North Carolina 8th Congressional District Candidates Discuss Top Issues Ahead of Primary

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With the 2026 North Carolina primary election approaching on March 3, WBTV reached out to candidates running for the state's 8th Congressional District to get their responses on key issues. The district covers several counties in central North Carolina, including Anson, Montgomery, Richmond, Scotland, Stanly, and Union. The winner of the Democratic primary will face off against the Republican incumbent, Mark Harris, in the general election this fall.

Why it matters

The 8th Congressional District race is an important one, as it will determine who represents a large swath of central North Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives. Voters in the district will have a chance to weigh in on the candidates' positions on critical issues like the economy, healthcare, and education.

The details

Three Democrats are vying to represent their party in the 8th District race: Jesse Oppenheim, Colby Watson, and an unnamed third candidate. WBTV reached out to all three candidates to get their responses on key issues, but only received responses from the unnamed third candidate by the time of publication. The Republican incumbent, Mark Harris, will face off against the Democratic nominee in the general election in November.

• Early in-person voting for the 2026 North Carolina primary election is scheduled for February 12-28.
• Primary Election Day in North Carolina is Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
• The general election for the 8th Congressional District will be held in November 2026.

What’s next

The winner of the Democratic primary on March 3 will face off against Republican incumbent Mark Harris in the general election in November 2026.