North Carolina's 8th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Democratic primary)

North Carolina redrew its congressional district boundaries in October 2025. Voters will elect representatives under the new map in 2026. Click here to read more about mid-decade redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections.

← 2024
North Carolina's 8th Congressional District
Democratic primary Republican primary General election
Election details
Filing deadline: December 19, 2025
Primary: March 3, 2026 Primary runoff: May 12, 2026 General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times: 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voting in North Carolina
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican DDHQ and The Hill: Pending Inside Elections: Solid Republican Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
North Carolina's 8th Congressional District U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th • 13th • 14th North Carolina elections, 2026 U.S. Congress elections, 2026 U.S. Senate elections, 2026 U.S. House elections, 2026 Alabama U.S. House racesAlaska U.S. House raceArizona U.S. House racesArkansas U.S. House racesCalifornia U.S. House racesColorado U.S. House racesConnecticut U.S. House racesDelaware U.S. House raceFlorida U.S. House racesGeorgia U.S. House racesHawaii U.S. House racesIdaho U.S. House racesIllinois U.S. House racesIndiana U.S. House racesIowa U.S. House racesKansas U.S. House racesKentucky U.S. House racesLouisiana U.S. House racesMaine U.S. House racesMaryland U.S. House racesMassachusetts U.S. House racesMichigan U.S. House racesMinnesota U.S. House racesMississippi U.S. House racesMissouri U.S. House racesMontana U.S. House racesNebraska U.S. House racesNevada U.S. House racesNew Hampshire U.S. House racesNew Jersey U.S. House racesNew Mexico U.S. House racesNew York U.S. House racesNorth Carolina U.S. House racesNorth Dakota U.S. House raceOhio U.S. House racesOklahoma U.S. House racesOregon U.S. House racesPennsylvania U.S. House racesRhode Island U.S. House racesSouth Carolina U.S. House racesSouth Dakota U.S. House raceTennessee U.S. House racesTexas U.S. House racesUtah U.S. House racesVermont U.S. House raceVirginia U.S. House racesWashington U.S. House racesWest Virginia U.S. House racesWisconsin U.S. House racesWyoming U.S. House raceSubmit

A Democratic Party primary takes place on March 3, 2026, in North Carolina's 8th Congressional District to determine which Democratic candidate will run in the district's general election on November 3, 2026.

Candidate filing deadline	Primary election	General election
December 19, 2025	March 3, 2026	November 3, 2026

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. North Carolina utilizes a semi-closed primary system. Parties decide who may vote in their respective primaries. Voters may choose a primary ballot without impacting their unaffiliated status.

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

This page focuses on North Carolina's 8th Congressional District Democratic primary. For more in-depth information on the district's Republican primary and the general election, see the following pages:

• North Carolina's 8th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Republican primary)
• North Carolina's 8th Congressional District election, 2026

Candidates and election results

Note: The following list of candidates is unofficial. The filing deadline for this election has passed, and Ballotpedia is working to update this page with the official candidate list. This note will be removed once the official candidate list has been added.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 8

Justin Bunting, Kevin Clark, Jesse Oppenheim, and Colby Watson are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 8 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Justin Bunting
	Submit photo	Kevin Clark
		Jesse Oppenheim
		Colby Watson

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	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Justin Dues (D)

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Justin Bunting

Do you have a photo that could go here? Click here to submit it for this profile!

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  ""I’m a proud family man with a loving wife and five wonderful kids. For 13 years, I worked hard in the oil fields of the Midwest, gaining firsthand experience of the struggles and dedication of American workers. Eight years ago, I made North Carolina my home, where I owned and operated a house cleaning and painting business, contributing to the local community. During the COVID-19 outbreak, I worked at Walmart and delivered food for DoorDash to help support my family and serve others during challenging times. My journey is rooted in hard work, resilience, and a deep commitment to my family and community.""

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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1. Gun Reform & Public Safety "Fighting for common-sense gun reform to protect our communities and schools. I will work tirelessly to ban machine guns, strengthen background checks, and ensure our children grow up in a safer America."

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2. Affordable Housing for All "Lowering housing costs and tackling the affordable housing crisis head-on. Every family deserves access to safe, secure, and affordable homes without breaking their wallets."

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3. Protecting Democracy & Equal Rights "Championing democracy and standing up for everyone’s rights. From supporting disability rights to fighting for gender equity and protecting women’s health decisions, I will always prioritize fairness and justice for all."

Jesse Oppenheim

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "I’m Jesse Oppenheim, a husband, a father, and an attorney who’s spent his career solving complex problems and standing up for what’s right. I I’m not a career politician. I’ve led legal departments, advised executives, and worked at the intersection of healthcare and technology to help make systems more efficient and accessible. Now I’m stepping up to serve because I believe our district, and our country, deserve leaders who listen, show up, and deliver results with integrity. My family and I live in Charlotte, where I’ve been deeply involved in the local community for years. I’ve chaired nonprofit boards, stayed active in my community, and mentored young professionals. I know what it’s like to balance a demanding job with raising a family, and I know how much government decisions affect our daily lives. I’m running for Congress to bring common sense back to Washington. That means fighting for affordable healthcare, protecting democracy, rebuilding infrastructure, and making sure working families aren’t left behind. I’m running because I believe we can do better, and I’m ready to prove it."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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End Congressional Stock Trading. I’m running to restore trust in government and that starts with banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks. Too many politicians treat public office like a path to private profit. I’ve spent my career building accountability into complex systems, and I believe in holding leaders to the same rules as everyone else. This isn’t a partisan issue. It’s a common-sense reform supported by Americans across the political spectrum. If you’re making laws, you shouldn’t be making stock picks. I’m not running to play the game, I’m running to change the rules.

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Fix healthcare so it works for real people. I’m General Counsel to a medical billing software company, trying to assist patients and doctors navigate one of the most complex, and expensive, systems in America. I’ve seen how red tape and bad policy hurt patients and providers alike. In Congress, I’ll fight for affordable, accessible healthcare that puts people first, starting with expanding Medicaid, capping drug prices, and protecting rural hospitals from closure. No one should go broke to see a doctor or lose their job because they got sick.

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Invest in infrastructure and opportunity. From crumbling roads to unreliable internet, too many communities in our district are being held together with duct tape and prayers. I’m running to bring real investment back home, into roads, bridges, school buildings, clean water, and broadband. Infrastructure isn’t just about concrete, it’s about opportunity. Good schools, safe streets, and strong local economies start with the basics. I’ve spent my career solving problems, cutting through red tape, and making systems work. In Congress, I’ll fight to bring those same skills to rebuild what’s been neglected for far too long.

Colby Watson

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "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."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Voting information

See also: Voting in North Carolina

Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.

Campaign finance

Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
Justin Bunting	Democratic Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Kevin Clark	Democratic Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Jesse Oppenheim	Democratic Party	$145,562	$37,258	$108,304	As of September 30, 2025
Colby Watson	Democratic Party	$1,000	$517	$483	As of September 30, 2025
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). * According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." ** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election. *** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

• District map - A map of the district before and after redistricting ahead of the 2026 election.
• Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2026 U.S. House elections in the state.
• Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
• State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.

• District map
• Competitiveness
• Presidential elections
• State party control

Below is the district map used in the 2024 election next to the map in place for the 2026 election. Click on a map below to enlarge it. Error: One or both images not found for the specified years.

See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2026

Information about competitiveness will be added here as it becomes available.

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is R+10. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 10 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made North Carolina's 8th the 138th most Republican district nationally.

2020 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2024 presidential election was in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by The Downballot.

2024 presidential results in North Carolina's 8th Congressional District

Kamala Harris	Donald Trump
41.5%	56.4%

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in North Carolina, 2024

North Carolina presidential election results (1900-2024)

• 18 Democratic wins
• 14 Republican wins

Year	1900	1904	1908	1912	1916	1920	1924	1928	1932	1936	1940	1944	1948	1952	1956	1960	1964	1968	1972	1976	1980	1984	1988	1992	1996	2000	2004	2008	2012	2016	2020	2024
Winning Party	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	R	R	R	R

See also: Party control of North Carolina state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of North Carolina's congressional delegation as of October 2025.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from North Carolina
Party	U.S. Senate	U.S. House	Total
Democratic	0	4	4
Republican	2	10	12
Independent	0	0	0
Vacancies	0	0	0
Total	2	14	16

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in North Carolina's top four state executive offices as of October 2025.

State executive officials in North Carolina, October 2025

Office	Officeholder
Governor	Josh Stein
Lieutenant Governor	Rachel Hunt
Secretary of State	Elaine Marshall
Attorney General	Jeff Jackson

State legislature

North Carolina State Senate

Party		As of October 2025
	Democratic Party	20
	Republican Party	30
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		50

North Carolina House of Representatives

Party		As of October 2025
	Democratic Party	49
	Republican Party	71
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		120

Trifecta control

North Carolina Party Control: 1992-2025
Fourteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  Four years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25
Governor	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
Senate	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R
House	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in North Carolina in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in North Carolina, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
North Carolina	U.S. House	Ballot-qualified party	5% of registered voters in the same party or 200, whichever is greater	$1,740	12/19/2025	Source
North Carolina	U.S. House	Unaffiliated	1.5% of all registered N.C. voters in the district, as of January 1 of the election year.	$1,740	12/19/2025	Source

See also

• North Carolina's 8th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Republican primary)
• North Carolina's 8th Congressional District election, 2026
• United States House elections in North Carolina, 2026 (March 3 Democratic primaries)
• United States House elections in North Carolina, 2026 (March 3 Republican primaries)
• United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2026
• United States House Republican Party primaries, 2026
• United States House of Representatives elections, 2026
• U.S. House battlegrounds, 2026

External links

Suggest a link

• Search Google News for this topic

Footnotes

[show]

North Carolina's current delegation to the United States Congress

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)

2025-2026 Elections to the United States Congress

Senate by State

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House by State

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Election information

Ballot access for major and minor party candidates • List of candidates running for election • List of congressional challengers • Retiring senators • Retiring representatives

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Super PACs/Organizations

American Bridge 21st Century • American Crossroads • American Unity PAC • Campaign for Primary Accountability • Club for Growth Action • Congressional Leadership Fund • Cooperative of American Physicians IE Committee• Crossroads Generation • Ending Spending Action Fund • Endorse Liberty • Fair Share Action • FreedomWorks for America • Government Integrity Fund • House Majority PAC • Independence USA Fund • League of Conservation Voters • Liberty for All PAC • Majority PAC • National Association of Realtors • NEA Advocacy Fund • Now or Never PAC • Planned Parenthood Votes • Ready for Hillary • Republicans for a Prosperous America • Restore America's Voice PAC • SEIU Pea-Federal • Women Vote!

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