Chris Harjes for Congress
US House, NC District 11

Chris's campaign is dedicated to healing the divide, getting the big money out of politics,and bringing America back together to work for the greater good. 

Chris's campaign is dedicated to fostering unity and common sense governance in NC District 11. He aims to tackle pressing issues such as healthcare reform, education accessibility, and environmental protection, ensuring that the voices of everyday Americans are heard and represented.

And here are some real details for you, not just talking points, but real live policy proposals to make America safer, healthier and wealthier. 

We may not agree on everything, but let's agree that we can do better! We welcome your thoughts and feedback.

Let's start with immigration.

This issue has been our 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 sacrifice their lives to blow us off the map. We can’t let them hop off a boat in Mexico and wander right in. 

But that doesn't mean we have to demonize Mexicans, or anyone else who wants a better life. On the contrary, I believe the current immigration system of hiring a coyote to brave a hazardous desert crossing is cruel.

I would replace the coyote gambit with a strategic, merit-based system to attract the world’s best and brightest scientists, innovators and artists. My personal hope is that doing this would also allow us to also offer a limited but meaningful number of humanitarian spots for a chance to escape poverty and oppression. These same immigrants would gladly work to further strengthen the nation that saved them, allowing us to expand the program over time.  

Now let’s talk about government efficiency-

The idea behind Doge, in my opinion, is great. But the execution is terrible.

I can only speak with authority on my little slice of US government work, but if I were allowed to run the program from the top, I could save our Veterans precious time, get more accurate results and cut the budget down to ⅓ its current level.  Not BY a third- TO a third. Three times as efficient. With better results.

I hope other agencies aren't as bad, but I know one thing- a bunch of heartless thugs with sledgehammers and chainsaws is NOT the way to fix it. We need true experts from inside and outside of those agencies to analyze efficiency, repair and replace broken systems and time-wasting protocols, and provide five-star service to our customers (that’s you) while saving money, just like in any other industry. 

Let’s talk about health care. I have studied our system from inside and out for decades. I am confident that I can cut healthcare costs by 40%, while IMPROVING speed and access to care. The details of this are complex and intricate, but the basis is to reinstate the natural market forces that keep all industries lean and mean, while ensuring compassionate care and affordable access. 

I would also remove the power of insurance companies to deny claims or saddle medical providers with time- wasting prior auths. 

I would remove reimbursement barriers for telehealth and email consults, and remove artificial prescriptive barriers for proven safe and effective medications and devices, such as Zofran and CPAP machines

Again, we may not agree on everything- but isn't it refreshing to have a politician who's not afraid to actually SAY something about what we can do better? 

Please consider donating to help these and other practical ideas become actual policy and make our nation better!

You can make a difference by volunteering your time, contributing financially, or signing up for campaign updates. Every action helps strengthen our community and advance Chris's mission.

Visit our events page to find information on upcoming rallies, town halls, and community gatherings where you can connect with Chris and fellow supporters.

Good evening everyone. Thank you so much for this opportunity to introduce myself. And more importantly, thank you for showing up for Democracy. For defending Liberty and Justice for ALL. 

My name is Chris Harjes. I'm a husband, father, Nurse Practitioner, business owner, seasoned whitewater kayaker, struggling beginner guitarist and brand-spanking new politician.

And please allow me to introduce my inspirations-

My wife Natalie is intuitive and intelligent, dances beautifully, and has the deepest heart I've ever known. She spent countless hours teaming up with Public School Strong and Lindsey Prather to break the Republicans’ veto proof majority in the North Carolina house and 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 your lead Zeb.

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. Thank you Olivia! You’ve got my back. And I’ve got yours. 

And our family is deeply concerned. 

Donald Trump calls the free press the “enemy of the people,”

He spreads false claims about election fraud. 

He pressures officials to overturn election results and suggests that his political opponents should be prosecuted without due process. This is bad. 

So I feel compelled to set my comfortable life aside, dive in and fight the partisan vitriol that brought the Trump regime to power, and that continues to tear our nation apart.

We CAN bring America together to take back our nation and make it healthier, wealthier and happier. 

And I know we can do it, because we just did. Helene didn't care if we were Democrats or Republicans, Conservatives or Liberals. And neither did we. We worked hand in hand to clear the roads, haul supplies, help the sick and injured and get our community back on its feet. 

Bringing that same cooperative spirit to national politics is NOT going to be easy. There’s a well paid army of internet trolls and talking heads sitting around all day thinking of ways to keep us divided. They smear us Democrats as elitist liberal culture-war zombies who would fling open our borders, let criminals rampage in our cities, tax each other to death, and strangle your small business in red tape. 

Many of us see our fellow Americans on the other side as something even worse. 

Regardless of any underlying truths, Americans at each other's throats is getting us nowhere. 

We need to unite, and fight, against the real enemy- the 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- 

How? By offering America compassionate, common sense, effective government to serve their needs REGARDLESS of their culture or politics. 

The more I talk to people across the political spectrum, the more I realize that’s what we all want. 

Some of them even say- Harjes, why not just skip the primary and run independent? Why not? 

Because I have faith in the core ideals of the Democratic party that I’ve known and loved for decades. I’m not here to abandon it. I’m here to strengthen it.  

We believe that love conquers hate.

That all are created equal.

That ALL children should be well fed and well educated so they can chase after the American dream and strengthen our future.

We believe in fair taxes, and efficient, effective government that spends our tax dollars wisely.

We believe in quality healthcare that doesn't cost an arm and a leg- unless of course you have gangrene and we need to amputate something for you.

We believe in wild places to inspire us, air we can breathe, and water we can drink. 

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

But here's the other hard part. We are not perfect. 

We Democrats will only regain America's trust, AND our power to defend our ideals, when we openly admit our faults and mistakes. 

When we listen to the fears and concerns of everyday Americans, and address them with sensible policy that keeps America safe, prosperous and free.  

Let's start with immigration. This issue has been our 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. 

On the contrary, I believe the current immigration system of hiring a sketchy coyote and braving a hazardous desert crossing is cruel and unfair.

I would replace the coyote gambit with a strategic, merit-based system to attract the world’s best and brightest scientists, innovators and artists. My personal hope is that doing this would also allow us to offer a meaningful degree of humanitarian entry to escape poverty and oppression. My additional hope- and research backs this-  is that these rescue immigrants would gladly work to strengthen the nation that saved them.

For those already here, every undocumented immigrant I’ve talked to about this WANTS to pay taxes and be a part of the system. Let’s let them get SS numbers, start paying taxes, and work towards full legal residency. And if they don’t want to register and pay taxes, they can go back home.  

Now let’s talk about government efficiency-

The idea behind Doge, in my opinion, is great. But the execution is terrible.

I can only speak with authority on my tiny slice of US government work, but if I were allowed to run this particular program from the top, I could save our Veterans precious time, improve accuracy of disability decisions and ratings, and cut the budget down to ⅓ its current level.  Not BY a third- TO a third. Three times as efficient. With better results.

I hope other agencies aren't this bad, but I do know one thing- a bunch of heartless thugs with sledgehammers and chainsaws is NOT the way to fix it. We need real experts from inside and outside of those agencies to analyze, repair and replace broken systems and time-wasting protocols, and provide five-star service to our customers (that’s you) while saving money, just like in any other industry. 

Let’s talk about health care. I have studied our system from inside and out for decades. I am confident that I can cut healthcare costs by 40%, while IMPROVING speed and access to care. The details of this are complex and intricate, but the basis is to reinstate the natural market forces that keep all industries lean and efficient, while ensuring compassionate care and affordable access. 

Doing that lets us remove the power of insurance companies to deny claims or waste providers' and patients’ time with prior auths, and their power to make gazillions of dollars off the back of our healthcare economy.

I would remove reimbursement barriers for proven-effective telehealth and email consults.

I‘d remove artificial prescriptive barriers created by the medical lobby for known safe and effective medications and devices, such as Zofran and CPAP machines.

None of the above ideas have any meaning until we get the word out to WNC and sell this currently plus 5 (and dropping) Republican-advantage district on the idea of Democratic leadership that makes their lives better. 

Fortunately, we’ve got some things going for us- 

We are not bringing a knife to this gunfight.

Chuck Edwards has even been gracious enough to load us up on ammunition. 

His actions, and inactions, have already cost NC-

Over four thousand resources conservation service jobs and contracts worth $358 million

$11 million in NC food bank support. Who pulls money out of food banks??

One BILLION dollars in US AID contracts for NC, mostly farmers and rural areas, including 56,000 NC jobs

North Carolina’s share of the $3.1 Billion Climate-smart farming initiative. 

De-staffing of NC’s 10 National Parks which pulled in $2.6Bn in revenue in 2023 

And that’s just what I could easily find stats on. 

Chuck is also supporting, or standing by and allowing, the destruction of research, education and support institutions that make North Carolina strong.

And what do we get in exchange for all that loss? Tax breaks for billionaires. How many of y’all billionaires out in the crowd are stoked on these tax breaks? Raise your hand…

So it’s gonna be real easy to pick on Chuck in the General. But I’m not waiting until then. 

 I've hired us an allstar crew of big-dog consultants for financial management, fundraising and voter outreach. 

I’ve partnered with an incredibly talented online presence team to get our message out to anyone with a phone or a computer. 

We’ll fight lies and hate-  

with truth, love and humor. 

If I have to scream about Chuck’s abandonment of WNC while swimming over a waterfall in a one-peice American flag swimsuit to get America’s attention and deliver our message, I will do it. 

We'll also hammer the airwaves with as much radio and TV as we can afford, then make calls and knock doors, get our local communities out to vote, and to bring it on home for the win.

Meanwhile I’ll be putting another 30,000 miles on my beat up old Honda Civic driving to every little town in Western North Carolina, talking and listening for as long as it takes to regain their trust in the Democratic Party. 

I am at your service, not as your hero, not even as your leader, but as your tool to get this job done.

So put me to work taking back our rightful place as the party of the common American and the champion of American power, prestige and lasting prosperity.  

Thank you. 

I'd like to open the floor to share our ideas on the nuts and bolts of how this will actually work. Remember, a true friend tells you when you've got a booger on your nose. So don’t hold back. Ask hard questions, poke holes in my ideas. Put me in the hot seat and watch me squirm- because I’m gonna have to get used to it  :)