North Carolina's 8th Congressional District election, 2026

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

All U.S. House districts, including the 8th Congressional District of North Carolina, are holding elections in 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026. The primary was March 3, 2026, and a primary runoff is May 12, 2026. The filing deadline was December 19, 2025. The outcome of this race will affect the partisan balance of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 120th Congress. All 435 U.S. House districts are up for election.

Currently, Republicans have a 218-214 majority with three vacancies in the chamber. To read more about the U.S. House elections taking place this year, click here. For more information about the primaries in this election, click on the links below:

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

Candidates and election results

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for U.S. House North Carolina District 8

Incumbent Mark Harris and Colby Watson are running in the general election for U.S. House North Carolina District 8 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Mark Harris (R)
		Colby Watson (D)

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

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

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

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Colby Watson	47.9	18,205
	Submit photo	Kevin Clark	37.1	14,113
		Jesse Oppenheim	14.9	5,679

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. Source	Total votes: 37,997
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Justin Dues (D)
• Justin Bunting (D)

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Mark Harris advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 8.

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.

Colby Watson

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.

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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.

---

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: Nov. 3, 2026, election.

What is the voter registration deadline?

• In-person: Oct. 31, 2026
• By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 9, 2026
• Online: Oct. 9, 2026

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

Yes

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

• In-person: Oct. 20, 2026
• By mail: Received by Oct. 20, 2026
• Online: Oct. 20, 2026

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

• In-person: Nov. 3, 2026
• By mail: Postmarked by Nov. 3, 2026

Is early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What are the early voting start and end dates?

Oct. 15, 2026 to Oct. 31, 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)

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

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.

Expand all | Collapse all

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Colby Watson (D)

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.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Colby Watson (D)

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.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Colby Watson (D)

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.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Colby Watson (D)

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.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Colby Watson (D)

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.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Colby Watson (D)

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.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Colby Watson (D)

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.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Colby Watson (D)

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.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Colby Watson (D)

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.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Colby Watson (D)

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.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Colby Watson (D)

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.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Colby Watson (D)

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.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Colby Watson (D)

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.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Colby Watson (D)

In short, yes. Two years is the right term length because it keeps representatives accountable to the people they serve.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Colby Watson (D)

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.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Colby Watson (D)

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.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Colby Watson (D)

Necessary, yes. Desirable, not always. But we must make collective agreements as a nation so that we can move forward.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

Colby Watson (D)

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.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

Colby Watson (D)

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.

Candidates hear many personal stories from voters. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching or memorable?

Colby Watson (D)

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.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

Colby Watson (D)

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.

What role should the United States government have in the development or use of artificial intelligence?

Colby Watson (D)

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.

What legislation would you enact related to election administration in the United States?

Colby Watson (D)

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.

You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:

• Mark Harris

Campaign finance

Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
Mark Harris	Republican Party	$520,328	$307,874	$319,987	As of February 11, 2026
Kevin Clark	Democratic Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Jesse Oppenheim	Democratic Party	$305,019	$219,365	$85,654	As of February 11, 2026
Colby Watson	Democratic Party	$15,626	$13,621	$2,005	As of February 11, 2026
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.

General election race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

• Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
• Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
• Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.
• Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.

Race ratings: North Carolina's 8th Congressional District election, 2026
Race tracker	Race ratings
	3/17/2026	3/10/2026	3/3/2026	2/24/2026
The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Decision Desk HQ and The Hill	Pending	Pending	Pending	Pending
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week.

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

District history

The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2020.

• 2024
• 2022
• 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House North Carolina District 8

Mark Harris (R) defeated Justin Dues (D) in the general election for U.S. House North Carolina District 8 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Harris (R)	59.6	238,640
		Justin Dues (D)	40.4	161,709

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 400,349
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Dan Bishop (R)

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary scheduled for March 5, 2024, was canceled. Justin Dues (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 8 without appearing on the ballot.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Keith Davenport (D)

Republican primary

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

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 8 on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Harris	30.4	24,764
		Allan Baucom	27.0	21,964
		John Bradford III	17.8	14,458
		Don Brown	10.5	8,519
		Leigh Brown	9.6	7,845
		Chris Maples	4.7	3,787

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 81,337
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

General election

General election for U.S. House North Carolina District 8

Incumbent Dan Bishop (R) defeated Scott Huffman (D) in the general election for U.S. House North Carolina District 8 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Dan Bishop (R)	69.9	183,998
		Scott Huffman (D)	30.1	79,192

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 263,190
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary scheduled for May 17, 2022, was canceled. Scott Huffman (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 8 without appearing on the ballot.

Republican primary

The Republican primary scheduled for May 17, 2022, was canceled. Incumbent Dan Bishop (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 8 without appearing on the ballot.

General election

General election for U.S. House North Carolina District 8

Incumbent Richard Hudson (R) defeated Patricia Timmons-Goodson (D) in the general election for U.S. House North Carolina District 8 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Hudson (R)	53.3	202,774
		Patricia Timmons-Goodson (D)	46.7	177,781

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 380,555
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary scheduled for March 3, 2020, was canceled. Patricia Timmons-Goodson (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 8 without appearing on the ballot.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Rodney Walker (D)

Republican primary

The Republican primary scheduled for March 3, 2020, was canceled. Incumbent Richard Hudson (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 8 without appearing on the ballot.

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.

2024

2026

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.

2024 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 March 2026
	Democratic Party	20
	Republican Party	30
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		50

North Carolina House of Representatives

Party		As of March 2026
	Democratic Party	49
	Republican Party	70
	Other	0
	Vacancies	1
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
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See also

North Carolina	2026 primaries	2026 U.S. Congress elections
North Carolina congressional delegation Voting in North Carolina North Carolina elections: 2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018	Democratic primary battlegrounds Republican primary battlegrounds U.S. Senate Democratic primaries U.S. Senate Republican primaries U.S. House Democratic primaries U.S. House Republican primaries	U.S. Congress elections U.S. Senate elections U.S. House elections Special elections Ballot access

External links

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Footnotes

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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

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