RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Mark Harris announced Tuesday he will not seek the congressional seat for North Carolina’s 9th District citing his “health situation.” 

Harris said he consulted with physicians who called for him to undergo surgery which is now scheduled for March. 

Given my health situation, the need to regain full strength, and the timing of this surgery the last week of March, I have decided not to file in the new election for Congressional District 9,” Harris said in a statement.

The state elections board last week ordered a new election in the district after hearing evidence that a political operative working for Harris may have illegally collected mail-in ballots.

Harris, a Republican, led Democrat Dan McCready by just 905 votes. But the state refused to certify the outcome.