CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jeff Jackson (D) won North Carolina's 14th Congressional District in the midterm elections, according to the Associated Press. Jackson is the first elected representative to hold a seat in this newly created district.
Jackson beat his opposing candidate, Republican Pat Harrigan.
Democratic state Sen. Jeff Jackson has served in the General Assembly for the last eight years. However, he is not new to public service. Before holding public office, he enlisted in the Army after the Sept. 11 attacks. After 19 years of military service, he remains a major in the Army National Guard.
Jackson's win was heartening news for Democrats, who were facing historic headwinds in the 2022 midterms. After weeks of "red wave" predictions, Democrats were surprisingly resilient, outperforming the party's own expectations.
District 14
Congressional district 14 is North Carolina's newest district. The 14th district covers much of south and west Charlotte as well as most of the eastern part of Gaston County.
Michael Bitzer, a political science professor at Catawba College, pointed out that North Carolina was apportioned an extra congressional seat after the U.S. Census reflected a population boom, with much of that growth happening in the Raleigh and Charlotte metros.
"The city of Charlotte basically gets split into two congressional districts, the 12th and the 14th," Bitzer said.
Who is Jeff Jackson?
Democratic state Sen. Jeff Jackson has served in the General Assembly for the last eight years. However, he is not new to public service. Before holding public office, he enlisted in the Army after the September 11th attacks. After 19 years of military service, he remains a major in the Army National Guard.
Jackson would like to see more movement toward green energy and seeks to codify Roe v. Wade. Although he supports the Second Amendment, he does so with caveats. Jackson would like to see North Carolina adopt a "red flag law" similar to those in many other states, which allow firearms to be confiscated from people who are believed to be of danger to themselves or others.
Who is Pat Harrigan?
Republican congressional candidate Pat Harrigan decided to enter public service after the fall of Afghanistan following the U.S. withdrawal. Harrigan, a former Green Beret and current businessman, owns a North Carolina-based firearms contract-manufacturing company that he started with his wife while on active duty.
Harrigan told WCNC that his reasons for going into politics stem from having a family.
"My wife and I have two little girls. And we're very concerned about what kind of America they're going to get to grow up with, and what kind of opportunity they're going to have in their lives," Harrigan said.
Harrigan was seeking to turn a traditionally blue area into a swing district. Harrigan said if elected he would prioritize balancing the federal budget, decrease spending, and punishing violent criminals by enforcing laws on the books. Harrigan says he is against abortion, but believes in exceptions in cases of rape or incest, as well as when the life of the mother is at risk.
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