A special election was held on September 10, 2019, to fill the vacancy in North Carolina's 9th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives for the remainder of the 116th United States Congress. The seat had been vacant since the opening of the 116th Congress, following the refusal of the North Carolina State Board of Elections to certify the results of the November 2018 election in the district due to allegations of electoral fraud. Because of the allegations, the race received substantial national attention.

In the original election, Mark Harris, a Republican, led Democrat Dan McCready by 905 votes in the unofficial returns for the 2018 North Carolina's 9th congressional district election. However, allegations of fraud in the election prevented its certification.New NC elections board sets date for 9th District hearing, WRAL, February 4, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019. After hearing evidence, including testimony from Harris himself and his own son, the board unanimously voted on February 21 to call a new election.

The primary was held on May 14, 2019, and the general election was held on September 10. A total of 10 Republican candidates qualified for the primary. Dan McCready, the Democratic Party nominee in the 2018 election, ran again and faced no primary opposition. Among Republicans, neither Harris nor Robert Pittenger, the incumbent whom Harris defeated in the 2018 primary election, filed to run.

After winning the Republican primary by a large margin, Dan Bishop narrowly won the general election, garnering 50.7% of the vote to McCready's 48.7%.Live results: North Carolina elections, Politico, September 10, 2019.Republican Dan Bishop wins special election for House seat in North Carolina special election, NBC News projects, NBC News, September 10, 2019.

Background

The 2018 congressional district election ended with Republican Mark Harris leading Democrat Dan McCready by 905 votes, the closest race in the district in over sixty years. While McCready had conceded defeat, the North Carolina Democratic Party alleged that electoral fraud had taken place, and filed affidavits with the North Carolina State Board of Elections alleging that independent contractors working on behalf of Harris had illegally collected absentee ballots (ballot harvesting). The North Carolina Board of Elections voted unanimously not to certify the election and later ordered an evidentiary hearing to be held. The board also opened an investigation around the activities of Leslie McCrae Dowless, a campaign operative with felony fraud and perjury convictions, who was hired by the Harris campaign.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 21, 2019. Incoming Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced that the United States House of Representatives would not seat Harris until the fraud investigation had been completed.

After a delay caused by restructuring of the Board of Elections and delayed appointment of members by Republican allies of Harris, the board set hearings to begin on February 18, 2019. On that day 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. 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.

On February 21, Harris announced that "the public's confidence in the ninth district seat general election has been undermined to an extent that a new election is warranted." The Board of Elections voted unanimously to call a special election, with a primary if necessary on May 14, to fill the vacancy. This was the first House of Representatives election to require a do-over since 1974.

Dowless was indicted and arrested on February 27, 2019. He faced felony charges of obstruction of justice, conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice and two possession of absentee ballots charges.Bladen County operative at center of NC election fraud investigation indicted, arrested, The Charlotte Observer, Ely Portillo and Jim Morrill, February 27, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2019. 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.McCrae Dowless indicted on more charges in election fraud investigation,WSOC-TV, Joe Bruno, August 1, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2019.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Dan Bishop, attorney and state senator

Defeated in primary Chris Anglin, attorney and candidate for North Carolina Supreme Court in 2018 Leigh Brown, realtor, CEO and author Kathie Day, realtor Gary Dunn, perennial candidate Matthew Ridenhour, former Mecklenburg County commissioner Stevie Rivenbark, businesswoman Stony Rushing, Union County commissioner Fern Shubert, former state senator and candidate for governor in 2004 Albert Lee Wiley Jr., perennial candidate

Withdrew David Blackwelder, Wake Forest police officer and nominee for Wake County Board of Commissioners District 6 in 2018

Declined Dean Arp, state representative (endorsed Dan Bishop) Dan Barry, chair of the Union County Republican Party and candidate for North Carolina's 9th congressional district in 2012 (endorsed Dan Bishop) William M. Brawley, former state representative (endorsed Dan Bishop) Danny Britt, state senator (endorsed Dan Bishop) Andy Dulin, former state representative Mark Harris, pastor, nominee for North Carolina's 9th congressional district in 2018, candidate for North Carolina's 9th congressional district in 2016, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2014 (endorsed Stony Rushing) Pat McCrory, former governor of North Carolina Robert Pittenger, former U.S. representative (endorsed Matthew Ridenhour) Kenny Smith, former Charlotte city councilman and nominee for mayor of Charlotte in 2017 (endorsed Dan Bishop) Nat Robertson, former mayor of Fayetteville, North Carolina Scott Stone, former state representative Tommy Tucker, former state senator (endorsed Dan Bishop)

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error ChrisAnglin DanBishop LeighBrown KathieDay GaryDunn MatthewRidenhour StevieRivenbark StonyRushing FernShubert Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling April 29–30, 2019 592 ± 5.1% 3% 31% 6% 5% 1% 9% 2% 17% 4% – 21%WPA Intelligence (R)WPA Intelligence (R) April 29–30, 2019 409 ± 4.9% – 30% 5% – – 6% 1% 19% 2% 5% 32%Meeting Street Research (R)Meeting Street Research (R) April 22–23, 2019 400 – – 36% 3% – – 13% – 18% – – –WPA Intelligence (R) ~April 9, 2019 – – – 22% 1% – – 6% 2% 18% 2% 3% 46%

Results

Democratic primary Candidates Declared Dan McCready, former U.S. Marine, businessman, and nominee for North Carolina's 9th congressional district in 2018

Endorsements

Libertarian primary Candidates Declared Jeff Scott, nominee for North Carolina's 9th congressional district in 2018

Green primary Candidates Declared Allen Smith, perennial candidate

General election Dan McCready, the Democratic candidate, ran on a platform of cutting taxes on the middle class, ending gerrymandering, renegotiating trade deals, and reducing military interventions overseas. His platform also supports protecting Social Security and Medicare, overturning Citizens United, and granting full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe. Republican candidate Dan Bishop is best known for his opposition to LGBT rights, particularly the drafting of North Carolina's "Bathroom Bill".

During the early voting period for this election, Hurricane Dorian battered the eastern coast of the United States, necessitating early voting to be halted in several counties on the Outer Banks and elsewhere on the coast until the storm had passed.

Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political Report September 6, 2019 Inside ElectionsSeptember 4, 2019 Sabato's Crystal BallSeptember 5, 2019

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DanBishop (R) DanMcCready (D) Other Undecidedco/efficientCo/EfficientSeptember 5–6, 20191,175 LV ± 3.9%45% 48% – 7%44%44%5%7%GAJ Solutions (R)GAJ Solutions (R) August 26–28, 2019 500 ± 4.0% 46% 45% 3% 5%Harper Polling/Clarity Campaign LabsHarper Polling/Clarity Campaign Labs August 26–28, 2019 551 LV ± 4.2% 42% 46% 3% 8%ALG Research (D)ALG Research (D) July 15–18, 2019 450 LV ± 4.6% 46% 46% – 8%Atlantic Media & Research (R)Atlantic Media & Research (R) May 20–30, 2019 358 LV ± 5.2% 39% 41% 3% 16.8%JMC AnalyticsJMC Analytics May 21–24, 2019 350 LV ± 5.2% 46% 42% 2% 10%

with Mark Harris Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MarkHarris (R) DanMcCready (D) UndecidedAtlantic Media & ResearchAtlantic Media & Research December 2018 – – 43% 46% 11%

with generic Republican and Dan McCready Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GenericRepublican DanMcCready (D) Other UndecidedJMC Analytics May 21–24, 2019 350 ± 5.2% 52% 41% 2% 2%DCCC Targeting and Analytics (D)DCCC Targeting and Analytics (D) February 24–25, 2019 518 ± 4.3% 46% 50% – –

with generic Republican and generic Democrat Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GenericRepublican GenericDemocrat UndecidedAtlantic Media & Research May 20–30, 2019 358 ± 5.2% 46% 38% 16%Atlantic Media & Research December 2018 – – 45% 36% 19%

Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of August 21, 2019Candidate (party)Total receiptsTotal disbursementsCash on handDan McCready (D)$4,950,881.11$4,470,374.25$818,345.51Dan Bishop (R)$1,954,334.64$1,761,558.40$192,776.24Source: Federal Election Commission

Results

County results +Vote breakdown by county Dan BishopRepublican Dan McCreadyDemocrat Jeff ScottLibertarian Allen SmithGreenTotal County Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % VotesAnson2,38142.67%3,17356.86%150.27%110.20%5,580Bladen3,49659.32%2,37140.23%150.25%110.19%5,893Cumberland7,49849.85%7,47149.67%420.28%310.21%15,042Mecklenburg28,86243.42%37,19355.96%2720.41%1400.21%66,467Richmond4,72751.96%4,30947.37%390.43%220.24%9,097Robeson10,37849.08%10,66950.45%580.27%410.19%21,146Scotland2,81643.29%3,65556.19%210.32%130.20%6,505Union36,41559.92%23,94439.40%3110.51%1060.17%60,776

Notes Partisan clients

Additional candidates

References

External links Official campaign websites Dan Bishop (R) for Congress Dan McCready (D) for Congress Jeff Scott (L) for Congress Allen Smith (G) for Congress