Biography

Mark Everette Harris, born on April 24, 1966, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is a Republican politician and pastor serving as the U.S. Representative for North Carolina's 8th Congressional District since January 3, 2025. Prior to his political career, Harris dedicated over 35 years to ministry, notably serving as the senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Charlotte from 2005 to 2017. He also held the position of president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina from 2011 to 2013. Harris is married to his college sweetheart, Beth, and together they have three adult children and ten grandchildren.

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Appalachian State University
• Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry in Christian Leadership from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Political Experience

• 2014 U.S. Senate Campaign: Ran for the U.S. Senate, finishing third in the Republican primary.
• 2016 Congressional Campaign: Challenged incumbent Robert Pittenger in the Republican primary for North Carolina's 9th Congressional District but was narrowly defeated.
• 2018 Congressional Campaign: Won the Republican primary for the 9th District and appeared to win the general election. However, the results were invalidated due to allegations of ballot fraud involving a campaign operative. Harris was not charged and called for a new election, in which he did not participate.
• 2024 Congressional Campaign: Announced his candidacy for the 8th District after incumbent Dan Bishop decided to run for Attorney General. Harris won the Republican primary and subsequently the general election, marking a significant political comeback.

Congressional Committees

• House Judiciary Committee: Oversees issues related to the administration of justice and the rule of law.
• House Agriculture Committee: Focuses on agricultural policy and related matters.
• House Education and Workforce Committee: Addresses issues pertaining to education and labor.

In his first three months in office, Harris emphasized bringing more power back to local communities and expressed strong support for former President Donald Trump's policies, particularly those related to government efficiency and oversight.