{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is already sufficiently detailed; see WP:SDNONE --> {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}} {{Infobox election | election_name = 2018 North Carolina's 9th congressional district election | country = North Carolina | type = election | ongoing = No | previous_election = 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina#District 9 | previous_year = 2016 | election_date = November 6, 2018 | next_election = 2019 North Carolina's 9th congressional district special election | next_year = 2019 (special) | seats_for_election = North Carolina's 9th congressional district | image1 = File:Harris Mark 119th Congrss (cropped).jpg | candidate1 = Mark Harris | party1 = Republican Party (United States) | popular_vote1 = 139,246 | percentage1 = 49.25% | image2 = File:3x4.svg | candidate2 = Dan McCready | party2 = Democratic Party (United States) | popular_vote2 = 138,341 | percentage2 = 48.93% | map_image = File:2018 North Carolina's 9th congressional district election - Results by county.svg | map_size = | map_caption = | title = U.S. Representative | before_election = Robert Pittenger | before_party = Republican | after_election = Election results annulled | after_party = }} {{Elections in North Carolina}}
The '''2018 election in North Carolina's 9th congressional district''' was held on November 6, 2018, to elect a member for North Carolina's 9th congressional district to the United States House of Representatives.
Republican Mark Harris, an evangelical minister, defeated incumbent Republican Congressman Robert Pittenger in the primary and then faced Democrat Dan McCready, a veteran and businessman, in the general election. Initial tallies put Harris 905 votes ahead, but the state election board refused to certify the results, pending a criminal investigation into allegations of fraud in handling of absentee ballots.<ref name=Buzzfeed/> The seat was unrepresented at the start of the 116th Congress.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections held an evidentiary hearing in February 2019.<ref name="auto">[https://www.wral.com/new-nc-elections-board-sets-date-for-9th-district-hearing/18168791/ New NC elections board sets date for 9th District hearing], ''WRAL'', February 4, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.</ref> On February 21, the board unanimously voted to call a new election because of fraud by Republican operatives.<ref name="CaldwellNewElection">{{cite web |last1=Caldwell |first1=Leigh Ann |title=New election ordered in North Carolina House district after possible illegal activities |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/republican-candidate-mark-harris-calls-new-election-north-carolina-disputed-n974176?cid=public-rss_20190221 |website=NBC News |date=February 21, 2019 |access-date=February 21, 2019}}</ref> Several Republican campaign operatives have been indicted for their role in an illegal ballot harvesting and ballot tampering operation. In addition to illegal collection and handling of ballots, ballot tampering was admitted in witness testimony, including filling in blank votes to favor Republican candidates<!-- and falsifying witness signatures-->. The state legislature passed a law requiring new party primaries.
==Background== {{see also|North Carolina's 9th congressional district}} thumb|400px|North Carolina's 9th congressional district since January 3, 2017 The ninth district is in south-central North Carolina. It comprises Union, Anson, Richmond, Scotland, and Robeson counties; the southeast portion of Mecklenburg County; and parts of Cumberland and Bladen counties.<ref name="crowded field">{{cite web|author=Drew Brooks |url=https://www.fayobserver.com/news/20180502/crowded-field-vies-for-9th-congressional-district-seat |title=Crowded field vies for 9th Congressional District seat |work=The Fayetteville Observer |date=May 2, 2018 |access-date=December 21, 2018}}</ref> The district had been held by the Republican Party since 1963.<ref name="all eyes">{{cite web|author=John Henderson, Staff Writer |url=https://www.fayobserver.com/news/20181020/all-eyes-on-nov-6-will-be-on-district-9-harris-vs-mccready |title=All eyes on Nov. 6 will be on District 9: Harris vs. McCready |work=The Fayetteville Observer|date=October 20, 2018 |access-date=December 21, 2018}}</ref>
Robert Pittenger, a Republican, was elected to represent the district in 2012. In the 2016 election, Pittenger was challenged for the Republican nomination by Mark Harris and Todd Johnson. Pittenger won the nomination, defeating Harris by 134 votes.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Weigel|first1=David|title=North Carolina GOP congressman loses primary, first House incumbent ousted|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/north-carolina-gop-congressman-loses-primary-first-house-incumbent-ousted/2018/05/08/89387348-5318-11e8-9c91-7dab596e8252_story.html|access-date=May 12, 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=May 8, 2018}}</ref> Questions were raised about the role of convicted perjurer and campaign operative McCrae Dowless, when Johnson won 221 of the 226 Bladen County absentee votes cast in the race.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bradner |first=Eric |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/04/politics/north-carolina-house-race-mccrae-dowless-absentee-ballots/index.html |title=Man at center of North Carolina election fraud probe turned in hundreds of absentee ballot requests – CNNPolitics |publisher=CNN |date=December 5, 2018 |access-date=December 20, 2018}}</ref> Pittenger was re-elected in 2016 over Democratic Party nominee Christian Cano by over 54,000 votes.<ref name="crowded field"/>
==Democratic primary== ===Candidates=== * Christian Cano, former hotel consultant, Democratic nominee in the 2016 election<ref name=shutdown>{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article196390274.html|title=Christian Cano : Politics|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=February 14, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article197881484.html|title=Democratic challenger's big bank account might mean a tough House race for Pittenger|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=April 15, 2018|language=en}}</ref> * Dan McCready, entrepreneur and U.S. Marine Iraq war veteran, registered as an independent prior to 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/taylor-batten/article208187784.html|title=In Pittenger-McCready race, who would dish out the stress?|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=April 15, 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>[https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article218945310.html A former Marine, Dan McCready finds his latest mission in a bid for Congress], ''The Charlotte Observer'', Jim Morrill, October 11, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.</ref>
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) supported McCready during the primary election.<ref name="crowded field"/> He was among the first 11 candidates added to the DCCC's "Red to Blue" program.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/dccc-names-first-11-candidates-red-blue-program |title=DCCC Names First 11 Candidates in 'Red to Blue' Program |website=Rollcall.com |date=November 15, 2017 |access-date=December 30, 2018}}</ref>
===Results=== ====Overall==== {{Election box begin no change | title = Democratic primary results<ref name="dprimary">{{cite web |url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/contest_details.html?election_dt=05/08/2018&county_id=0&contest_id=1548 |title=US House of Representatives District 09 – Dem (Vote for 1) |work=NC State Board of Elections |access-date=May 9, 2018}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Dan McCready | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 38,098 | percentage = 82.8 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Christian Cano | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 7,922 | percentage = 17.2 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 46,020 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box end}}
====By county==== thumb| Results by county: {{legend|#214478|McCready—80–90%}} {{legend|#2c5aa0|McCready—70–80%}}
McCready won every county by varying margins.<ref name="dprimary"/> <span style=background:#b0ceff>Blue</span> represents counties won by McCready.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |- ! rowspan=2| County ! colspan=2| Cano ! colspan=2| McCready ! Total |- ! Votes !! % !! Votes !! % !! data-sort-type=number|Votes |- {{party shading/Democratic}} | Anson || ''416'' || 20.1% || '''''1,656''''' || '''79.9%''' || ''2,072'' |- {{party shading/Democratic}} | Bladen || 263 || 14.0% || '''''1,622''''' || '''86.1%''' || ''1,885'' |- {{party shading/Democratic}} | Cumberland || ''873'' || 23.6% || '''''2,830''''' || '''76.4%''' || ''3,703'' |- {{party shading/Democratic}} | Mecklenburg || ''1,384'' || 12.6% || '''''9,627''''' || '''87.4%''' || ''11,011'' |- {{party shading/Democratic}} | Richmond || ''567'' || 20.9% || '''''2,142''''' || '''79.1%''' || ''2,709'' |- {{party shading/Democratic}} | Robeson || ''2,939'' || 16.9% || '''''14,502''''' || '''83.2%''' || ''17,441'' |- {{party shading/Democratic}} | Scotland || ''726'' || 23.6% || '''''2,357''''' || '''76.5%''' || ''3,082'' |- {{party shading/Democratic}} | Union || ''754'' || 18.3% || '''''3,362''''' || '''81.7%''' || ''4,116'' |- ! Totals !! 7,922 !! 17.2% !! 38,098 !! 82.8% !! 46,020 |}
==Republican primary== [[File:Robert_Pittenger,_Official_Portrait,_113th_Congress.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Robert Pittenger's official portrait]]
===Candidates=== * Clarence Goins, banker<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.fayobserver.com/news/20180214/eastover-banker-files-for-9th-congressional-district|title=Eastover banker files for 9th Congressional District|last=Woolverton|first=Paul|work=The Fayetteville Observer|access-date=April 15, 2018|language=en}}</ref> * Mark Harris, Baptist evangelical minister and former pastor<ref name=GardnerNewElection/><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article205130214.html|title=GOP rival says Pittenger is among the 'most liberal' Republicans in Congress. False.|newspaper=The News & Observer|access-date=April 15, 2018|language=en}}</ref> * Robert Pittenger, incumbent
Harris resigned from his church in June 2017 in order to devote his full attention to the 2018 campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article155588049.html |title=First Baptist's Mark Harris to step aside as he considers another bid for Congress |website=The Charlotte Observer |date=June 11, 2017 |access-date=February 23, 2019}}</ref> Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson campaigned for Pittenger during the primary election campaign.<ref name="crowded field"/> Harris criticized Pittenger as a part of the "Washington swamp" for voting in favor of the March 2018 omnibus spending bill.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lowry |first=Rich |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/08/north-carolina-primary-results-576757 |title=North Carolina Rep. Pittenger loses primary |website=Politico |date=May 8, 2018 |access-date=December 20, 2018}}</ref> Pittenger defended his conservative voting record and pointed out the increase in military spending in the omnibus bill. He attempted to paint Harris as anti-Trump due to his support of Ted Cruz during the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries, though Pittenger had endorsed Marco Rubio.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/05/08/robert-pittenger-north-carolina-mark-harris/593300002/ |title=Rep. Robert Pittenger loses North Carolina GOP primary to pastor |publisher=USA Today |date= |accessdate=2022-02-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/653552555/?terms=%22jeff%20scott%22%20%22christian%20cano%22&match=1 |title=20 Mar 2018, A3 - The News and Observer at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=2018-03-20 |accessdate=2022-02-01}}</ref>
===Results=== ====Overall==== {{Election box begin no change | title = Republican primary results<ref name="rprimary">{{cite web |url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/contest_details.html?election_dt=05/08/2018&county_id=0&contest_id=1547|title=US House of Representatives District 09 Rep (Vote for 1) |work=NC State Board of Elections |access-date=May 9, 2018}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Mark Harris | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 17,302 | percentage = 48.5 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Robert Pittenger (incumbent) | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 16,474 | percentage = 46.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Clarence Goins | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 1,867 | percentage = 5.2 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 35,643 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box end}}
====By county==== thumb| Results by county: {{legend|#c83737|Harris—60–70%}} {{legend|#d35f5f|Harris—50–60%}} {{legend|#de8787|Harris—40–50%}} {{legend|#87de87|Pittenger—40–50%}} {{legend|#5fd35f|Pittenger—50–60%}} {{legend|#37c837|Pittenger—60–70%}}
<span style=background:#ffb6b6>Red</span> represents counties won by Harris. <span style=background:#9f9>Green</span> represents counties won by Pittenger.<ref name="rprimary"/>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |- ! rowspan=2| County ! colspan=2| Goins ! colspan=2| Harris ! colspan=2| Pittenger ! Total |- ! Votes !! % !! Votes !! % !! Votes !! % !! data-sort-type=number|Votes |- {{party shading/Republican}} | Anson || ''21'' || 3.4% || '''''339''''' || '''54.3%''' || ''264'' || 42.3% || ''624'' |- {{party shading/Republican}} | Bladen || ''60'' || 2.9% || '''''1,427''''' || '''69.3%''' || ''572'' || 27.8% || ''2,059'' |- style="background:#9f9;" | Cumberland || ''633'' || 23.9% || ''846'' || 32.0% || '''''1,168''''' || '''44.1%''' || ''2,647'' |- style="background:#9f9;" | Mecklenburg || ''475'' || 3.8% || ''5,610'' || 44.9% || '''''6,417''''' || '''51.3%''' || ''12,502'' |- style="background:#9f9;" | Richmond || ''38'' || 2.4% || ''590'' || 36.9% || '''''970''''' || '''60.7%''' || ''1,598'' |- style="background:#9f9;" | Robeson || ''271'' || 16.1% || ''597'' || 35.4% || '''''820''''' || '''48.6%''' || ''1,688'' |- {{party shading/Republican}} | Scotland || ''43'' || 5.4% || '''''384''''' || '''48.2%''' || ''369'' || 46.4% || ''796'' |- {{party shading/Republican}} | Union || ''326'' || 2.4% || '''''7,509''''' || '''54.7%''' || ''5,894'' || 42.9% || ''13,729'' |- ! Totals !! 1,867 !! 5.2% !! 17,302 !! 48.5% !! 16,474 !! 46.2% !! 35,643 |}
==General election== Through September 30, McCready reported raising $4.3 million while Harris had raised $1.6 million. President Donald Trump and Second Lady Karen Pence traveled to the district to campaign for Harris, while Representative John Lewis campaigned for McCready.<ref name="all eyes"/> Harris was endorsed by Donald Trump, President of the United States,<ref name=trchbd>{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article220486190.html|title=Trump urges votes for GOP candidates in Charlotte rally: 'Let's not take a chance'|work=The Charlotte Observer |author=Ely Portillo |author2=Jim Morrill |author3=Tim Funk |date=October 26, 2018|access-date=February 21, 2019}}</ref> and Libertarian Jeff Scott was endorsed by Christian Cano, 2016 Democratic primary candidate for North Carolina's 9th congressional district.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lpnc.org/former_democratic_candidates_endorses_jeff_scott_for_congress|title = Former Democratic Candidate Endorses Jeff Scott for Congress}}</ref>
Harris and McCready debated on October 10 on WBTV in Charlotte<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article219515655.html |title=US House District 9 debate: Dan McCready, Mark Harris |work=The Charlotte Observer |access-date=December 20, 2018}}</ref> and October 17 at Spirit Square.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article220122475.html |title=US House District 9 debate: Dan McCready, Mark Harris |work=The Charlotte Observer |access-date=December 20, 2018}}</ref> *[https://www.c-span.org/video/?452745-1/north-carolina-9th-congressional-district-debate Complete video of debate], October 10, 2018
=== Polling === {| class="wikitable" |- valign=bottom ! Poll source ! Date(s)<br />administered ! Sample<br />size ! Margin<br />of error ! style="width:100px;"| Mark<br />Harris (R) ! style="width:100px;"| Dan<br />McCready (D) ! style="width:100px;"| Jeff<br />Scott (L) ! Undecided |- |NYT Upshot/Siena College<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/upshot/elections-poll-nc09-3.html NYT Upshot/Siena College]</ref> | align=center| October 26–30, 2018 | align=center| 505 | align=center| ± 5.0% | {{party shading/Republican}} align=center| '''45%''' | align=center| 44% | align=center| 3% | align=center| 7% |- |NYT Upshot/Siena College<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/upshot/elections-poll-nc09-1.html NYT Upshot/Siena College]</ref> | align=center| October 1–5, 2018 | align=center| 502 | align=center| ± 4.9% | {{party shading/Republican}} align=center| '''47%''' | align=center| 42% | align=center| – | align=center| 11% |- |SurveyUSA<ref>[https://www.nccivitas.org/polling/harris-narrows-gap-nc-09/ SurveyUSA]</ref> | align=center| October 2–4, 2018 | align=center| 556 | align=center| ± 4.7% | align=center| 41% | {{party shading/Democratic}} align=center| '''45%''' | align=center| 3% | align=center| 12% |- |SurveyUSA<ref>[http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=040c3fd9-600f-468e-bdb2-6ccd513742ba SurveyUSA]</ref> | align=center| July 5–8, 2018 | align=center| 600 | align=center| ± 4.6% | align=center| 36% | {{party shading/Democratic}} align=center| '''43%''' | align=center| 3% | align=center| 19% |- |ALG Research (D-McCready)<ref>[https://www.scribd.com/document/383965032/NC-09-Anzalone-Liszt-Grove-for-Dan-McCready-March-2018 ALG Research (D-McCready)]</ref> | align=center| March 8–13, 2018 | align=center| 500 | align=center| ± 4.4% | align=center| 43% | {{party shading/Democratic}} align=center| '''44%''' | align=center| – | align=center| 13% |}
<!-- = = = don't edit the line below = = = --> {{hidden begin|expanded=y|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=Hypothetical polling|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:var(--background-color-base); color:var(--color-base);}} <!-- = = = don't edit the line above = = = --> {| class="wikitable" |- valign=bottom ! Poll source ! Date(s)<br />administered ! Sample<br />size ! Margin<br />of error ! style="width:100px;"| Robert<br />Pittenger (R) ! style="width:100px;"| Dan<br />McCready (D) ! Undecided |- |Public Policy Polling (D-House Majority PAC)<ref>[https://www.scribd.com/document/377477768/House-PPP-D-for-Patriot-Majority-April-2018 Public Policy Polling (D-House Majority PAC)]</ref> | align=center| April 16–17, 2018 | align=center| 662 | align=center| ± 3.8% | {{party shading/Republican}} align=center| '''42%''' | align=center| 37% | align=center| 21% |} {{hidden end}}
=== Results === {{Election box begin no change | title = 2018 North Carolina's 9th congressional district<ref>{{cite web |title=District 9, North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement |url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/index.html?election_dt=11/06/2018&county_id=0&office=FED&contest=1183 |website=North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement |access-date=November 10, 2018}}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Mark Harris | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 139,246 | percentage = 49.25 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Dan McCready | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 138,341 | percentage = 48.93 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Jeff Scott | party = Libertarian Party (United States) | votes = 5,130 | percentage = 1.81 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 282,717 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box end}}
When all precincts had reported their unofficial counts on Election Day, the race remained too close to call.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press |url=https://wpde.com/news/local/harris-mccready-race-too-close-to-call |title=Harris, McCready race too close to call |publisher=WPDE |date=December 15, 2018 |access-date=December 21, 2018}}</ref> The next night, trailing by about 2,000 votes, McCready conceded defeat to Harris.<ref>{{cite web|author=WBTV Web Staff |url=http://www.wbtv.com/2018/11/07/harris-mccready-take-nc-district-race-down-wire/ |title=Dan McCready concedes NC District 9 race to Mark Harris |publisher=Wbtv.com |date=November 6, 2018 |access-date=December 21, 2018}}</ref> After all the votes were tallied, Harris had a 905-vote lead over McCready, making the election the closest race in the district in over six decades.
===Refusal of certification=== The North Carolina State Board of Elections voted 9–0 on November 27 not to certify the election results.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article222263905.html|title=NC elections board refuses to certify 9th District race, leaving it in limbo|last=Morrill|first=Jim|date=November 27, 2018|work=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=December 5, 2018}}</ref> On November 30, the board voted 7–2 to hold a public hearing on December 27 regarding the tampering allegations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/419165-nc-officials-vote-to-hold-hearing-over-alleged-fraud-in-us-house-race |title=NC officials vote to hold hearing over alleged fraud in U.S. House race |work=The Hill |date=November 30, 2018 |access-date=December 30, 2018}}</ref> In early December, the North Carolina Democratic Party filed affidavits with the State Board of Elections claiming that Harris had used independent contractors to collect absentee ballots from voters.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wise|first=Justin|date=December 3, 2018|title=Second woman says she was paid to collect absentee ballots in North Carolina House race|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/419693-second-woman-says-she-was-paid-to-collect-absentee-ballots-in-north?rnd=1543953464|work=The Hill|access-date=December 5, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Levy|first=Adam|date=December 3, 2018|title=North Carolina elections board delays certification of congressional election results again|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/30/politics/north-carolina-election-results-delay/index.html|work=CNN|access-date=December 5, 2018}}</ref>
The board opened an investigation around Dowless, a campaign operative with felony fraud and perjury convictions, who was hired by the Harris campaign. Dowless was suspected of electoral fraud in 2014, allegedly mishandling absentee ballots. Dowless had worked for Jim McVicker's campaign for Sheriff. McVicker won that race by a narrow margin and did not respond to inquiries about it in 2018.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/04/politics/north-carolina-house-race-mccrae-dowless-absentee-ballots/index.html Man at center of North Carolina election fraud probe turned in hundreds of absentee ballot requests], ''CNN'', Eric Bradner, Adam Levy, Drew Griffin and Curt Devine, December 5, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2019.</ref> Dowless worked for McVicker again in the 2018 Republican primary and the general election for Sheriff.<ref>[http://www.wect.com/story/38110563/meet-the-four-candidates-for-bladen-county-sheriff/ Meet the four candidates for Bladen County sheriff], ''WECT'', August 14, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2019.</ref>
On November 30, the Associated Press retracted its call of the race.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/419212-ap-retracts-call-in-north-carolina-congress-race-amid-fraud-investigation |title=AP retracts call in North Carolina congressional race amid fraud investigation |work=The Hill |date=November 30, 2018 |access-date=December 30, 2018}}</ref> The election remained uncertified into December, as state election officials continued to investigate alleged fraud.<ref>{{cite news| last=Morrill| first=Jim| date=November 29, 2018| title='Tangled web' in Bladen County has questions swirling about votes in the 9th District| url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article222363510.html| work=The Charlotte Observer| location=Charlotte, North Carolina| access-date=November 30, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last1=Gardner| first1=Amy| last2=Ross| first2=Kirk| date=November 29, 2018| title=Certification in limbo in N.C. House race as fraud investigation continues| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/certification-in-limbo-in-nc-house-race-as-fraud-investigation-continues/2018/11/29/109209f6-f406-11e8-80d0-f7e1948d55f4_story.html| newspaper=The Washington Post| location=Washington, D.C.| access-date=November 30, 2018}}</ref> McCready withdrew his concession on December 6, and NBC News withdrew its call of the race.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/north-carolina-democrat-withdraws-concession-house-race-amid-allegations-vote-n945031 |title=North Carolina Democrat withdraws concession in House race amid allegations of vote fraud |date=December 6, 2018 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=December 20, 2018}}</ref> Dowless was accused of paying workers to illegally collect absentee ballots from voters.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/man-in-center-of-voter-fraud-investigation-in-nc-district-9-race-has-criminal-past/882190369|title=Who is McCrae Dowless, man who appears to be center of 9th District investigation?|last=Bruno|first=Joe|date=December 5, 2018|work=WSOC-TV|access-date=December 5, 2018}}</ref> Harris directed the hiring of Dowless, even though there had been warnings about and concerns raised in 2016 that Dowless used questionable tactics to deliver votes for Todd Johnson in his 2016 Republican congressional primary against Pittinger and Harris.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/nc-congressional-candidate-sought-out-aide-despite-warnings-of-voting-irregularities/2018/12/13/daea8338-fca1-11e8-83c0-b06139e540e5_story.html|title=N.C. congressional candidate sought out aide, despite warnings over tactics|date=December 13, 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=February 1, 2019}}</ref> Earlier, Dowless had worked for a Democrat competing in a 2012 state House primary, and ran as a Democrat himself, in a losing race for school board, in 2014. No questions had been raised in those races.<ref>[https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article222806255.html The guru of Bladen County’ is at the center of NC's election troubles], ''The News & Observer'', Dan Kane Ely Portillo, January 21, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.</ref>
In Robeson County, the easternmost county in the 9th district, twice as many absentee ballots from African-American voters were not returned compared to white voters. In neighboring Bladen County, the return rates were the same for the two groups.<ref>{{cite news |last=Murphy|first=Brian|date=December 3, 2018|title=At center of voter fraud scandal, a convicted felon and 'grassroots' campaigner|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article222459875.html|work=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=December 5, 2018}}</ref> Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said it was possible over 1,000 ballots had been destroyed.<ref>{{cite news |last=Casiano|first=Louis|date=December 6, 2018|title=Over 1,000 ballots may have been destroyed in NC congressional race, DA says|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/over-1000-ballots-may-have-been-destroyed-in-tighty-contested-north-carolina-congressional-race|work=Fox News|access-date=December 6, 2018}}</ref>
On December 5, 2018, ''BuzzFeed News'' detailed its independent investigative reporting of the alleged vote thefts, a practice that targeted southern rural elderly black voters in the 9th district congressional race. It termed the affair, "...the most serious federal election tampering case in years." Campaign workers, who included Jessica Dowless, whose husband is distantly related to Leslie McCrae Dowless, revealed that the vote tampering went on in a pervasively chaotic atmosphere. McCrae Dowless tracked votes on yellow pads and used cash to pay his employees, including some family members. Some of those workers were said to be under the obvious influence of drugs while on the job. One, said Jessica Dowless, "...was so fucking high the other day she passed out at the fucking computer." Another who picked up absentee ballots was a "pill head." She said McCrae's field workers "...would come to your house, they would get you to fill out an absentee ballot to be sent to your house. They would go back and pick it up and then seal it and then find two witnesses," to certify their validity, bringing them to the office and telling her to witness them, She said she told McCrae she didn't want to do that but "...we had no else," to accomplish the task. Such handling of ballots and completed applications by other than board and postal workers is legally prohibited. McCrae provided a car for one gatherer a week after she began working, lending a van to another. Jessica Dowless tabulated the number of ballots delivered to the county election board and said McCrae gave the Harris campaign updates on the operation's most recent totals. McCrae Dowless was employed by political consultants Red Dome, and received in excess of $428,000 from the Harris campaign. Jessica Dowless said she dropped off completed absentee ballot applications once, and records confirmed she had delivered 185 to the Board. McCrae personally delivered 592 applications before October 31. Buzzfeed contacted McCrae's stepdaughter Lisa Britt, who was later indicted for her alleged role in the case. She admitted to being paid in cash for her work. Although she denied physically gathering votes, her account was disputed by Jessica Dowless who also said that McCrae gathered ballots, a prohibited practice, but only from Democratic voters. Britt denied that Democrats were targeted, claiming they only facilitated voting by those without vehicles, though those ballots could have been returned by postal mail.<ref name=Buzzfeed>[https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/briannasacks/dowless-britt-inside-north-carolina-absentee-ballot-machine Inside The North Carolina Republican Vote Machine: Cash, Pills — And Ballots], ''BuzzFeed News'', Brianna Sacks and Otillia Steadman, December 5, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2019.</ref>
In December 2018, the Republican-controlled North Carolina General Assembly passed a bill into law that would require new primary elections if a new election were called, overriding a veto by Democratic governor Roy Cooper.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/423050-north-carolina-lawmakers-override-veto-of-elections-bill |title=North Carolina lawmakers override veto of elections bill |date=December 27, 2018 |work=The Hill |access-date=December 30, 2018}} * {{cite news| last=Williams| first=Timothy| date=December 12, 2018| title=North Carolina Legislature Calls for New Primary if New Election Is Held in Disputed District| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/12/us/politics/north-carolina-election-primary.html| work=The New York Times| location=New York| access-date=December 13, 2018}} * {{cite news| last=Bruno| first=Joe| date=December 13, 2018| title=Amid fraud probe, an election redo might require new primary for 9th District| url=https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/primary-possible-for-9th-congressional-district/887952535| work=WSOC-TV| location=Charlotte, N.C.| access-date=December 13, 2018}} * {{cite news| last=Harrison| first=Steve| date=December 13, 2018| title=Latest On 9th Congressional District Fraud Allegations| url=http://www.wfae.org/post/latest-9th-congressional-district-fraud-allegations#stream/0| work=WFAE 90.7 Charlotte's NPR News Source| location=Charlotte, N.C.| access-date=December 13, 2018}}</ref> While the investigation continued, McCready prepared to run in a special election.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lowry |first=Rich |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/10/north-carolina-mccready-special-election-1054208 |title=North Carolina Democrat preparing for special election in contested congressional race |publisher=Politico |date=December 10, 2018 |access-date=December 20, 2018}}</ref>
===Election board hearings=== Prior to the election, in October 2018, a state court had ruled that North Carolina's nine-member State Board of Elections was unconstitutional due to changes made by the state legislature in 2017. The court allowed the election board to continue operating during the election and subsequent fraud investigation. On December 28, in an unexpected decision, the court dissolved the election board, before it had certified election results, accusing the board of ignoring court instructions. This left the state without certified election results and without an elections board until January 31, 2019, when a new, five-member board was to be seated under a new law taking effect.<ref name=CO20181228>{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article223661830.html|title=9th District chaos: Cooper plans interim elections board, Harris asks to be named winner|last1=Henderson|first1=Bruce|last2=Jarvis|first2=Craig|date=December 28, 2018|website=The Charlotte Observer|language=en|access-date=January 3, 2019|last3=Brosseau|first3=Carli}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/28/politics/north-carolina-harris-campaign-emergency-petition-results-certify/index.html|title=North Carolina elections board dissolves before certifying November results of 9th district race|last1=Nobles|first1=Ryan|last2=Krieg|first2=Gregory|date=December 28, 2018|website=CNN|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103032502/https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/28/politics/north-carolina-harris-campaign-emergency-petition-results-certify/|archive-date=January 3, 2019|url-status=live|access-date=January 3, 2019|last3=Stracqualursi|first3=Veronica|last4=Cohen|first4=Ethan}}</ref>
thumb|right|A House of Representatives office remained vacant, awaiting the winner of the disputed election.
The court's dissolution of the election board prompted responses from all quarters. Republican candidate Harris filed an emergency petition requesting that the board certify the results with him as the winner, but only two of nine board members requested an emergency session, and no action was taken before the board dissolved. Democratic candidate McCready publicly called for the fraud investigation to continue. Cooper attempted to name an interim elections board to serve until January 31, but was overridden by the state's Republican-controlled legislature.<ref name=CO20181228 /> Meanwhile, incoming United States House of Representatives Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Democrat, announced that the House of Representatives will not seat Harris under any circumstances until the fraud investigation is completed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/north-carolina-election-board-disbands-without-certifying-results-9th-congressional-n952741|title=House leader says Democrats won't seat candidate in unresolved North Carolina race|date=December 28, 2018|work=NBC News|agency=Associated Press|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103032823/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/north-carolina-election-board-disbands-without-certifying-results-9th-congressional-n952741|archive-date=January 3, 2019|url-status=live|access-date=January 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Lillis |first=Mike |work=The Hill |title=Hoyer: Dems won't seat Harris until North Carolina fraud allegations are resolved |date=December 4, 2018 |access-date=December 28, 2018 |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/419658-hoyer-dems-wont-seat-harris-until-north-carolina-fraud-allegations-are}}</ref>
On January 2, 2019, the staff of the dissolved election board announced that they would continue the investigation, but delayed a January 11 hearing until a new election board is seated on January 31.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article223838805.html|title=Hearing into North Carolina ballot fraud claims postponed|last=Dalesio|first=Emery P.|date=January 2, 2019|website=The Charlotte Observer|language=en|access-date=January 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103053147/https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article223838805.html|archive-date=January 3, 2019|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wfae.org/post/hearing-9th-district-investigation-delayed|title=Hearing On 9th District Investigation Delayed|date=January 2, 2019|website=WFAE|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103032936/https://www.wfae.org/post/hearing-9th-district-investigation-delayed|archive-date=January 3, 2019|url-status=live|access-date=January 3, 2019}}</ref> The same day, Harris announced he would seek court intervention to have him immediately certified as the winner with the goal of being seated in the 116th Congress on January 3.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gop-congressional-candidate-says-he-will-ask-nc-court-to-certify-his-victory-as-election-officials-delay-fraud-hearing/2019/01/02/e465f552-0ed3-11e9-8938-5898adc28fa2_story.html|title=GOP congressional candidate says he will ask N.C. court to certify his victory as election officials delay fraud hearing|last=Gardner|first=Amy|date=January 2, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=January 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article223836675.html|title=Mark Harris says he'll go to court as officials delay hearing on election fraud|last1=Morrill|first1=Jim|last2=Murphy|first2=Brian|date=January 2, 2019|website=The Charlotte Observer|language=en|access-date=January 3, 2019}}</ref> On January 3, the 116th Congress was sworn in with North Carolina's 9th Congressional seat vacant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/cong.aspx|title=Congressional Profile|website=Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives|access-date=January 8, 2019}}</ref><ref>[https://www.carolinajournal.com/news-article/cooper-ditches-call-for-interim-elections-board-9th-district-hearing-postponed/ Cooper ditches call for interim elections board; Harris campaign to sue for certification], ''Carolina Journal'', Dan Way, January 3, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.</ref> On the same day, Harris was interviewed by investigators from the North Carolina Board of Elections.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/attorney-mark-harris-plans-to-meet-with-state-board-of-elections-investigators-thursday/898186718|title=DISTRICT 9 INVESTIGATION: Harris meets with Board of Elections, calls not being in DC 'disappointing'|first=Allison|last=Latos|date=January 3, 2019|website=WSOC|access-date=January 4, 2019}}</ref>
In early January, by refusing to provide the names of Republican candidates for the state elections board, as requested by Cooper, and urging Republicans not to accept seats on the board, North Carolina Republicans blocked the board's intent and ability to hold a scheduled hearing on January 11, 2019, meant for the purposes of investigating the possibility of fraud in the November 9 District election, leaving the District seat in Congress vacant. Republican party officials refused to send Cooper the names of their party's candidates to fill vacancies on the board. Responding to their obstructionism, Cooper said: <blockquote>All North Carolinians deserve to have confidence in a system of voting that ensures honest and fair elections. If politicians and the people they hire are manipulating the system to steal elections, all of us should pull together to get to the bottom of it and stop it — regardless of whether the candidate who finished ahead in a tainted election is a Republican or a Democrat.<ref>[http://www.wect.com/2019/01/02/no-interim-ncsbe-cooper-will-not-appoint-new-board-says-lack-gop-support-obstructing-election-fraud-investigation/ Election fraud hearing postponed; Cooper will not appoint new board, calls lack of GOP support 'obstruction'], ''WECT'', Emily Featherston, January 2, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.</ref></blockquote>On January 22, 2019, Wake County Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway refused Harris's request to order him seated.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article224889035.html|title="Judge denies Mark Harris request to certify his win despite election fraud investigation"|author=Will Doran|newspaper=News & Observer|location=Raleigh, North Carolina|date=January 22, 2019}}</ref>
On January 31, the new board, composed of three Democratic and two Republican members, voted to schedule a February hearing on the allegations of election irregularities.<ref>[https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article225335305.html Elections board may finish 9th District investigation in a few weeks, new chairman says], ''The Charlotte Observer'', Jim Morrill, January 31, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.</ref> On February 4, the new board set the hearing for February 18.<ref name="auto"/> On February 18, 2019, the regulator reported that it had found evidence of "a coordinated, unlawful and substantially resourced absentee ballot scheme" that may have involved more than 1,000 ballots or ballot request forms.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/18/us/north-carolina-election-fraud.html|title=In North Carolina, Investigators Find Ballot 'Scheme' in House Race|first=Alan|last=Blinder|date=February 18, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 21, 2019}}</ref> That day, Lisa Britt, the daughter of Dowless's ex-wife, admitted to tampering with ballots on the direction of Dowless – including filling in blank votes to favor Republican candidates and falsifying voter and witness signatures.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gardner|first=Amy|title=N.C. election officials: Harris operative collected and falsified ballots, then tried to obstruct state investigation|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/nc-election-officials-harris-operative-collected-and-falsified-ballots-then-tried-to-obstruct-state-investigation/2019/02/18/6501347a-339a-11e9-854a-7a14d7fec96a_story.html|access-date=2020-09-18|issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/key-witness-testifies-tampering-absentee-ballots-n-c-house-race-n972896|title=Key witness testifies to tampering with absentee ballots in N.C, House race|website=NBC News|quote=Britt said some of the ballots she collected were unsealed and uncompleted and testified she filled out the options left blank for Republican candidates — an admission of vote tampering that violates North Carolina law.|date=February 18, 2019|access-date=February 21, 2019}}</ref> On February 20, Harris's son, John Harris, a federal prosecutor in North Carolina, testified to the election board that he had repeatedly warned his father not to hire Dowless because Dowless appeared to have previously engaged in illegal tactics to win votes. John Harris also testified that he had expressed similar concerns to his father's chief campaign strategist, Andy Yates.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/candidates-son-warned-father-of-nc-political-operatives-tactics/2019/02/20/a1fbfecc-3521-11e9-a400-e481bf264fdc_story.html|title=Candidate's son warned father of N.C. political operative's alleged tactics|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 20, 2019|access-date=February 21, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/republican-candidate-s-son-shakes-north-carolina-hearing-surprise-testimony-n973836|title=Republican candidate's son shakes up North Carolina hearing with surprise testimony|website=NBC News|date=February 21, 2019 |access-date=February 21, 2019}}</ref> Email records were shown of his discussion of the issue with his father.<ref name=GardnerNewElection/> His father had maintained that he had not been warned of problems with Dowless's reputation and had testified to that effect.<ref name=GardnerNewElection/>
On February 21, Harris admitted that he had made inaccurate statements in his testimony, blaming a recent sepsis infection that had affected his memory and caused him to have two strokes.<ref name=GardnerNewElection>{{cite web |first=Amy |last=Gardner |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-north-carolina-us-house-race-voter-fraud-20190221-story.html |title=North Carolina orders new election in contested U.S. House race after GOP candidate admitted misspeaking under oath |date=February 21, 2019 |access-date=February 22, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post |via=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> He said that he had concluded that "public confidence in the 9th District has been undermined to an extent that a new election is warranted."<ref name=GardnerNewElection/><ref name="CaldwellNewElection"/> The board unanimously voted to set a new election, with the date to be determined in a later hearing.<ref name=GardnerNewElection/><ref name="CaldwellNewElection"/> The board also called for new elections for two local county offices in Bladen County.<ref name=GardnerNewElection/>
==Aftermath== Freeman announced that she would call upon a grand jury to investigate the fraud allegations to determine whether or not to file criminal charges.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article226632669.html |title=Criminal charges in alleged ballot scheme could come soon | Raleigh News & Observer |newspaper=The News & Observer|access-date=February 23, 2019}}</ref> On February 26, Harris, citing ill health, declared that he would not compete in the new congressional election.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.wral.com/mark-harris-not-running-in-new-9th-district-election/18220178/| title = Mark Harris not running in new 9th District election| last1 = Burns| first1 = Matthew| last2 = Leslie| first2 = Laura| date = February 26, 2019| website = WRAL-TV| publisher = Capitol Broadcasting Company| access-date = February 26, 2019}}</ref>
Dowless was indicted on felony charges on February 27, consisting of three counts of obstruction of justice, two counts of conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice, and two counts of possession of absentee ballots. Four others were also charged in relation to the absentee ballot collection.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article226864674.html|title=Bladen County operative at center of NC election fraud investigation indicted, arrested|work=The Charlotte Observer|first1=Ely|last1=Portillo|first2=Jim|last2=Morrill|date=February 27, 2019|access-date=February 28, 2019}}</ref> In March 2019, the Public Integrity Section of the United States Department of Justice began to issue subpoenas for a federal grand jury investigation related to the case. Documents were requested for a grand jury proceeding to be held April 16–18, 2019.<ref>[http://www.wbtv.com/2019/03/12/federal-investigators-issue-subpoenas-nc-investigation/ Federal investigators issue subpoenas in NC-9 investigation], ''WBTV'', Nick Ochsner, March 11, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2019.</ref> In July 2019, the Wake County district attorney also announced charges against Lisa Britt, Ginger S. Eason, Woody D. Hester, James Singletary, Jessica Dowless and Kelly Hendrix, and additional charges against Leslie McCrae Dowless.<ref>[https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/mccrae-dowless-indicted-on-more-charges-in-election-fraud-investigation/971291045 McCrae Dowless indicted on more charges in election fraud investigation],''WSOC-TV'', Joe Bruno, August 1, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2019.</ref>
On April 25, 2022, Dowless died of lung cancer, <ref>{{Cite news |last=Risen |first=Clay |date=2022-04-25 |title=L. McCrae Dowless Jr., 66, Dies; Operative at Heart of Election Scandal |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/25/us/politics/l-mccrae-dowless-dead.html |access-date=2022-10-11 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> after which all legal charges against him were formally dropped.
For the 2024 elections, Harris announced he would once again run for Congress, in the newly drawn 8th district. He went on to win both the primary on March 5 and the general election on November 5 in what was described by local outlets as a comeback bid.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harrison |first=Steve |date=2024-03-05 |title=Mark Harris wins Republican primary, completing his political comeback in the 8th District |language=en-US |work=WUNC (FM) |url=https://www.wunc.org/2024-03-05/mark-harris-wins-republican-primary-completing-his-political-comeback-in-the-8th-district |access-date=2024-03-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Noel |first=Rebecca |date=2024-03-05 |title=Mark Harris is GOP's 8th District nominee six years after election fraud prompted do-over |language=en-US |work=The Charlotte Observer |url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/charlotte-area-congressional-results-early-013505979.html |access-date=2024-03-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-11-06 |title=Charlotte-area Republicans win Congressional races, including Mark Harris comeback |language=en-US |work=WFAE |url=https://www.wfae.org/politics/2024-11-06/charlotte-area-republicans-win-congressional-races-including-mark-harris-comeback |access-date=2024-11-09}}</ref>
==See also== * List of annulled elections
==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}} {{2018 United States elections}} {{North Carolina elections}}
North Carolina 09 Category:Annulled elections 2018 09 United States House of Representatives 09 Election 2018 Election 2018 Category:Contested elections in the United States North Carolina 2018 North Carolina's 9th congressional district election