US-North Carolina Rep. Mark Harris reflects on first 3 months in office

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Three months into his first term in Congress, U.S. Representative Mark Harris (R-NC 8), from North Carolina, says one of his primary goals is bringing more power back to local communities.

In a sit-down interview with WBTV’s Jason Puckett, the freshman congressman shared his experiences since taking office in January, the challenges of navigating Washington, and his stance on key policy issues, including education funding, economic policy, and tariffs.

Adjusting to Washington’s pace

Harris, who serves on the Judiciary, Agriculture, and Education Committees, said the biggest challenge has been managing an intense schedule.

“I think that’s probably the biggest challenge—the pace in Washington and the schedule overlap,” Harris said. “Oftentimes, hearings will happen at the same time, and I find myself literally running from one hearing to the next.”

Despite the fast-paced environment, Harris expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve, adding that his district offices in Monroe and Scotland County have allowed him to stay connected with his constituents.

“We’re off to a great start,” Harris said. “Our district office will be open in the second district office down in Scotland County next week, and I’m excited about that.”

A ‘new beginning’ for Harris

Harris previously ran for Congress in 2018 and initially won the District 9 seat before withdrawing amid election fraud allegations. He returned to politics in 2024, securing victory in District 8. While speaking at the primary election victory, Harris told the crowd that he saw his campaign victory as a “repudiation” of the negative coverage, attack ads and situation. When asked if he still saw his political return as a “repudiation” of the past, Harris said his focus is now on moving forward.

“I would call this the chapter of a new beginning,” he said. “It’s a new opportunity that God has opened up for me. I think it’s a new beginning for the nation in many ways.”

Harris also expressed strong support for former President Donald Trump and his administration’s economic and oversight policies, particularly the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which he credited with increasing oversight in government spending.

“The work that DOGE is doing is really getting in and doing things that Congress needed to be doing, and that is giving oversight,” Harris said. “They are auditing agencies to expose how money is being spent in all of these departments.”

Addressing economic concerns and tariffs

Harris acknowledged concerns from local farmers and business owners regarding the administration’s tariff policies and economic uncertainty but defended the approach as a necessary step toward fair trade.

“I get the concerns. I mean, everybody wants stability,” Harris said. “Every business needs stability, whether you’re a farmer or whatever. But I also recognize that when these negotiations happen, the goal is to level the playing field in a big way.”

He pointed to recent announcements from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rolling back certain regulations as an example of how economic policies are being adjusted to benefit industries like agriculture.

Balancing partisanship and bipartisanship

Asked about concerns that Congress is not acting as an independent check on the executive branch, Harris pushed back against the perception that Republicans are unwilling to challenge President Trump.

“I can assure folks that every member of Congress that I know takes very seriously their responsibility within the three branches of government,” he said. “But what you’re seeing is a united party that really wants to see these principles put in place.”

He added that Speaker Mike Johnson has played a crucial role in keeping the party unified, citing a recent budget resolution that passed the House with near-total Republican support.

Education and local empowerment

One of Harris’ central policy stances is shifting federal power to state and local governments. He pointed to cuts to the Department of Education as an example of efforts to decentralize decision-making.

“I don’t see that we’re going to stop Pell Grants. We’re not going to stop any of those services people are concerned about,” Harris said. “But it’s going to be through block grants, and it’s going to be put back to the state and local level because the closer governance gets to home, the more effective it’s going to be.”

During his first few months in office, Harris has met with local leaders, including Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles and county officials from Scotland County, to discuss bipartisan cooperation on key issues like infrastructure funding and grant allocations.

“I want to be able to work where we can work together in making our communities strong,” Harris said. “I do think people sent us to Washington to do government differently, and that’s what we’re working to do.”