Mark Harris calls for new election in North Carolina 9th District

David T. Foster III | Charlotte Observer | Tribune News Service | Getty Images

Republican NC-9th District Congressional candidate Mark Harris answers questions at a news conference at the Matthews Town Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, in Matthews, N.C.

Republican Mark Harris called for a new election Thursday in a U.S. House race in North Carolina that is still undecided amid an election fraud probe.

The GOP candidate made the comments during testimony as part of a fourth day of hearings investigating accusations of absentee ballot tampering. This week, North Carolina’s elections director said operative McCrae Dowless carried out an illegal and well-funded ballot harvesting operation as he worked for Harris during the election last year.

“I believe a new election should be called,” Harris said. “It’s become clear to me that the public’s confidence in the 9th District seat general election has been undermined to an extent that a new election is warranted.”

The North Carolina State Board of Elections would still have to formally order a new election.

Harris currently leads Democrat Dan McCready by about 1,000 votes in the contest. His lawyers previously argued the state should certify the result. The House has not seated the Republican amid the fraud allegations.

In testimony Wednesday, Harris’ son, John, said he advised his father not to hire Dowless. On Thursday, the elder Harris said he believed at the time that the operative’s methods were legal.

Dowless is accused of leading an effort to illegally collect and send in absentee ballots. It is unclear whether the alleged fraud was widespread enough to account for Harris’s margin of victory.

Harris, a 52-year-old pastor, surprised incumbent GOP Rep. Robert Pittenger in a May 2018 primary. Inconsistencies in several counties — in which Harris won a disproportionate amount of absentee voters — did not surface until after November’s general election.

Democrats currently hold a 235-197 majority in the House. North Carolina’s 9th District is one of three seats currently vacant.

— The Associated Press contributed to this report

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.

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