House clerk to take over constituent services for contested North Carolina district

The clerk of the House of Representatives announced Thursday that her office will take over constituent services for North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District while a new election is held to determine the area’s representative.

In a statement obtained by Charlotte CBS affiliate WSOC, the House clerk’s office announced that the 9th District’s office would operate “under the supervision” of the clerk until a new election was decided.

BREAKING: The Clerk of the US House is officially taking over constituent services for #NC09 until a new member is seated #ncpol @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/6HzI8dSeDQ

— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) March 14, 2019

The district was thrown into chaos last year when the state’s Board of Elections refused to certify Mark Harris’s (R) unofficial victory, which later led to an investigation revealing election fraud allegedly committed by one of Harris’s campaign operatives.{mosads}

Harris later announced that due to medical issues resulting from a stroke earlier this year, he would not stand for election again in the district, which under state law will undergo a new primary election prior to a special general election. Harris’s opponent, Dan McCready (D), has already announced another bid for the seat.

Harris, a former pastor, broke down in tears during the testimony of his son, a U.S. attorney, who said during board of elections hearings last month that he had warned his father against hiring the operative, Leslie McCrae Dowless, due to his concerns about illicit activity.

Harris has endorsed Union County commissioner Stoney Rushing (R) to replace him as the Republican candidate for the seat. Dowless was charged last month with multiple criminal counts related to an illegal ballot-harvesting scheme following the state investigation.