In my response to them I have simply said to pray for wisdom and discernment as we make decisions concerning my health situation, the new election in Congressional District 9, and where we go from here.
In a statement Tuesday, North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Robin Hayes expressed support for Harris's decision.
Following his short-lived victory, allegations of election fraud against Harris' campaign tainted the results and the North Carolina Board of Elections refused to certify the election, leaving the seat vacant to begin the 116th Congress.
After last November's election, Harris appeared to have a 905-vote lead over Democrat Dan McCready.
Harris testified to state election officials last week that he was not aware of any criminal wrongdoing and the operation Dowless described to him was within the boundaries of the law.
The board subsequently voted unanimously to hold redo the race - the only congressional contest still undecided from the 2018 midterm elections, in which Democrats have already flipped 40 House seats.
Harris suffered two strokes in January and has been receiving medical care.
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Rushing has been a passionate supporter of Harris, and attended the evidentiary hearing on election fraud in the congressional race out of solidarity. "His background and his experience have proven him to stand firm on so numerous issues ... including the issue of life, our national security, and religious freedom", said Harris in his announcement.
Rushing, a firing range owner and licensed gun seller, has been a county commissioner off and on for more than eight years, first taking office in 2002.
McCready called McConnell's comments "shameful but not surprising".
Former U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger, whom Harris defeated in May's Republican primary, told The Associated Press he wouldn't run to reclaim his old job. "No, I thought what he was doing was illegal, and I was right", John Harris said.
"I also owe it to the citizens of the Ninth District to have someone at full strength during the new campaign", the Tuesday statement continued. His campaign finance report showed McCready raised $487,000 during the final five weeks of 2018.
However, his chances in the general election are uncertain given the 9th District's traditional Republican lean and the question of whether turnout in an off-cycle election will match the enthusiasm that gave a big advantage to McCready and Democratic candidates across the country past year. The state elections board turned over evidence of his actions in 2017 to federal prosecutors, who took no action.
Dowless' workers in rural Bladen County testified that they were directed to collect blank or incomplete ballots, forge signatures on them and even fill in votes for local candidates.
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