Federal

U.S. Representative, 8th Congressional District

Vote for: 1
Term: 2 years
Candidates: 3
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A member of the U.S. House of Representatives votes on federal laws, taxes and spending on behalf of the district.

Candidates Compare by issue

Bo Whitehead

Green

Warehouse supervisor · Charlotte

The gist

Supports universal health care and universal childcare
Proposes an indefinite moratorium on data centers
Supports expanding wind and solar power
Supports a $25 minimum wage and mandatory paid leave
Opposes right-to-work and at-will employment laws
Supports abolishing ICE and overhauling immigration
Supports legalizing marijuana and prison reform

More about Bo

View sources (1)

Supports universal health care and universal childcare
Bo Whitehead for Congress
Campaign website · Bo Whitehead for Congress · whiteheadforcongressnc.carrd.co
“Universal healthcare, universal childcare, and a complete overhaul of our mental health system must be implemented as soon as possible.”
Proposes an indefinite moratorium on data centers
Bo Whitehead for Congress
Campaign website · Bo Whitehead for Congress · whiteheadforcongressnc.carrd.co
“We also need an indefinite moratorium on all data centers until we can properly regulate this industry”
Supports expanding wind and solar power
Bo Whitehead for Congress
Campaign website · Bo Whitehead for Congress · whiteheadforcongressnc.carrd.co
“We must expand wind and solar power to update our power grid”
Supports a $25 minimum wage and mandatory paid leave
Bo Whitehead for Congress
Campaign website · Bo Whitehead for Congress · whiteheadforcongressnc.carrd.co
“$25 minimum wage, mandatory maternity leave and vacation for all workers”
Opposes right-to-work and at-will employment laws
Bo Whitehead for Congress
Campaign website · Bo Whitehead for Congress · whiteheadforcongressnc.carrd.co
“laws that make it almost impossible to unionize”
Supports abolishing ICE and overhauling immigration
Bo Whitehead for Congress
Campaign website · Bo Whitehead for Congress · whiteheadforcongressnc.carrd.co
“End ICE and completely rehaul our immigration system.”
Supports legalizing marijuana and prison reform
Bo Whitehead for Congress
Campaign website · Bo Whitehead for Congress · whiteheadforcongressnc.carrd.co
“Raising the minimum wage, universal healthcare, abolishing ICE, ending wars, legalizing marijuana, prison reform”

Colby Watson

Democratic

Small-business owner

The gist

Proposes stopping institutional investors from buying up neighborhoods
Supports banning members of Congress from trading stocks
Supports a constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United
Supports stronger congressional war powers and repealing old authorizations
Opposes arming governments that violate human rights
Supports banning social media data collection on minors
Supports higher teacher pay and fully funded special education

More about Colby

View sources (4)

Proposes stopping institutional investors from buying up neighborhoods
Housing & Economy — Colby Watson for Congress
Campaign website · Colby Watson for Congress · colbyforcongress.com
“Stop Wall Street firms and large institutional investors from buying up our neighborhoods.”
Supports banning members of Congress from trading stocks
Corruption, Integrity, Accountability — Colby Watson for Congress
Campaign website · Colby Watson for Congress · colbyforcongress.com
“Ban members of Congress from buying, selling, or trading individual stocks while in office.”
Supports a constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United
Corruption, Integrity, Accountability — Colby Watson for Congress
Campaign website · Colby Watson for Congress · colbyforcongress.com
“Support a constitutional amendment to overturn the effects of Citizens United.”
Supports stronger congressional war powers and repealing old authorizations
Foreign Policy & Immigration — Colby Watson for Congress
Campaign website · Colby Watson for Congress · colbyforcongress.com
“I support strengthening Congress's authority over war powers and repealing outdated authorizations that have allowed conflicts to continue for decades without accountability.”
Opposes arming governments that violate human rights
Foreign Policy & Immigration — Colby Watson for Congress
Campaign website · Colby Watson for Congress · colbyforcongress.com
“No weapons should be given to governments engaged in human rights violations.”
Supports banning social media data collection on minors
Education & Healthcare — Colby Watson for Congress
Campaign website · Colby Watson for Congress · colbyforcongress.com
“Ban social media companies from collecting data on children under 18.”
Supports higher teacher pay and fully funded special education
Education & Healthcare — Colby Watson for Congress
Campaign website · Colby Watson for Congress · colbyforcongress.com
“Pay teachers what the job is worth. … Fully fund special education.”

Mark Harris

RepublicanIncumbent

U.S. Representative

The gist

Supports school choice across public, private, charter and home schools
Opposes abortion, citing the sanctity of life from conception
Introduced bills moving federal education programs to the Labor DepartmentIn office
Supports a constitutional amendment fixing the Supreme Court at nineIn office
Led a letter urging stronger action against SNAP retailer fraudIn office
Supported House passage of the FY2027 defense authorizationIn office
Supports the Republican budget reconciliation plan and 2025 tax cutsIn office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Mark

View sources (6)

Supports school choice across public, private, charter and home schools
Issues | Mark Harris for Congress
Campaign website · Mark Harris for Congress · markharrisforcongress.org
“Whether public, private, charter, or homeschool, families should have full freedom to choose what works best for their children.”
Opposes abortion, citing the sanctity of life from conception
Issues | Mark Harris for Congress
Campaign website · Mark Harris for Congress · markharrisforcongress.org
“Mark fervently believes in the sanctity of all human life, from conception to natural end.”
Introduced bills moving federal education programs to the Labor Department
Harris Introduces Two Bills to Cut Bureaucracy at the Department of Education
Public statement · Office of Rep. Mark Harris · Jul 9, 2026 · markharris.house.gov
“two bills to transfer the administration of certain federal education programs to the Department of Labor”
Supports a constitutional amendment fixing the Supreme Court at nine
Congressman Harris Delivers Floor Remarks in Support of Constitutional Amendment to Keep Nine Supreme Court Justices
Public statement · Office of Rep. Mark Harris · Sep 2, 2026 · markharris.house.gov
“which proposes an amendment to the Constitution that would require the Supreme Court of the United States to be composed of nine justices”
Led a letter urging stronger action against SNAP retailer fraud
Congressman Harris Leads Effort to Protect SNAP from Retailer Fraud
Public statement · Office of Rep. Mark Harris · Jul 16, 2026 · markharris.house.gov
“every dollar should help a family put food on the table, not benefit those who exploit the program”
Supported House passage of the FY2027 defense authorization
Congressman Harris Applauds House Passage of FY27 National Defense Authorization Act
Public statement · Office of Rep. Mark Harris · Jul 22, 2026 · markharris.house.gov
“America must have the military strength and industrial capacity necessary to deter our adversaries and defend our interests at home and abroad”
Supports the Republican budget reconciliation plan and 2025 tax cuts
Congressman Harris Applauds House Passage of Budget Reconciliation 3.0 Framework
Public statement · Office of Rep. Mark Harris · Jul 22, 2026 · markharris.house.gov
“Without a single Democrat vote, we have used the budget reconciliation process to pass the largest tax cut in American history”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 9 issues covered in this race.