Chris Harjes

Chris Harjes was born in Columbia, South Carolina. He graduated from Spring Valley High School. He earned an associate degree from Asheville-Buncombe Community Technical College in 2001 and a graduate degree from Vanderbilt University in 2009. His career experience includes working as a nurse practitioner, business owner, and investor.[1]

Harjes has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1]

American Whitewater

Patriotic Millionaires

Asheville Indivisible

Democracy Forward

ACLU

Sierra Club

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m Chris Harjes- husband, father, Nurse Practitioner, investor and business owner, seasoned whitewater kayaker, struggling beginner guitarist and brand-spanking new politician.

I feel compelled to set my comfortable life aside to step in and fight the partisan vitriol and attacks on free speech which are tearing our nation apart.

District 11 has been extremely challenging for Democrats, but this cycle presents new opportunity, with Chuck Edwards failing miserably to serve the needs of WNC in his efforts to appease his boss, who cares nothing for NC.

It still won't be easy- we'll need to put together a strong coalition of Democrats, moderates and even some frustrated Republicans to overcome the current +5 Republican advantage per the Cook Political Report.

To do that, I'm offering practical, common-sense policy on immigration, healthcare, government efficiency, fair taxation and most importantly, preservation of Democracy by fighting the pay-to-play political system, which allows a few outspoken billionaires to twist tax and business policy in their favor, at the expense of hardworking everyday Americans.

I'm also breaking the mold of vague, fence-riding politicians by openly publishing my plans and ideas on my website, ChrisHarjesforCongress.com . You're welcome to take a look, send feedback and ideas. If you like what we're doing, please spread the word, and support the movement if you can. Thank you!

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Preservation of Democracy and free speech- Our Nation is under attack by billionaires and dark money influences who are stoking up our anger, carving up our nation, and laughing as we fight over the scraps.

They promote the false narrative that we should hate Americans with different beliefs.

That we cannot prosper unless we allow the most vulnerable among us to suffer and starve.

That we can't be a world power unless we bully our neighbors and abandon our allies in time of need.

That we can't grow our economy without poisoning our land and water.

These are manufactured illusions that we can and must shatter-

By offering America compassionate, common sense government that brings safety, fairness and prosperity to ALL.Fair taxation- https://www.chrisharjesforcongress.com/tax-reform

For too long, the tax code has been rigged in favor of the ultra-wealthy and giant corporations — while working families in Western North Carolina

carry the load. I am fighting for a tax system that’s simple, fair, and rooted in common sense.

I can speak to this firsthand. Trump's 2017 tax breaks and existing loopholes allowed me to pay just 8% in federal income taxes for 2019, despite exceptional income. Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos made exponentially more and paid as little as 1%.

This is ridiculous, and needs to be fixed. I propose to remove all the favorite darling loopholes, then use that money to drop rates across the middle and lower taxes and lower our deficit.Immigration- https://www.chrisharjesforcongress.com/immigration

Immigration has been the Democratic Party's major downfall in recent elections. And in my opinion, it’s because we’ve been doing it wrong.

America needs secure borders. There are people in this world who would gladly sacrifice their lives to blow us off the map. We can’t just let them hop off a boat in Mexico and wander in the back door unannounced.

But that doesn't mean we have to demonize Mexicans or anyone else who wants a better life in America. I'm advocating for fair, legal immigration based on both need and merit, as well as a clear and reasonable path to citizenship that begins with registering, getting social security numbers and paying taxes.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Preservation of free speech, campaign finance reform, fair taxation, practical immigration policy, more affordable, better healthcare.

I want to set aside the partisan vitriol, kick out the oligarchs and the billionaires, and get America working together again to make our great nation safer, stronger, more compassionate and more prosperous. And don't belie anyone who tells you we can't do all these things!!

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My family- I am incredibly lucky to be with them. My wife Natalie is intuitive and intelligent, dances beautifully, and has the deepest heart I've ever known. She spends countless hours teaming up with Public School Strong, Lindsey Prather and teachers unions to help preserve our public schools.

Zeb is creative and sharp. He works hard, plays hard and has a heart of gold. He is never afraid to step up and defend anyone treated unfairly. I’ll do my best to follow his lead..

Olivia is a fireball of passion, voice and power. Our amazing daughter inspires, advises, and even stepped in as campaign manager for the first few days. Olivia's got my back. And I’ve got hers.

So I will do everything I can to win this election, and use my power to preserve our democracy, and promote compassion, fairness and prosperity.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Great question, and a tough one I'll admit. My moral, and thus political, philosophy comes directly from my own spirituality- my belief that we are here for the purpose to excel, to love and cherish each other, and to make our lives and those of others as good as we can.

I find particular inspiration in the music of the Avett Brothers, the fiction writings of Robin Hobb, and Search inside Yourself, the whimsical but informative self-discovery and "meditation for world peace and happiness" by Chade-Meng Tan.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty and a sincere desire to do good in the world. This is the core, and is crucial above all else.

In addition, intellect, experience, and more importantly an ability to recognize one's limits, to listen to the right advisors, to collaborate and use a team effort to make decisions and affect change, are all crucial characteristics.

Too many politicians feel the need to go Lone Wolf style, pretend to know everything, and take a very authoritarian leadership approach. While there are certain times when this approach is warranted, and even necessary, overall, we need to be excellent collaborators, wisely using all resources and surrounding expertise available.

My extensive experience with business ownership and managing medical care have taught me to balance making executive decisions when confidence when appropriate, versus seeking advice, help and collaboration when needed.

I will bring this same spirit of strategic leadership to the U.S. House, working together with fellow House members to craft meaningful legislation that makes our lives better, regardless of our individual beliefs or culture.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

There's no escaping the elephant in the room. Our democracy is under attack, and the attackers are winning. The problem is deeper than Trump. It's a decades-old, coordinated assault on truth, unity and humanity, waged by billionaires and dark money interests who continue to carve up our nation and lap as we fight over the scraps.

My first act if elected will be to propose, and push, legislation that levels the playing field, forcing billionaires, PACs and dark money interests to follow the same rules everyone else does, with strict campaign limits, which I would then lower until every middle-class family has just as much political power as the wealthiest Americans or foreigners.

My other obligations include, but are not limited to –

Keeping us safe and strengthening our nation with strategic, effective immigration policy https://www.chrisharjesforcongress.com/immigration

Enacting fair tax codes that lessen the tax burden on the middle class https://www.chrisharjesforcongress.com/tax-reform

And ensure that we spend that money wisely for the common good.

https://www.chrisharjesforcongress.com/government-efficiency

While I'm at it, I'll improve our educational system

https://www.chrisharjesforcongress.com/education

Strengthen our overall economy

https://www.chrisharjesforcongress.com/economy---trade

Preserve clean air and water –

https://www.chrisharjesforcongress.com/education

And use my extensive healthcare experience to make healthcare better and more affordable –

https://www.chrisharjesforcongress.com/healthcare

What legacy would you like to leave?

I will openly admit that I have lived a charmed life. I'm white, male, US-born and grew up with a family who could afford to send me college and give me a great start. I have taken that start and run with it, working smart and working hard to create financial success and a wonderful life for myself and my family. I'll take credit for that part, but with that said, I feel an enormous debt to society, and to this great nation which has served me so well.

So I'm setting aside my comfortable life to dive and fight the partisan vitriol and dark money powers which are taken over our government, widened our wealth and power gap, and continue to threaten the very structure of our democracy.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The name fits. It's an actual House of Representatives, based on the concept of one person, one vote, covering the entire nation, with representation for specific areas based on geography and culture. In my opinion, that makes it the single most powerful and appropriate institution for enabling democratic change from the ground up, and exercising the will of the people.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Absolutely. It's a complex system, and having connections and knowledge is certainly important. However, that often comes with the price of becoming insensitive to the problems with the system, or worse yet becoming dependent on campaign contributions from individuals or organizations that do not serve the common good.

For myself, I have spent the last three years taking a crash course in policy and the need for change, and I will continue doing so, while continuing to surround myself with experts in specific areas, thus making up for my lack of experience by tapping into the wealth of knowledge available, to write well informed policy, and vote with full knowledge of the repercussions of each bill that I consider.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Easy question. Our greatest challenge, both immediately, and in the coming decade, is the current assault on free speech and due process, and even on truth itself. We need to unite as a people, fight the common enemy of billionaires and dark money, take back our electoral system, take back truth, justice and compassion, and get our government and our economy working for us again, instead of for a select few.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

It seems short to me, especially considering the above mentioned benefits of an institution that more closely represents the people, versus the Senate, where Rhode Island has the same representative power as Texas.

I also believe politicians spend too much time campaigning and courting donors, and a shorter-term exacerbates this problem by forcing us to spend more time campaigning, and less time writing policy and studying votes. So yes, I would advocate for longer terms in the House of Representatives.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I have mixed feelings, since long-term relationships in Congress can help get things done. I see the need for term limits in the current setting of porkbarrel politics and powerful campaign donors. However, my preference would be to eliminate dark money and the influence of PACs, and strictly limit campaign contributions so that everyday middle-class voters and supporters have the same power as millionaires and corporations. This would make it much more difficult for elected officials to stay in office without actually serving the will of the people.

So in summary, I would offer an alternative to term limits, leaving the people genuinely free to decide the outcome, without the influence of millions of dollars of dark money swing their decision and keeping incumbent candidates who serve their political masters, instead of the actual people.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I'm inspired by the work of Hakeem Jeffries, and Ro Khanna, especially as described in the following article – https://www.columbian.com/news/2025/jun/13/khanna-new-economic-patriotism/

However my primary inspiration comes from the local public servants I know here in North Carolina, including Lindsay Prather, Jeff Jackson, Roy Cooper and Josh Stein.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

A close friend, whose name I will leave off for her privacy, lost her husband in an accident. Her income was too high to qualify for Medicaid or food stamps, but her healthcare costs and taxes were too high to allow her to afford daycare for her four-year-old son so that she could continue to work the job that she loved. She was then forced to quit her job and depend entirely on the system for her benefits, thus pulling her out of the workforce, which did not serve her employer well since she was extremely good at her job.

She also is still unable to advance her career, and is suffering a degree of depression due to feeling trapped in a situation that was entirely the fault of poor luck and a poor system.

My proposal would be to close tax loopholes for millionaires and billionaires, use that money to provide cost of living tax relief for low incomes, consistent with the philosophy of Patriotic Millionaires- https://patrioticmillionaires.org/perspectives/america-needs-our-cost-of-living-tax-cut-act/.

I would also change the all or nothing income requirements for childcare, Medicaid and food stamps, so that the system would never put someone in the position of having to quit a job to qualify for benefits, but would instead provide a needed degree of benefits that encourages people to continue working if possible. This would save taxpayers money, improve availability of skilled workers, and improve life satisfaction since purpose and work is crucial to our overall happiness.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Absolutely. We are all human, and we are bound to disagree. However, there is a huge range in my opinion of issues for improvement in government efficiency, healthcare, immigration, criminal justice and safety, and taxation, where there is substantial agreement across the aisle for improvement. I would lean toward these areas of agreement, and lean toward actually getting things done in government, versus continuing to fight each other.

With that said, there are core ideals which I will not compromise on.

I believe that we are all created equal.

That every child has the right to good food and a great education.

That taxation should be fair, and our government should spend our money wisely.

That wild places are worth preserving, and clean air and water are crucial for our survival.

And I will fight relentlessly for our right to be who we are, love who we love, and speak our minds without fear of bigotry or oppression.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

This is a crucial power, and one of the current House of Representatives has unwisely abdicated to the President. I would take this power back, directly control funding, and make sure that our hard earned tax dollars get used wisely and efficiently, to provide excellent services and solid government

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

Carefully, wisely, fairly and in a bipartisan manner. Both parties have serious credibility issues, with, in my opinion, the Democrats being vastly superior in terms of ethics. However, in order to bridge this perception gap and shut down the Republican propaganda machine against us, we need to use the investigative powers of the U.S. House to root out and remove all corruption, even when it's on our own side.

This will give us the clout and credibility to attack the serious, deep-rooted corruption that is growing daily in the current administration. To the common question of impeachment, I would advocate using this tool only on two important conditions – we would first need to make sure that the route we chose would actually stick, and remove the current threat to Democracy. We would also need to ensure that the specific issue we chose to prosecute (there are incredible number of options) would resonate with the American people, and lead to unity and overall approval of our decision and actions. This is absolutely crucial to prevent backlash and prevent an even more dangerous candidate from coming onto the scene for the next cycle.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

None yet, we are just getting started  :) Please contact the campaign if you would like to consider partnership or endorsement. ChrisHarjesforCongress.com

What committees interest you?

Oversight and Government Reform, compared with the ethics committee, are the most important in my opinion, since they would give me the best leverage to preserve free speech and democracy, and to attack and stop the current abuses of power and campaign finance.

My strong interest in investing in solid education that prepares Americans of all backgrounds for profitable jobs that strengthen America overall would also put me gunning for a position on the Education and Workforce and the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

I will also seek a position on the Veterans Affairs committee, and I additionally believe we should also have a separate committee for healthcare, since as a decades long medical provider, I see so much room for improvement, and my expertise is well-positioned to simultaneously improve access and quality, while reducing the obscene cost of our current healthcare system.

Additional interests include the natural resources, environment and energy committees, since I am a lifelong avid outdoor recreationist, and a fan of affordable energy and smooth transit. I believe that the idea that we must poison our air and water to have affordable energy and manufacturing is entirely false. I favor instead using technology and smart regulation to preserve our wild places, breathe clean air and drink clean water, while allowing the economy to continue to grow, and keeping our place as a technological leader in energy.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

This is a crucial topic, and one where our democracy is in serious danger. While DOGE hacks away at our public institutions with chainsaws and sledgehammers, they are not fixing the underlying porkbarrel backroom deals, the intentional inefficiencies that are costing the American taxpayers our hard earned money.

My plan involves running each sector of the government like a business, with direct accountability, enforced efficiency, and striving to provide five-star service to our customers (That's you) https://www.chrisharjesforcongress.com/government-efficiency