Tag: Stony Rushing

Citing health concerns, Republican Mark Harris said Tuesday that he won’t run in a new election for the 9th Congressional District. His announcement came five days after the State Board of Elections concluded a hearing into allegations of election fraud in the 9th District by calling for a new election. He hired a chief of staff and was assigned an office on Capitol Hill. Though Harris endorsed Republican Stony Rushing, a Union County commissioner, for the congressional seat Tuesday, his withdrawal opens the door to other Republicans. Mathew Ridenhour, a former Mecklenburg commissioner, said he’ll decide by next week. “General election candidates are chosen by the voters,” he said. During last week’s hearing, witnesses testified that Dowless illegally collected absentee ballots in 2018. First elected in 2002 as a Union County commissioner, Rushing served until 2006, then was elected again eight years later. ‘Stolen’ election Harris ended his time on the witness stand last week by saying that a new election should be called because of the evidence about corruption presented. But in the wake of the hearing, both parties accused the other of trying to steal the election.