{"biography":"Mary Harrison is the incumbent Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District\u202f61 and is seeking re\u2011election in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election [1].  The North Carolina House consists of 120 members who serve two\u2011year terms with no term limits; legislators assume office on January\u202f1 following the election and receive a salary of $13,951 per year plus a $104 per\u2011day 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].\n\nHarrison earned a bachelor\u2019s 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\u2011law attorney and was active as a volunteer environmental advocate and activist [1].\n\nShe was first elected to the state House in 2018 and has been re\u2011elected every two years, most recently in 2022, with her current term set to end on January\u202f1,\u202f2027 [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\u20112024 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\u202fI 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.\n\nAs a legislator, Harrison has sponsored and co\u2011sponsored 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\u2011chair 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].\n\nDistrict\u202f61, which Harrison represents, encompasses parts of Catawba and Iredell counties in north\u2011central North Carolina.  The district\u2019s 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\u2019s long\u2011standing residence and service in the district satisfy this qualification.\n\nIn 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.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Mary Harrison - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mary_Harrison)\n- [2] [North Carolina House of Representatives District 61 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_House_of_Representatives_District_61)\n- [5] [North Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2026)\n- [13] [2026 North Carolina House of Representatives election - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_North_Carolina_House_of_Representatives_election)\n- [15] [Candidate Profiles \u2013 NC Voter Guide](https://ncvoterguide.org/profiles/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_061","county":"guilford","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 061"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Mary","fullname":"Mary Price Harrison","lastname":"Harrison","middlename":"Price","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_061","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 061","county":"guilford","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"state_house_061","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 061","county":"guilford","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"DEM","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Mary Harrison, Democrat, is the incumbent NC House member for District\u202f61 seeking re\u2011election in 2026.","terms":[],"token":"e9bf038cc98f70bc"}