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

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← 2024
North Carolina's 8th Congressional District
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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

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.[1]

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:

Candidates and election results

Democratic primary election

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

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
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Kevin Clark
Image of Jesse Oppenheim
Jesse Oppenheim Candidate Connection
Image of Colby Watson
Colby Watson Candidate Connection

There are no incumbents in this race.

Candidate Connection = 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

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.

Jesse Oppenheim

Image of Jesse Oppenheim

WebsiteFacebookXYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

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."

Key Messages

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

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.

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.

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

Image of Colby Watson

WebsiteFacebookXYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

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."

Key Messages

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

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.

Voting information

See also: Voting in North Carolina

Election information in North Carolina: March 3, 2026, election.

What was the voter registration deadline?

  • In-person: Feb. 6, 2026
  • By mail: Postmarked by Feb. 6, 2026
  • Online: Feb. 6, 2026

Is absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

Yes

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

  • In-person: Feb. 17, 2026
  • By mail: Received by Feb. 17, 2026
  • Online: Feb. 17, 2026

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

  • In-person: March 3, 2026
  • By mail: Received by March 3, 2026

Is early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What are the early voting start and end dates?

Feb. 12, 2026 to Feb. 28, 2026

Are all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, is a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When are polls open on Election Day?

6:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. (ET)

Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Kevin Clark Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Jesse Oppenheim Democratic Party $279,785 $148,610 $131,175 As of December 31, 2025
Colby Watson Democratic Party $7,610 $6,755 $855 As of December 31, 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.


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

This section contains data on U.S. House primary election competitiveness in North Carolina.

Post-filing deadline analysis

The following analysis covers all U.S. House districts up for election in North Carolina in 2026. Information below was calculated on December 19, 2025., and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.

Sixty-seven candidates — 40 Democrats and 27 Republicans — ran for North Carolina’s 14 U.S. House districts. That’s 4.8 candidates per district. There were 4.6 candidates per district in 2024 and 7.14 in 2022. In 2020, when the state had 13 U.S. House districts, there were 4.9 candidates per district. There were 4.3 candidates in 2018, 5.7 in 2016, and 4.6 in 2014.

These were the first elections to take place since the General Assembly of North Carolina passed a new congressional map. The North Carolina Senate passed it on Oct. 21, 2025, and the North Carolina House of Representatives passed it Oct. 22, 2025.

No districts were open in 2026, meaning all incumbents — four Democrats and 10 Republicans — ran for re-election. The only other year since 2014 with no open districts was 2018.

Nineteen primaries — 11 Democratic and eight Republican — were contested in 2026. In total, there were 13 contested primaries in 2024, 22 in 2022, 13 in 2020, 17 in 2018, 16 in 2016, and 17 in 2014.

Eight candidates — six Democrats and two Republicans — ran for the 10th district, the most candidates who ran for a district in 2026.

Eight incumbents — two Democrats and six Republicans — faced a primary challenger in 2026. There were four incumbents in a contested primary in 2024, seven in 2022, three in 2020, eight in 2018, nine in 2016, and six in 2014.

Candidates filed to run in the Republican and Democratic primaries in all 14 districts, meaning no districts were guaranteed to either party.

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.[2]

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 Democratic PartyDonald Trump Republican Party
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
OfficeOfficeholder
GovernorDemocratic Party Josh Stein
Lieutenant GovernorDemocratic Party Rachel Hunt
Secretary of StateDemocratic Party Elaine Marshall
Attorney GeneralDemocratic Party 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

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ North Carolina General Assembly, "N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163–119," accessed December 15, 2025
  2. ↑ Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025


North Carolina's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Ted Budd (R)
Thom Tillis (R)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
Republican Party (12)
Democratic Party (4)


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