Mary Price Harrison

Mary Harrison is the incumbent Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District 61 and is seeking re‑election in the November 3, 2026 general election ¹. The North Carolina House consists of 120 members who serve two‑year terms with no term limits; legislators assume office on January 1 following the election and receive a salary of $13,951 per year plus a $104 per‑day per diem ². To be eligible, a candidate must be at least 21 years old, a qualified voter, and have resided in the district for one year prior to the election ².

Harrison earned a bachelor’s degree from Duke University and a Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law ¹. Before entering elected office she practiced as a communications‑law attorney and was active as a volunteer environmental advocate and activist ¹.

She was first elected to the state House in 2018 and has been re‑elected every two years, most recently in 2022, with her current term set to end on January 1, 2027 ¹. Throughout her tenure she has served on a wide range of committees, reflecting interests in fiscal policy, environmental protection, energy, and election law. In the 2023‑2024 session she sat on the Appropriations Committee, the Appropriations on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources Committee, the Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform Committee, the Energy and Public Utilities Committee, the Environment Committee (as Vice Chair), the Judiciary I Committee, the Marine Resources and Aquaculture Committee, and the House Redistricting Committee ¹. Similar committee assignments appear in earlier sessions, indicating a consistent focus on environmental and regulatory issues.

As a legislator, Harrison has sponsored and co‑sponsored bills related to elections, energy, and environmental stewardship, though specific bill titles are not listed in the available sources. Her professional background in communications law informs her work on the Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform Committee, while her activist experience aligns with her vice‑chair role on the Environment Committee. She continues to advocate for clean energy, responsible natural resource management, and transparent election processes, priorities that have guided her legislative record and campaign platform for 2026 ¹.

District 61, which Harrison represents, encompasses parts of Catawba and Iredell counties in north‑central North Carolina. The district’s constituents are served by a representative who must maintain residency within the district for at least one year before election, as required by the state constitution ². Harrison’s long‑standing residence and service in the district satisfy this qualification.

In the 2026 race, the Democratic primary was canceled, leaving Harrison on the ballot for the general election unopposed within her party ¹. She will seek to retain her seat against any Republican challenger in the November election, continuing her work on the committees and policy areas outlined above.

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