NC-9: Pittenger Up

In 2016, under the court-mandated mid-decade redistricting plan, Rep. Bob Pittenger (R-Charlotte) received a radically new 9th District that included a population complexion featuring over 60% new constituents.   To a large degree, the re-draw forced Pittenger into a highly competitive Republican primary campaign that he won by just 134 votes of more than 26,600 ballots cast.  The second-place finisher, Charlotte pastor and former US Senate candidate Mark Harris, is running again.
 
Three polls all find Rep. Pittenger with a healthy lead during the last month of the primary campaign.  Survey USA (3/9-13; 1,000 NC-9 registered voters; 375 likely Republican primary voters) found the Congressman leading Mr. Harris, 52-20%.  More recently, Public Opinion Strategies, polling for the Pittenger Campaign (4/4-7; 400 NC-9 likely primary voters), posted the incumbent to a 59-26% advantage.  The Red Dome Group, polling for the Harris Campaign (4/4-5; 500 NC-9 likely Republican primary voters) finds a much closer race, but also with Rep. Pittenger leading.  Their numbers produce a 38-30% Pittenger edge.  The North Carolina primary is May 8th.

--Jim Ellis