WASHINGTON _ The North Carolina State Board of Elections has set dates for a special election in North Carolina's 9th Congressional District after allegations of election fraud threw the results into question.
A primary election will take place on May 14. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, a runoff will take place on Sept. 10 and the general election will be Nov. 5. But if a primary runoff is not necessary, the general election will take place on Sept. 10.
The candidate filing period will be from March 11 through March 15.
The special election could be an early test of both parties' messages and strategies heading into 2020, with North Carolina hosting a competitive Senate race as well.
Republican Mark Harris led Democrat Dan McCready by 905 votes after last November's election, but allegations that one of Harris' consultants tampered with absentee ballots led to the state board calling for a new election.
The consultant, Leslie McCrae Dowless Jr., was arrested last week.
McCready is already running again, but Harris is not due to health issues. A number of Republicans are thought to be eyeing the race. President Donald Trump carried the 9th District by 12 points in 2016.
Roll Call elections forecaster Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race as a "Toss-Up."
