rising while wages stay the same, forcing working families to do more with less. Meanwhile, the wealth gap grows wider, and the middle class continues to shrink. I believe in policies that ensure every person who works hard can afford a home, pay their bills, and build a better future, because prosperity should not be reserved for the few at the top.
- We must invest in our communities, our schools, healthcare, infrastructure, and local economies, so that every person has the tools and opportunities to thrive. When we strengthen our communities, we strengthen the foundation of our democracy and build a future that works for everyone, not just the powerful few.
I’m passionate about restoring integrity to our democracy and ending the corrupting influence of money in politics. I believe government should serve people, not corporations or special interests. I care deeply about rebuilding the middle class, addressing the cost-of-living crisis, and ensuring every working family can live with dignity. I’m also committed to investing in education, healthcare, and infrastructure, when we strengthen our communities, we strengthen the nation as a whole.
I believe the most important characteristics for any elected official are courage, temperance, wisdom, and justice. Courage to stand up for what’s right, even when it’s not popular. Temperance to remain grounded and humble while wielding power. Wisdom to listen, learn, and make decisions guided by truth and reason. And justice, to ensure fairness and equality for all, not just the privileged few.
The core responsibility of a member of Congress is to represent the people, not special interests, not lobbyists, and not party elites. An elected official should listen to their constituents, fight for fairness and opportunity, and ensure that every decision made in Washington reflects the needs and values of the people back home. It is also their duty to uphold the Constitution, protect democracy, and serve with honesty, transparency, and accountability.
I care little for legacy. What matters most to me is leaving behind a preserved democracy, a system that works for the people, not against them, and an understanding that we must quit fighting one another and focus on progress for the human race.
The first historical event I remember is the September 11th attacks. I was 12 at the time, but I still remember how deeply it affected the country and how it brought people together in a way I’ll never forget. That moment remains one of the clearest memories from my early life.
My first job was in masonry, and I started when I was still in high school. It was brutally hard work, and it gave me a great deal of respect for all of those out there working so hard every day to keep our country moving forward.
George Orwell’s 1984. It's warning about the dangers of unchecked government power, the erosion of truth, and the manipulation of public perception. It resonates deeply today as we see mass surveillance, control through technology, and the constant shaping of public opinion. It’s a reminder of how vital it is to protect our individual freedoms and defend truth in a world where both are under pressure.
Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings. He never sought power for himself but stepped forward when his people needed him. He led with courage, humility, and a sense of duty to others, qualities I believe every true leader should have.
One of my biggest struggles has been watching how hard working people can do everything right and still fall behind because the system is tilted against them. It’s what motivates me to fight for fairness, opportunity, and real change for everyday Americans.
The House of Representatives is unique because it’s the chamber closest to the people. Members have to earn the trust of their communities every two years, which keeps them accountable and connected to the voters they serve. It’s meant to reflect the voices, struggles, and values of everyday Americans, making it the part of government most directly tied to the people.
Absolutely not. I believe people in office are much more effective when they’ve walked in the shoes of everyday Americans. Real leadership comes from understanding the struggles, hopes, and challenges that ordinary people face, not from years spent in political circles.
I believe the greatest challenges facing our nation over the next decade are growing division, extreme wealth inequality, and rapid advancements in technology that have the potential to leave many Americans behind. If we don’t address these issues with wisdom and fairness, we risk deepening the gaps between communities and classes. Our future depends on unity, opportunity, and ensuring progress benefits everyone.
In short, yes. Two years is the right term length because it keeps representatives accountable to the people they serve.
I believe term limits for members of Congress are important, but they’re only part of the solution. Without addressing the deeper problem of corruption and the outsized influence of special interests and lobbyists, term limits alone will make little difference. Real reform requires restoring integrity, transparency, and accountability to our political system.
I recently spoke to a couple in our district who were trying to buy their first home. On two different occasions, they were outbid by large investment institutions. The fact that this can happen is shameful, and it must end. Working families should never have to compete with corporate investors just to have a place to call home.
Necessary, yes. Desirable, not always. But we must make collective agreements as a nation so that we can move forward.
The Constitution gives the House the power to originate all bills for raising revenue because it’s the chamber closest to the people. That responsibility means making sure taxpayer dollars are used wisely and fairly. If elected, I would use that power to prioritize the middle class, working families, and small businesses, not the wealthy and well-connected. Every dollar raised and spent should serve the people.
The House should use its investigative powers responsibly and without political bias. Oversight is one of Congress’s most important duties, but it should always serve the people, not party interests. Investigations should focus on uncovering corruption, waste, and abuse of power, no matter who’s responsible. The goal should always be truth, transparency, and protecting the public trust.
I spoke recently with a man who had spent his life harvesting tobacco. As he got older and could no longer perform the hard physical work, the system simply discarded him. It was heartbreaking to hear. No one who has given their life to building this country should ever feel forgotten or left behind. His only desire now is that his grandson has a real opportunity to make it in this world.
I’m proud that I’ve stayed true to myself through struggles and trials, that I’ve followed my inner voice without compromising, simply to make things easier. I’m also proud that I’ve built a business from the ground up. It took long hours, sacrifice, and determination, but it taught me the value of persistence and responsibility, and it gave me a deep respect for the struggles that small business owners and working families face every day.
The United States government should play a significant role in the development and use of artificial intelligence. AI is going to dominate our future, and the power it holds should not rest solely in the hands of profit-driven corporations. That would be dangerous for humanity itself. We must ensure AI is developed responsibly, ethically, and in ways that serve people, not exploit them.
I would support legislation that ensures secure, accessible, and transparent elections, through paper ballots, modernized registration, fair campaign finance laws, and support for local election administrators. Our democracy works best when voting is easy and elections are trustworthy.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
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Candidate U.S. House North Carolina District 8 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 19, 2025
Senators
Ted Budd (R)
Thom Tillis (R)
Representatives
District 1
Donald Davis (D)
District 2
Deborah Ross (D)
District 3
Gregory Murphy (R)
District 4
Valerie Foushee (D)
District 5
Virginia Foxx (R)
District 6
Addison McDowell (R)
District 7
David Rouzer (R)
District 8
Mark Harris (R)
District 9
Richard Hudson (R)
District 10
Pat Harrigan (R)
District 11
Chuck Edwards (R)
District 12
Alma Adams (D)
District 13
Brad Knott (R)
District 14
Timothy Moore (R)
Republican Party (12)
Democratic Party (4)
