RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Board of Elections on Thursday ordered a new election in the 9th Congressional District after allegations of illegal activity in the handling of mail-in ballots. The five-member board's unanimous action came after several days of hearings into Republican ballot-collecting practices in the 2018 general election. Their decision was made after the GOP candidate, Mark Harris, surprisingly suggested Thursday that there should be a new election because the public had lost confidence in the results. On Election Day Harris had narrowly topped Democrat Dan McCready in unofficial results. "Through the testimony I listened to over the past three days, I believe a new election should be called. It's become clear to me that the public's confidence in the ninth district seat general election has been undermined to an extent that a new election is warranted," Harris said. It was a dramatic turn for Harris who had been aggressively defending himself throughout the months-long investigation and the four-day hearing, insisting that he had no knowledge of fraudulent activity involving absentee ballots in two rural counties in the ninth district. Harris made his declaration one day after his son, John Harris, testified that he warned his father of the possible illegal tactics political operative McCrae Dowless used in an absentee ballot operation. Harris hired him anyway, saying on the stand that it was his son's "opinion" about Dowless but that he was assured that Dowless worked within the confines of the law. He insisted that he that he had no knowledge of alleged illegal activities regarding mail-in ballots. But Harris was at risk of perjuring himself during his testimony over a discussion he had with his son about emails being used as evidence. He said from the witness stand that he did not discuss the emails with anyone ahead of the hearing. After he said that, his attorney, David Friedman, immediately asked to speak to his client behind closed doors. The board agreed, called for a lunch break and then went into closed session. When they returned, Harris corrected the record. "Obviously, I was incorrect in my recollection, and I wholeheartedly apologize to this board," Harris, a Baptist preacher, said. It was at that point he called for a new election, citing health problems and his opinion that the public has lost faith in the election. The state board agreed. Chairman Bob Cordle said that based on evidence presented this week about "the corruption, the absolute mess with the absentee ballots, the illegal activities that have occurred there in the election office itself, and with the people involved in the absentee ballots," it "certainly was a tainted election." Throughout the week, state investigators described a "coordinated, unlawful" mail-in ballot "scheme" in Bladen County run by operative Dowless that included the collection of absentee ballots, which is illegal in North Carolina. Harris testified Thursday that Dowless had repeatedly assured him that he would not be doing anything against the law in his absentee ballot operation. Harris said that after consideration and talking with others he trusted, he decided to move forward with hiring Dowless. John Harris, an assistant U.S. attorney in North Carolina, testified Wednesday that he told his father he had become concerned about Dowless after studying the 2016 congressional primary in the same 9th District. He testified that his father decided to hire Dowless despite his concerns. "I can tell you that my view is that they heard my concerns," John Harris said. On Thursday, Mark Harris said he read his son's advice as "a warning. He added that he "was proud of his son and "I love him with all my heart," but added that his son was young and "judgmental" and possessed a "taste of arrogance."<doc-sep>North Carolina reporter Joe Bruno said on Friday that there could be a new field of Republican candidates in the state's 9th Congressional District's election following GOP candidate Mark Harris Mark HarrisThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - GOP makes infrastructure play; Senate passes Asian hate crimes bill Hillicon Valley: Intelligence agency gathers US smartphone location data without warrants, memo says | Democrats seek answers on impact of Russian hack on DOJ, courts | Airbnb offers Biden administration help with vaccine distribution Trump sparks debate over merits of voting by mail MORE's call for a new election in his disputed House race. "North Carolina lawmakers recently passed a law requiring there to be a new primary if the state board of elections orders a new election," Bruno, a reporter with WSOC-TV, told Hill.TV's Jamal Simmons and Buck Sexton on "Rising." "So that means we're going to have a primary for this, and my feeling is that we'll have a whole new crop of Republican candidates'" The North Carolina State Board of Elections voted unanimously Thursday to call a new election in the state’s 9th Congressional District after holding an evidentiary hearing this week to look into allegations of ballot fraud in the November race. Initial results from the election showed Harris leading his Democratic opponent, Dan McCready, by 905 votes. However, Bruno said potential candidates would wait to see if Harris decided to jump into the race. "Of course, people will wait to see if Mark Harris runs again, or if the former 9th District representative, Robert Pittenger Robert Miller PittengerBottom Line North Carolina reporter says there could be 'new crop' of GOP candidates in 9th Congressional District race North Carolina board calls for new election in contested House race MORE, throws his hat in the ring again," he said. "As far as a date goes, that has not been set. There's some thought they may try to set up the timeline along with the third congressional seat, which used to be Walter Jones Walter JonesHillary Clinton brings up 'Freedom Fries' to mock 'cancel culture' Georgia officials open inquiry into Trump efforts to overturn election results Supreme Court declines to hear case challenging unlimited super PAC fundraising MORE's before he passed away, so we could have concurrent elections right there," he said. "Or there's some thought they may try to set it up with Charlotte City Council's mayoral election, which is in November." — Julia Manchester<doc-sep>Dana Bash: This is so telling about where the Republican party is NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 24: Trump Tower stands on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on August 24, 2018 in New York City. Following new allegations over hush money that former Trump attorney Michael Cohen paid to an adult-film actress, the Manhattan district attorneyÕs office in New York City may seek criminal charges against the Trump Organization in the coming days. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 08: US Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner (R-VA) remarks on the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld at the US Capitol November 8, 2006 in Washington, DC. Warner said he supports President George W. Bush's nomination of former CIA Director Robert Gates for Secretary of Defense. Warner said he anticipates Gates' confirmation before the end of the year. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), joined by Senate Assistant Minority Leader John Thune (R-SD) (L) and Senate Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO), speaks following a Senate Republican Policy luncheon at the Russell Senate Office Building on May 18, 2021 in Washington, DC. (CNN) — The North Carolina Board of Elections voted unanimously on Thursday in favor of holding a new election in the 9th Congressional District after an investigation into absentee ballot irregularities. The decision comes shortly after Mark Harris, the Republican leading in the contested race, said a new election should be called. He told the state board he does not condone the activities that have come to light after testimony this week and he feels that the public’s confidence in the process is shaken. Harris also said he is struggling with recall and confusion during his testimony to the state elections board due to two recent strokes. “Though I thought I was ready to undergo the rigors of this hearing, and I’m getting stronger, I clearly am not,” Harris said during Thursday’s hearing. “And I struggled this morning with both recall and confusion. Neither I nor any of the leadership of my campaign were aware of, or condoned, the improper activities that have been testified to in this hearing. Through the testimony I’ve listened to over the past three days, I believe a new election should be called. It’s become clear to me that the public’s confidence in the 9th District seat general election has been undermined to an extent that a new election is warranted.” The new election will come after months of chaos in which North Carolina remained the only state without settled election results from November. Red flags had been raised regarding irregular and potentially compromised absentee ballots stemming from the work of a political consultant hired by Harris’ campaign, which led many people from both sides of the aisle to call into question the integrity of the election. The state board of elections had voted in December not to certify the results in which Harris, a Baptist minister, led Democrat Dan McCready, a businessman and retired Marine, by 905 votes. North Carolina’s governor, Democrat Roy Cooper, wrote in a statement, “I thank the Board for unanimously doing the right thing. People must have confidence that their vote matters and this action sends a strong message that election fraud must not be tolerated.” Republican candidate calls for new election Harris’ call on Thursday was a dramatic reversal from his previous stance that the election board should certify the results of the election, in which unofficial tallies have Harris winning 905 more votes than his Democratic opponent. Harris had previously asked a judge to certify the unsettled election, and had argued in his petition to the court that the board of elections is legally required to certify the results. He also suggested he should be seated in Congress while the process plays out. Harris said in December that he was committed to cooperating with the investigation, and had previously said he would support a new election if there were proof of illegal activity on either side to such a degree that it could have changed the outcome. State Republicans, including Harris, have argued up until this point there is not enough evidence of disputed ballots that could have changed the outcome. North Carolina’s state Republican Party, which had been pushing election officials to certify the contested election results in favor of Harris, says it supports Harris’ surprise decision to call for a new election. State Party Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse tweeted, “Today I ask for everyone’s prayers for @MarkHarrisNC9. Today is a tremendously difficult day for his family, supporters and the entire @NCGOP We support our candidates decision in this matter. We will do everything we can to help the process and system improve in the future.” The state party’s chairman, Robin Hayes, added in a statement, “We respect Dr. Harris’ decision on behalf of the voters. This has been a tremendously difficult situation for all involved and we wish him the best as he recovers from his illness and subsequent complications. We will continue to work with legislators and investigators on how we can improve the electoral system so that these kinds of situations can be avoided in the future. “The people of North Carolina deserve nothing less than the full confidence and trust in the electoral system. We’d like to thank the hard-working staff and members of the North Carolina State Board of Elections for their professionalism and dedication in this investigation.” The board’s decision was greeted with cheers by state Democrats. The chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party, Wayne Goodman, said in a statement the decision would undo an attempt “to steal an election.” “Over an extraordinary four-day hearing, investigators laid out point-by-point how Republican Mark Harris’ campaign funded and directed an elaborate, illegal scheme to steal an election,” Goodwin said. “North Carolina Republicans, following Mark Harris’ lead, repeatedly lied to the people of the Ninth district, silenced their voices, and undermined our entire state’s faith in our democracy. This saga could only have ended in a new election, and we look forward to repairing the harm dealt by Republicans and giving the people of the Ninth district the representative they deserve.” Son’s stunning testimony On Wednesday, Harris’ son John testified that he had warned his father about a political operative who’s at the center of the investigation into election irregularities. The testimony was the first evidence that Mark Harris was told that operative Leslie McRae Dowless may have taken part in questionable ballot activity in the past. It marked a dramatic turn in the North Carolina Board of Elections’ evidentiary hearing, as John Harris contradicted his father’s previous assertion that he never heard any red flags raised about Dowless. Dowless is a convicted felon who was hired by a consulting firm paid by the Harris campaign, and is at the center of allegations that absentee ballots were tampered with. In testimony that turned emotional at times, John Harris, an assistant US Attorney of the Eastern District of North Carolina, told the board Wednesday that he “expressed my concerns” to his father the day after Mark Harris met with Dowless in 2017 – before Dowless was hired by the campaign. John Harris said it was his review of absentee voter data from 2016 that led him to think Dowless was a “shady character.” Emails shown at the hearing from John Harris to his father discuss Dowless’ history of alleged fraud in the 2016 primary election, in which Dowless was working for a rival GOP candidate. “This is not legal advice,” John Harris wrote in one email, adding, “The key thing that I am fairly certain they do that is illegal is that they collect the completed absentee ballots and mail them at once. The way they pop up in batches at the board of elections makes me believe that.” John Harris stressed that he doesn’t think his parents believed Dowless was breaking the law and wouldn’t have retained Dowless had they known. “I love my dad and I love my mom. OK?” John Harris said concluding his testimony, with his voice breaking. “I certainly have no vendetta against them. No family scores to settle, OK?<doc-sep>
Today I ask for everyone’s prayers for @MarkHarrisNC9 Today is a tremendously difficult day for his family, supporters and the entire @NCGOP We support our candidates decision in this matter. We will do everything we can to help the process and system improve in the future — Dallas Woodhouse (@DallasWoodhouse) February 21, 2019 EMBED >More News Videos Mark Harris claims he was unaware of McCrae Dowless' plans for absentee ballot request forms and absentee ballots. .@MarkHarrisNC9 says his understanding of Dowless operation was 1) solicit absentee ballot request forms & 2) follow up w/ voter & offer assistance like info on candidates - NOT collect ballots or sign as witness. @ABC11_WTVD @ABCPolitics @JTHVerhovek #NC09 — Jonah Kaplan (@KaplanABC11) February 21, 2019 RALEIGH, N.C. -- After hours of testimony Thursday, Mark Harris told the North Carolina State Board of Elections that he supports a new election in the 9th Congressional District race.Afterward, the North Carolina State Board of Elections voted 5-0 to call for a new election in the undecided US House race after hearing evidence it was tainted by ballot fraudIn moving to order a new election, board chairman Bob Cordle cited "the corruption, the absolute mess with the absentee ballots. "The State BOE will decide on a date for the new election at a later meeting.Before the Board's vote, Board Member David C. Black said the staff's investigation should serve as a lesson that the State Board will do its best to ensure elections are run properly and fairly. "As we stated before, this did not help the reputation of North Carolina, but we've turned the corner now," Black said.The decision could leave the congressional seat empty for months, perhaps until the fall, board attorney Josh Lawson said. New primaries will be held in addition to a new general election, with the dates set by the elections board.Harris cited health concerns when making his announcement.Harris left the hearing room without answering questions. It was not immediately clear whether he intends to run in a new election.NCGOP Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse said he supports Harris' decision.Democrats lauded the board's unanimous order for a new election. "Over an extraordinary four-day hearing, investigators laid out point-by-point how Republican Mark Harris' campaign funded and directed an elaborate, illegal scheme to steal an election," said NC Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Goodwin. "North Carolina Republicans, following Mark Harris' lead, repeatedly lied to the people of the Ninth district, silenced their voices, and undermined our entire state's faith in our democracy. This saga could only have ended in a new election, and we look forward to repairing the harm dealt by Republicans and giving the people of the Ninth district the representative they deserve. "Dan McCready tweeted that the vote for the new election was a "great step forward for democracy in North Carolina," but did not say whether or not he will be running in the next election.Demoractic Gov. Roy Cooper also applauded the board's decision. "I thank the Board for unanimously doing the right thing," Cooper said. "People must have confidence that their vote matters and this action sends a strong message that election fraud must not be tolerated. "Before the bombshell declaration, Harris said earlier Thursday that he met McCrae Dowless, who was hired by Red Dome, in April 2017 after friends told him he could help with the election in Bladen County.Investigators said Harris' campaign paid the firm $130,000 between July and November of 2018.It's alleged that Dowless then paid workers to collect absentee ballot request forms and absentee ballots, which is against state law.State elections director, Kim Strach, said Dowless paid local people $125 for every 50 mail-in ballots they collected and turned in to him in Bladen and Robeson counties.Harris claimed Dowless said, "we don't touch ballots and don't take ballots."