sentences:  In the 2018 election, Mark Harris defeated incumbent Pittenger in the Republican primary.Harris was initially also called as the winner of the general election against Democratic challenger Dan McCready, but the result was not certified, pending an investigation into allegations of absentee ballot fraud.On February 21, 2019, the bipartisan state Election Board unanimously voted to call for a new election, because of evidence of apparent fraud by Republican operatives hired by the Harris campaign.