On Tuesday, Republican Mark Harris emerged victorious in his campaign for a U.S. House seat in North Carolina. This win comes after a challenging six-year interval since his last attempt, which was marred by a scandal involving absentee ballots. In the 2018 elections, Harris seemed poised for victory; however, an investigation revealed that a political operative affiliated with his campaign was involved in collecting blank or incomplete ballots.

Despite cooperating fully with the investigation, Harris chose not to participate in a re-election after the scandal unfolded. This year, he decided to run again, campaigning in the Republican-friendly 8th Congressional District, which extends from Charlotte to Lumberton. The opportunity arose following the departure of GOP Rep. Dan Bishop, who opted to pursue the role of attorney general instead.

As the night progressed, reports confirmed Harris’s success, with the declaration coming from the Associated Press at 9:43 p.m. EST. His victory marks a significant comeback in a political landscape that has seen its share of controversies. Harris’s journey reflects not only his tenacity but also the evolving dynamics of North Carolina’s electoral politics.