North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District covers a stretch of the southern Piedmont, is currently represented by Republican Mark Harris, and will be redrawn for the 2026 election under a new map the General Assembly passed in October 2025. Under the lines used for the 2024 election and the current 119th Congress, the district fully contains six counties and takes in parts of three others, with a population of roughly 746,000 — the state’s equal share after the 2020 census pushed North Carolina to 14 House seats.
Counties and Communities in the District
The 8th District fully contains Anson, Montgomery, Richmond, Scotland, Stanly, and Union counties. Its largest population centers are Monroe, in Union County, and Albemarle, in Stanly County. It also takes in portions of Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, and Robeson counties, picking up communities near Concord and Kannapolis in Cabarrus while leaving the urban cores of Charlotte and Lumberton to neighboring districts.1Congress.gov. Member District – Mark Harris
These boundaries came out of the 2023 redistricting cycle through Senate Bill 757.2North Carolina General Assembly. 2023 Redistricting Process They will not be in place much longer. See the 2026 section below.
Who Represents the 8th District
Mark Harris, a Republican, took the oath of office on January 3, 2025, after defeating Democrat Justin Dues in the November 2024 general election by roughly 59.6% to 40.4%.3Congressman Mark Harris. Taking the Oath of Office His two-year term runs through January 2027. He maintains a district office in Monroe for constituents who need help with federal agencies.
Committee Assignments
In the 119th Congress, Harris sits on three House committees:4Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Member Profiles – Mark Harris
- Agriculture, with seats on the subcommittees for General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit; Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry; and Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
- Education and Workforce, with seats on the subcommittees for Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education; and Higher Education and Workforce Development.
- Judiciary, with seats on the subcommittees for the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust; and the Constitution and Limited Government.
The 2026 Map and Election Dates
In October 2025, the General Assembly passed Session Law 2025-95, establishing a new map for all 14 congressional districts starting with the 2026 elections.5North Carolina State Board of Elections. Voting Maps/Redistricting The 8th District’s boundaries, and possibly its political composition, may shift from what voters saw in 2024. If you live near the edge of the current district, check the State Board of Elections website to confirm which district you fall in before you vote.
Key dates for the 2026 cycle:
- Candidate filing opens at noon on December 1, 2025, and closes at noon on December 19, 2025.6North Carolina State Board of Elections. Candidate Deadlines
- The primary election is Tuesday, March 3, 2026, with polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.7North Carolina State Board of Elections. Election Day – 2026 Primary Election
- The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.8North Carolina State Board of Elections. Upcoming Election
Why the Map Keeps Changing
The General Assembly holds sole authority over drawing congressional district maps.5North Carolina State Board of Elections. Voting Maps/Redistricting North Carolina is the only state where the legislature draws both state and federal maps with no gubernatorial veto; when the legislature gained veto power in 1996, redistricting maps were explicitly carved out.
North Carolina’s maps have been redrawn multiple times within a single decade, sometimes forcing candidates to campaign in new territory mid-cycle. In Rucho v. Common Cause (2019), the U.S. Supreme Court held that partisan gerrymandering claims are political questions beyond the reach of federal courts.9Supreme Court of the United States. Rucho v. Common Cause, 588 U.S. 684 (2019) That left state courts as the main check, and litigation at the state level is a large part of why North Carolina keeps producing new maps.
Political and Demographic Snapshot
Under its 2024 lines, the 8th District leans heavily Republican. The Cook Political Report’s Partisan Voting Index rates the district at approximately R+10, meaning it votes about 10 points more Republican than the national average in recent presidential elections. Harris won by nearly 20 points in 2024, and retroactive analysis of the 2020 presidential results on these boundaries showed the Republican candidate carrying roughly 58%. In districts at that level, the meaningful competition tends to happen in the primary rather than the general.
According to the American Community Survey’s 2024 one-year estimates, the district’s population is roughly 58% White, 17% Black, and 11% Hispanic, with Hispanic respondents counted across all racial categories. Median household income is approximately $81,435, and about 10.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That poverty figure reflects the district’s mix: fast-growing Union County suburbs on one end, and more rural counties like Anson, Richmond, and Scotland on the other.