Race · November 3, 2026

U.S. House · North Carolina's 8th District

3 candidates on the ballot.1,2,3

§1Candidates

Why this matters: Every candidate the state lists for this race on the November ballot, in the state's own order.

Bo Whitehead
Green Party · Challenger
Colby Watson
Democratic Party · Challenger
Mark Harris
Republican Party · Incumbent
Currently represents North Carolina's 8th District in the U.S. House.

§2Side by side

Why this matters: The same facts for every candidate, in the same order. Where we found nothing for a candidate, the cell says so — that means we didn't find it in public sources, not that it doesn't exist.

Scroll sideways on small screens. Select a name for the full page.
Bo WhiteheadColby WatsonMark Harris
Party on the ballotGreen Party1,2,3Democratic Party1,2,3Republican Party1,2,3
StatusChallengerChallengerIncumbent4
RaisedNot found in the public sources we checked$57,590 through October 14, 20265$1,238,724 through October 14, 20266
Cash on handNot found in the public sources we checked$4,1585$411,2646
Outside spendingNot found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checked$13,442 for · $0 against7
Union fees and right-to-work lawsHis campaign website says he wants to tear down right-to-work and at-will employment laws, which it says make unionizing nearly impossible.8Not found in the public sources we checked
Pass a national right-to-work law
His campaign website's Accomplishments page lists the National Right-to-Work Act among bills he cosponsored, under a heading on supporting workers' rights.9
US Department of EducationNot found in the public sources we checkedHis campaign website's Education page says education decisions should stay with parents and local communities rather than officials in Washington, and that he would fully fund special education and strengthen Title I support for high-need schools.10His campaign website's Issues page says that while he supports a strong public education system, parents rather than the federal government should have the final say in how their children are educated, and that he will fight for policies centered on local control.11
Vouchers and education savings accountsNot found in the public sources we checkedHis campaign website's Education page says he supports strong public schools and parents' right to choose the educational path they think best for their family, noting that he was homeschooled.10His campaign website's Issues page, under a heading on school choice, says families should be entirely free to pick public, private, charter or homeschool education and that he wants policies giving maximum flexibility.11
Data centers and electricity costs
Pause or limit new data centers
His campaign website says there should be an indefinite moratorium on all data centers until the industry can be properly regulated, saying they use enormous amounts of electricity and contaminate the water supply.8
Pause or limit new data centers
His campaign website's Data Centers & AI page says local communities should have a real say over new data centers, and that he would back moratoriums on new data centers when needed, require disclosure of their water and electricity needs, and end taxpayer subsidies for them.12		Not found in the public sources we checked
Asylum rulesHis campaign website says asylum seekers should get the help they deserve.8His campaign website's Border & Immigration page says he would provide efficient case processing so that asylum claims and other immigration cases are resolved quickly.13His campaign website's Accomplishments page lists the No Asylum for Criminals Act of 2025 among bills he introduced, and says it would bar anyone convicted of a felony or misdemeanor from receiving asylum.9
Immigration enforcement inside the country
Abolish ICE and move any remaining enforcement work to other agencies
His campaign website says ICE should be ended and the immigration system completely overhauled, that immigrants who are not wanted for violent crimes should not be handled as though they were, and that immigration detention centers should be shut down.8		His campaign website's Border & Immigration page says he would direct enforcement toward violent offenders and people who pose real threats to public safety.13His campaign website's Issues page says he wants stronger border security, support for advanced technology, and rigorous enforcement of immigration laws.11

Issues only one candidate has addressed

By candidate, in ballot order. We found nothing public from the other candidates in this race on these issues.

Bo Whitehead — 6 issues
  • Marijuana laws
    Make it legal for adults to buy and use
    His campaign website lists legalizing marijuana among the first legislation he would introduce.8
  • Federal minimum wage
    Raise to $15 or more
    His campaign website says he supports a $25 minimum wage and lists raising the minimum wage among the first legislation he would introduce.8
  • Electric vehicles
    His campaign website says he wants to work toward developing proper infrastructure for electric vehicles.8
  • Child care costs
    His campaign website says universal childcare should be implemented as soon as possible.8
  • Foreign aid
    Cut foreign aid further or end most of it
    His campaign website lists ending foreign aid among the issues on which he would introduce legislation.8
  • Health insurance system
    His campaign website says universal healthcare should be implemented as soon as possible, and that the country needs a modern health care system that heals the sick instead of putting them into debt. It also calls for a complete overhaul of the mental health system.8
Colby Watson — 11 issues
  • Police funding
    His campaign website's Safe Communities page says local police should be funded, trained and backed.14
  • Campaign finance rules
    Limit spending by outside groups, including by amending the Constitution to overturn Citizens United
    His campaign website's Corruption page says he backs a constitutional amendment to undo the effects of Citizens United, wants campaign finance reform that curbs the sway of special-interest money, and wants more openness in campaign finance and lobbying. Its home page says he will turn down money from lobbyists for corporate or foreign interests.15,16
  • Stock trading by members of Congress
    Ban members themselves from trading individual stocks
    His campaign website's Corruption page says he would bar members of Congress from trading individual stocks during their time in office, and its home page says he will never trade stocks himself while holding office.15,16
  • Who decides on military action
    Require Congress to approve military action in advance, except to defend against an attack
    His campaign website's Foreign Policy page says that if the country goes to war, Congress should debate and vote on it, and that he wants to give Congress more say over war powers and to repeal old war authorizations.17
  • Help for first-time homebuyers
    His campaign website's Housing page says he supports first-time homebuyer programs.18
  • Large investors buying single-family homes
    His campaign website's Housing page says he would stop large investment firms and institutional investors from buying up neighborhoods.18
  • Zoning and new housing
    His campaign website's Housing page says he would remove needless red tape that holds back home building and would work with the market to add more starter homes.18
  • Legal status for immigrants here without permission, including Dreamers
    His campaign website's Border & Immigration page says many longtime residents of local communities have worked, paid taxes and raised families, that every situation differs, and that immigration should be handled with common sense and humanity rather than a single approach for everyone.13
  • Data privacy
    His campaign website's Education page says he would bar social media companies from gathering data about anyone under 18.10
  • Rules for artificial intelligence
    His campaign website's Data Centers & AI page says he would set clear, enforceable guardrails around AI and protect workers from AI-driven job displacement.12
  • Veterans' disability and survivor benefits
    His campaign website's Veterans page says he would make it easy for veterans to get the benefits they earned, and would carry out the PACT Act in full so that veterans exposed to toxic substances get the care and benefits owed to them.19
Mark Harris — 6 issues
  • Abortion law
    His campaign website's Issues page says he believes in the sanctity of life, beginning at conception and lasting until natural death, and places him in the pro-life movement.11
  • Abortion medication
    His campaign website's Accomplishments page lists the Teleabortion Prevention Act of 2025 among bills he introduced, under a heading about defending the sanctity of life.9
  • Government funding and abortion
    His campaign website's Accomplishments page lists the No Taxpayer Funded Abortion Travel for Illegal Aliens Act among bills he introduced.9
  • Carry permits across state lines
    His campaign website's Accomplishments page lists the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025 among bills he cosponsored, under a heading on upholding the Second Amendment.9
  • Federal spending levels
    His campaign website's Issues page says that since his election he has worked to cut what it calls excessive government spending, that he is determined to pass legislation easing the burden of higher costs on taxpayers, and that he is working to ensure people in the district have more take-home pay.11
  • Fraud and improper payments in federal programs
    His campaign website's Accomplishments page lists the SNAP Fraud Reporting Act of 2026 and the SNAP Data Transparency and Oversight Act of 2025, among other bills, as ones he cosponsored under a heading on addressing waste, fraud and abuse.9

Issue statements are drafted by AI from the public sources cited, and only cover what each candidate has said publicly.