Katherine Zehnder
Carolina Journal
As Congress prepares to usher in a new Trump era on Monday, five new members representing North Carolina in the US House of Representatives will be among them. The five were sworn into the 119th Congress on Friday are Reps. Addison McDowell, NC-6; Mark Harris, NC-8; Pat Harrigan, NC-10; Brad Knott, NC-13; and Tim Moore, NC-14.
In a joint session Monday, Congress is set to count electoral college votes and certify the November 2024 election, with Vice President Kamala Harris presiding. In November, Republican Donald Trump won the Electoral College vote by a decisive 312-226, and the popular vote by 49.9% to Harris’ 48.4%.
In North Carolina’s 14th Congressional district, Moore was endorsed by Trump, having served as the North Carolina House of Representatives speaker for almost a decade before running for Congress.
In the 13th Congressional District’s Republican runoff in May, Trump also endorsed Knott, who easily won with 90% of the vote against his opponent, Kelly Daughtry, who’d withdrawn her candidacy two weeks before the runoff. Addison McDowell got a Trump nod for the 6th Congressional District race over former Rep. Mark Walker. This race also almost went into a runoff until Walker conceded after accepting a position with the Trump campaign. In CD-10, Pat Harrigan won 57% of the vote against several challengers and will take over Patrick McHenry’s seat.
In CD-08, Harris won 59% of the vote against his Democratic challenger, Justin Dues. Harris takes over Dan Bishop’s seat, who stepped down to run for North Carolina attorney general but lost to Democrat Jeff Jackson. Despite his loss, Bishop was appointed by President-elect Trump as the incoming federal deputy director of Budget at the Office of Management and Budget.
“We couldn’t be prouder of the five new members of Congress North Carolina Republicans are sending to Washington DC,” said NCGOP Chairman Jason Simmons. “We know each of them will serve with distinction and honor to get our economy back on track, secure the Southern border, and make Americans safe once again. North Carolina Republicans will play an integral role in enacting the agenda of President Trump and Vice President Vance and we are excited to see them get to work for our country.”
Mike Johnson, R-LA, was re-elected as speaker of the US House of Representatives, receiving 218 votes, while the nominee for the Democratic Caucus, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, NY-D8, received 215 votes.
“It is now my responsibility to present to the gavel to the gentleman from the great state of Louisiana, the son of a firefighter, a God-fearing man, a husband and a loving father of four, the 56th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the honorable Mike Johnson,” said Jeffries on the House floor.
Trump endorsed Johnson for re-election on Monday.
“Speaker Johnson is the leader House Republicans need to deliver for the American people and swiftly move President Trump’s agenda through Congress,” said Rep. Greg Murphy, MD, NC-03. “The last four years were difficult for this nation. With a very narrow majority, it is paramount that we remain unified as a body. We have a lot of work ahead of us and must fulfill our promises to lower the cost of living, secure our borders, preserve freedom in the United States, and achieve peace through strength globally. As we govern with a mandate on these issues, we must also take action on the crises afflicting American medicine.”
Rep. Richard Hudson, NC-09, also expressed his elation at the re-election of Johnson in a statement.
“On Election Day, the American people delivered a resounding mandate – a mandate to get our country back on track,” said Hudson in a press release. “I am proud to support Mike Johnson because he is a good man, a strong conservative, and has been an outstanding Speaker of the House. He has served with unwavering faith, integrity, and respect for this institution. I know Mike is the proven, principled leader we need to help us advance President Donald Trump’s agenda and fulfill the promises we made to the American people. With Speaker Johnson at the helm, I am confident our House Republican majority will deliver. Let’s get to work.”
Johnson addressed the House before swearing in the 119th Congress, promising that the new Congress would secure the border, fight inflation, and extend the Trump tax cuts, among other things.
“The path of prosperity has long been paved with policies that put America and Americans first, and that is what we will champion in the 119th Congress,” said Johnson.
The US Senate also swore in 32 senators for a six-year term. North Carolina Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, both Republicans, were not sworn in as they were not up for re-election until 2026. Dr. Barry C. Black, senate chaplain, opened the ceremony with prayer, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by VP Kamala Harris, and the swearing-in. There are 12 new senators, six from the Republican Party and six from the Democratic Party.
“I am excited to continue my work on behalf of North Carolina on the Senate Armed Services, Commerce, and Small Business Committees,” said Budd. “My service on the Joint Economic Committee will focus on creating prosperity for North Carolina and the entire nation. These committee assignments offer a major opportunity to make life better for the citizens of North Carolina, and I can’t wait to get to work.”