NC-9: Certification Meeting Postponed

​It is now a virtual certainty that North Carolina’s 9th District will begin the new Congress as a vacant seat pending a new election.  The North Carolina State Board of Elections postponed their December 21st meeting to January 11th, meaning the issue of officially certifying Republican Mark Harris’ apparent 905 vote victory will not be finally decided until almost two weeks after the new congressional session begins.
 
The meeting, however, is basically a formality.  All sides are calling for a new election, which will almost certainly be ordered at the next BoE meeting.   A new law is likely to be enacted that will open the impending special primary election to all individuals meaning Mr. Harris may not even be re-nominated.  The accusations of voter fraud surrounding his lead have severely damaged his image, therefore he would have a very difficult time of winning the seat in the special.  Republicans will likely move forward with a new candidate, while Democrats are almost certain to coalesce behind their 2018 nominee, businessman Dan McCready. 
 
The special election will likely be scheduled sometime in March.  A run-off will occur if a leading party primary candidate falls under 40%.