2026 results · North Carolina · North Carolina 8th District
Mark Harris, the Republican, wins re-election in North Carolina's 8th District
Donald Trump carried the district by 19.1 points in 2024; this year's count is a 17.4-point move toward the Democrats.
| Candidate | Votes | Share | Share of the vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark HarrisRepublican, incumbent | 147,094 | 50.4% | |
| Colby WatsonDemocrat | 141,915 | 48.6% | |
| Bo WhiteheadOther party | 2,890 | 1.0% |
Called by Call the Map, Nov 4, 8:24 AM EST · 94% counted.
About 94% of the expected vote counted291,899 votesCount last changed Nov 7, 5:07 PM ESTSource: North Carolina State Board of Elections
The map
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About the seat
North Carolina's 8th District takes in all or part of 9 counties. The Republicans held it before this election. Its voters went R+19.1 for president in 2024. Its move from that vote, 17.4 points toward the Democrats, ranks 7 of 14 among the state's districts, counting from the largest move toward the Democrats.
- 2024 president
- R+19.1
- 2024 House vote on these lines
- R+19.3
- Move from 2024, rank in state
- 7 of 14
- Union County34%
- Mecklenburg County19%
- Cabarrus County17%
- Stanly County8%
- Robeson County7%
- Richmond County5%
- Scotland County4%
- Montgomery County3%
- 1 more3%
Shares are of the votes counted this year. The district was redrawn for 2026: its 2024 House figure is that year's House vote re-added onto the new lines precinct by precinct, an estimate.
What the count shows
Added together, the 9 counties compared moved 16.9 points toward the Democrats from the 2024 presidential vote.
The counties compared cast 71% as many votes as in 2024, from 83% in Cabarrus County to 56% in Robeson County.
Union County moved most: R+24.9 for president in 2024, R+6.9 this year
The 9 counties with the largest moves from the 2024 presidential vote, among those with 2,000 or more votes for president in 2024 and a quarter of that counted. Each line runs from the 2024 margin to this year’s.
2024 president 2026
Union County added 28,066 net votes for Watson against the 2024 margin, 39% of the district's change
Across the 9 counties compared, the margin moved by 71,409 votes toward Watson: this year’s lead in votes against the 2024 presidential lead in votes, county by county. The figure counts voters who changed sides and differences in who turned out alike; the count cannot tell them apart.
- Union County+28,066 Watson
- Stanly County+9,725 Watson
- Cabarrus County+9,090 Watson
- Mecklenburg County+8,830 Watson
- Robeson County+6,615 Watson
- Richmond County+3,467 Watson
- Montgomery County+3,169 Watson
- Scotland County+1,761 Watson
3 counties Donald Trump carried in 2024 are led by Watson this year
Striped on the map above. Largest first.
- Cabarrus CountyR+11.2D+4.6
- Scotland CountyR+6.8D+7.2
- Anson CountyR+2.5D+5.2
How the vote came in
Watson did best among mail ballots (D+41.2) and Harris among Election Day votes(R+23.8).
- Early Voting180,963 votes, 62% of the countD+9.2
- Election Day103,846 votes, 36% of the countR+23.8
- Absentee by Mail7,090 votes, 2% of the countD+41.2
The office’s own categories, as it reports them. Margins are within each kind of vote.
North Carolina’s ballot
All of North Carolina’s resultsThe state legislatureBallot measures
The seats that changed party
Statewide
U.S. HouseBefore the election R 10–4, now D 10–4, counting the leaders in 4 uncalled seats
won leads, still counting changed party. Margins are the leader’s share minus the runner-up’s, in points.
Every count on this page is the official count published by the North Carolina State Board of Elections. Counts are unofficial until the state certifies them. The 2024 comparison is the presidential vote, Kamala Harris against Donald Trump, on the same ground. Margins are the Democrat minus the Republican, in points of all votes.