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Jeff Jackson declared winner of U.S. House District 14

Democrat Jeff Jackson is the projected winner of North Carolina's new 14th Congressional District, defeating Republican Pat Harrigan in the 2022 midterm election.

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. 

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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. 

RELATED: With Redistricting, Mecklenburg County gets stronger voice in D.C..  

Who is Jeff Jackson?

Credit: AP
Jeff Jackson (D) is campaigning to represent the new U.S. House District 14 in North Carolina (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

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.  

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Who is Pat Harrigan?

Credit: WCNC
Pat Harrigan (R) campaigning to represent the new 14th Congressional District

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. 

RELATED: Shots fired at family home of North Carolina US House candidate

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. 

Flashpoint is a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. Listen to the podcast weekly.
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