CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In a one-on-one interview with NBC Charlotte's Rad Berky, Democrat Dan McCready accused Republican Mark Harris and his campaign of stealing votes.
Harris was the apparent winner of North Carolina's 9th District race last November, but the results were never certified because of allegations of absentee ballot tampering.
“We will never know how many votes his campaign stole," McCready said of Harris.
McCrae Dowless is a long-time political operative who was hired by the Harris campaign to do an absentee ballot operation in Bladen and Robeson counties.
McCready said he never met Dowless and wanted no part of him.
“We heard he was a guy who was up to no good. Causing shenanigans and possibly fraud in Bladen County," said McCready.
Harris told NBC Charlotte last week that he had no knowledge of any wrongdoing but stopped short when he was asked if he would hire Dowless again in the future.
“It’s really presumptuous for me to ever suggest would I work with him again or anything else at this particular point,” Harris said.
While Harris claims there are not enough absentee votes in question to change the outcome of the November election, McCready said that’s not true.
“Who knows how many of those were thrown in the trash?” McCready said.
Harris is asking a court judge to declare him the winner. A hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday.