Photo Credit: wikimedia
The newest member of the Congress is a Christian preacher, Republican Mark Harris, who said in a 2013 sermon that a woman only had one title according to the Bible: “Helper,” and that it may not be the “healthiest pursuit” for women to prioritize careers over their home lives. Republican Mark Harris was a pastor of the First Baptist Charlotte when he preached this way and now he has won a race for U.S. House from North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District. Besides his comments regarding women’s position in society, Mark Harris is anti-gay, anti-abortion and he also has problem with transgender people using the right bathrooms.
The race for U.S. House from North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District was very tight with 135,232 votes cast for Democrat Dan McCready, which equals 49%, while Republican Mark Harris took home the same percentage but with slightly more votes (137,173.) While Harris declared victory right after the vote took place, his opponent McCready conceded defeat almost twenty four hours after polls closed. At first McCready argued that the race was close but when the counting showed the exact results he conceded defeat and called Harris to congratulate him.
Harris will be in the House minority because a Republican conference lost control of the U.S. House of Representatives to Democrats in elections. According to Charlotte Observer, Harris said that won’t affect how he does his job in Congress. “Whether Republicans are in the majority ... or in the minority,” he said, “I am there to represent citizens of the 9th District.” He even stated that he is looking forward to work together with defeated Democrat McCready “as someone who has been on the other side of close races, I appreciate Dan’s graciousness today. He ran a spirited campaign and I have no doubt as to his love of country. I look forward to sitting down with him to discuss ways we can work together for the betterment of the 9th District,” said Harris in a statement.
Another Christian bigot with strong conservative attitude has won the elections and this is probably going to affect the 9th District and decision making in the Congress. Someone who sees women as helpers and thinks that education and specialization is unhealthy for them is going to represent women from the 9th District. If we add his anti-gay attitude and his negative opinion towards transgender people then there is a great number of people who can’t expect support from Harris.
