Colby Watson
Candidate for North Carolina 8th Congressional District · Democrat
On the 2026 ballotChallenger · North Carolina 8th Congressional District · Nov 3 General
Ballot status source: NC State Board of Elections — 2026 general-election candidate list: US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 08 · read Sep 20, 2026
The District
What North Carolina 8th Congressional District covers
Covers all of Union County, Anson County, Montgomery County, Richmond County, Stanly County and Scotland County; parts of Robeson County, Cabarrus County and Mecklenburg County.
190 precincts · District lines: Congressional lines: enacted plan "S.L. 2025-95 Congress" (Senate Bill 249, ratified Oct 22, 2025 as Session Law 2025-95 (not subject to veto)); 2026 status: In effect for the 2026 elections: a federal three-judge panel denied a request to block the districts (Nov 2025). Official file https://webservices.ncleg.gov/ViewBillDocument/2025/7667/0/SL%202025-95%20-%20Shapefile
Results
Certified results for North Carolina 8th Congressional District
US House OF Representatives District 08 (DEM)
North Carolina Primary Election 03/03/2026 · Mar 3, 2026| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colby WatsonDemocrat | Democrat | 18,272 | 47.9% |
| Kevin ClarkDemocrat | Democrat | 14,167 | 37.2% |
| Jesse OppenheimDemocrat | Democrat | 5,693 | 14.9% |
Official certified results — NC State Board of Elections · NC State Board of Elections — official precinct results
US House OF Representatives District 08
North Carolina General Election 11/05/2024 · Nov 5, 2024| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark HarrisRepublican | Republican | 238,640 | 59.6% |
| Justin E. DuesDemocrat | Democrat | 161,709 | 40.4% |
Official certified results — NC State Board of Elections · NC State Board of Elections — official precinct results
US House OF Representatives District 08
North Carolina General Election 11/08/2022 · Nov 8, 2022| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dan BishopRepublican | Republican | 183,998 | 69.9% |
| Scott HuffmanDemocrat | Democrat | 79,192 | 30.1% |
Official certified results — NC State Board of Elections · NC State Board of Elections — official precinct results
Key Votes
The record
No congressional voting record
Colby Watson has not served in Congress: no entry in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (bioguide.congress.gov) under this name for NC, checked 2026-09-24 against the catalog's bioguide linkage. Other public offices, if any, not compiled here.
Sep 24, 2026 · Official · Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress · source
Newest first. A close vote was decided by 5% of the votes cast or less (or 10 votes or fewer, under a fifth of the votes). Broke with party: voted against most of their party, where the record gives the party split.
Their Money
Campaign finance
- Last Change
- New finance report · Oct 9
- Raised
- $36,431cycle to date through Jun 30
- Cash on Hand
- $2,343cycle to date through Jun 30
- Spent
- $34,088cycle to date through Jun 30
- Debts Owed
- $0cycle to date through Jun 30
- Next Report Due
- Q3 Report · Oct 15
View on FEC.govFEC, cycle to date through Jun 30, 2026
Top Payees
Who the campaign paid most, as its filing reports it.
- Signs On The Cheap$4,603.81
- Black Political Caucus Of Charlotte-Mecklenburg$2,000.00
- Minuteman Press$1,922.61
- North Carolina State Board Of Elections$1,740.00
- Cotton Gin Printing$628.99
Campaign finance — Colby Watson For Congress: July Quarterly 2026, through Jun 30, 2026
Jun 30, 2026 · Official · Federal Election CommissionFinance Reports
Campaign finance — Colby Watson For Congress: July Quarterly 2026, through Jun 30, 2026
Raised $36,430.81 this election cycle (as reported) · spent $34,087.95 · cash on hand $2,342.86 · debts owed by the committee $0.00 — through Jun 30, 2026. Where the money came from (cycle to date, as reported): Individuals $10,270.81 (28%); PACs and other political committees $700.00 (2%); Candidate contributions $25,460.00 (70%). Where it went (itemized operating expenditures this cycle, FEC-processed through Sep 20, 2026): direct mail $10,329.40; staff, contractors and reimbursements $8,910.00; other $7,193.56; digital $4,106.70; field and canvassing $2,000.00.
Jun 30, 2026 · Official · Federal Election Commission
Filings
- Q3 ReportFEC · through Sep 30, 2026View the Filing
Money shows as the filings named here report it. Payees are who the campaign paid; individual contributors are not shown.
In Their Words
What they have said, on the record
“That's why I'm running for Congress: to restore trust, rebuild opportunity, and help build a government that once again works for the people.”
“I will not accept money from lobbyists who represent corporate or foreign interest.”
In the News
Press coverage
- About — Colby Watson for CongressSep 24, 2026 · Press · colbyforcongress.com
- Colby Watson for Congress 2026 — My CommitmentsSep 24, 2026 · Press · colbyforcongress.com
Headlines link to the original reporting, captured on the date shown.
Reach Them
Websites and accounts
Campaign website and social accounts
Campaign site: https://www.colbyforcongress.com
Sep 24, 2026 · Self-published · Candidate's own channels · source
The 2026 Field
Who else is running for North Carolina 8th Congressional District
- Mark HarrisRepublican · Incumbent · On the 2026 ballot
- Robert W WhiteheadGreen · On the 2026 ballot
The Paper Trail
Filings, results and exhibits
On the Nov. 3, 2026 general election ballot for U.S. Representative, NC-08 — Democratic
Listed as “Colby Watson”, Democratic. Other candidates in the race: Bo Whitehead (Green); Mark Harris (Republican).
Sep 24, 2026 · Official · State election authority (certified candidate list) · sourceU.S. Representative · NC-08
Democrat · Candidate · On the 2026 ballot
Sep 4, 2026 · Official · NC State Board of Elections
Not on file for Colby yet: Advertising, Polls. Coverage varies by state and office.
File read Sep 25, 2026. Each item names its source. Record ID p_ygfpg41aa.
GOTV Intel reports are sourced, cited research leads your campaign confirms against the primary record before use. They are never a consumer report and never for employment, credit, insurance, housing or licensure.