CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two District 9 Republican candidates are preparing for a rematch after one defeated the other by a little more than 100 votes in 2016. Meanwhile, another candidate has thrown his name in in this three-person race for the US House of Representatives.
Republican incumbent Robert Pittenger and Mark Harris both have their eyes on the district again. In 2016, Pittenger defeated Harris by 134 votes. Spectrum News’ political team, as well as other national political outlets, tags this race as one of the big primary races to watch.
Harris and Pittenger are based in Charlotte while the third candidate, Clarence Goins, is from the eastern side of the district near Fayetteville.
The 9th District includes southern Mecklenburg County, all of Union, Anson, Richmond, Scotland, and Robeson counties and large amounts of Cumberland and Bladen counties.
Pittenger and Harris both position themselves closest to President Donald Trump and his politics.
Recent polling by the conservative Civitas Institute shows Pittenger leading by double digits over the other two candidates.
Pittenger and Harris both position themselves closest to President Donald Trump and his politics.
Recent polls shows Pittenger leading by double digits over the other two candidates.
About Robert Pittenger
Congressman Robert Pittenger is currently serving his third term in the United States House of Representatives, representing North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District. He was born and raised in Texas, but later moved to Charlotte with his wife and and kids to start a small business in 1985. From 2003-2008, Congressman Pittenger served in the North Carolina Senate. He calls himself a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and was a sponsor of Right of Life legislation.
To learn more about Robert Pittenger and his plans for District 9, click here.
About Mark Harris
Rev. Mark Harris is a native of Winston-Salem and has been in ministry since the late 1980s serving in different leadership roles. He graduated from Appalachian State University with a bachelor's degree in political science. He later earned his Master of Divinity and doctor or ministry degree in Christian leadership from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest. He resides in Charlotte with his wife and kids.
To learn more about Mark Harris and his plans for District 9, click here.
About Clarence Goins
Clarence Goins is a Cumberland County native and a 2001 graduate of Campbell University's Lundy-Fetterman School of Business. He has been in banking for more than 15 years which is how he says he knows the concerns of small business owners. He says he would try to make District 9's economy one of his top priorities. He resides in the district with his wife and kids.
To learn more about Clarence Goins and his plans for District 9, click here.
For more information about when and where to vote, visit the North Carolina State Board of Elections or the NC Voting Guide.