Pat Harrigan

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Pat Harrigan
BornPatrick Luke Harrigan
21 06, 1987
BirthplaceSan Diego County, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationPolitician, engineer, former U.S. Army officer
Known forU.S. Representative for North Carolina's 10th congressional district
EducationUnited States Military Academy (BS)
Children2
AwardsBronze Star Medal (2)
Website[harrigan.house.gov Official site]

Patrick Luke Harrigan (born June 21, 1987) is an American politician, engineer, and former United States Army Special Forces officer serving as the U.S. representative for North Carolina's 10th congressional district since January 3, 2025.[1] A member of the Republican Party, Harrigan succeeded longtime congressman Patrick McHenry, who did not seek re-election in 2024. Before entering politics, Harrigan served as an officer in the U.S. Army, reaching the rank of captain and deploying with the 3rd Special Forces Group. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal twice during his military service.[2] His path from West Point graduate to Green Beret to congressional representative has shaped his legislative focus on national security, energy independence, and bipartisan cooperation. In Congress, Harrigan has positioned himself as an advocate for what he describes as "principled compromise," working across party lines on issues including methane emissions monitoring and critical mineral supply chains.[3]

Early Life

Patrick Luke Harrigan was born on June 21, 1987, in San Diego County, California.[1][4] Details about his parents and upbringing prior to his college years are limited in public sources. Harrigan went on to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he pursued a course of study that would prepare him for a career in the military.[2]

Education

Harrigan graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree.[4][2] The rigorous academic and military training at West Point set the foundation for his subsequent service as a commissioned officer in the United States Army. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as an officer and entered active duty, eventually pursuing the demanding qualification process required for assignment to the Army's Special Forces.[5]

Career

Military Service

Following his graduation from West Point, Harrigan served as an officer in the United States Army. He was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division and later to the 3rd Special Forces Group, earning the Green Beret designation as a member of the Army's Special Forces community.[2][5] During his military career, Harrigan rose to the rank of captain.[4] He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal on two occasions for his service, a decoration recognizing meritorious or heroic achievement in a combat zone.[2]

His military background would later become a central element of his political identity, and media profiles frequently referenced his service as a Green Beret and combat veteran when covering his congressional campaigns.[6][7]

Post-Military Career

After leaving the Army, Harrigan transitioned into the private sector, working as an engineer.[5] While specific details of his private-sector employment are limited in available public sources, his official biography describes him as an engineer in addition to his roles as a politician and former military officer.[2]

2022 Congressional Campaign

Harrigan first ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022, seeking to represent a North Carolina congressional district. He competed in the Republican primary election held on May 17, 2022, and advanced to the general election.[8] In the November 8, 2022, general election, Harrigan was ultimately unsuccessful in his bid for office.[9]

2024 Congressional Campaign

In late 2023, Harrigan announced a second run for Congress, this time seeking the seat in North Carolina's 10th congressional district following the announcement by longtime incumbent Patrick McHenry that he would not seek re-election.[10] The Hill reported on his candidacy as that of a former Green Beret seeking McHenry's open seat.[11]

In the Republican primary election held on March 5, 2024, Harrigan secured the party's nomination. He declared victory in the 10th Congressional District primary race.[12][13]

In the general election on November 5, 2024, Harrigan won the seat, defeating his Democratic opponent to become the U.S. representative-elect for North Carolina's 10th congressional district.[14][15] The Hill included Harrigan in its guide to new members of Congress for 2025.[5]

Tenure in Congress

Harrigan was sworn into office on January 3, 2025, succeeding Patrick McHenry as the representative for North Carolina's 10th congressional district.[1] His official congressional website outlines his priorities and background.[2]

Bipartisan Methane Monitoring Legislation

In early 2025, Harrigan co-introduced bipartisan legislation with Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), titled the Methane Monitoring Science Act. The bill was designed to improve federal coordination of methane emissions monitoring by instructing NASA to utilize its existing satellites and data infrastructure to track methane leaks. The legislation grew out of provisions in the NASA Reauthorization Act and aimed to enhance the scientific monitoring of methane, a greenhouse gas.[16][17][18] The bipartisan nature of the bill reflected Harrigan's stated approach to governance, which he has described as "principled compromise."[3]

Critical Mineral Dominance Act

Harrigan voted in favor of the Critical Mineral Dominance Act, legislation aimed at enhancing U.S. mineral production and reducing the country's dependency on foreign supply chains for critical minerals. In supporting the bill, Harrigan framed the issue in terms of national security and economic independence.[19]

Government Shutdown and Partisan Debate

In October 2025, during a government shutdown, Harrigan appeared on Fox Business to discuss the political standoff. He criticized Democrats for what he characterized as obstructing the legislative process, referring to their actions as a "temper tantrum" that he argued was costing taxpayers and government workers.[20]

Crime and Community Issues

In an October 2025 interview on Spectrum News' Tying it Together podcast, Harrigan discussed crime in the Charlotte area and the broader partisan divide in Congress. Host Tim Boyum's interview explored Harrigan's perspective on law enforcement and public safety issues as they related to his district.[7]

Legislative Approach

In a profile published by NOTUS (News of the United States), Harrigan articulated his approach to legislating, arguing for a return to what he called "principled compromise" as a means of addressing broad disagreements in Congress. The piece highlighted his willingness to work across the aisle while maintaining his Republican policy positions.[3]

Legal Matters

In November 2025, the Carolina Journal reported that the U.S. attorney for North Carolina's Middle District filed court documents seeking the dismissal of a libel lawsuit that had been brought against Harrigan. Details of the underlying lawsuit and its outcome were reported in the regional press.[21]

Personal Life

Harrigan has two children.[4] He resides in North Carolina and represents the state's 10th congressional district, which encompasses areas in the western and central portions of the state, including portions of the Charlotte metropolitan area.[2] Additional details about his personal life beyond his family and residence are limited in publicly available sources.

Recognition

Harrigan received the Bronze Star Medal twice during his service in the United States Army, recognizing his contributions during deployments with the 3rd Special Forces Group.[2] The Bronze Star Medal is one of the highest awards that can be given to a member of the U.S. military for meritorious service or heroic achievement in a combat zone.

Following his election to Congress in 2024, Harrigan was featured in The Hill's guide to new members of Congress for the 2025 session, which profiled incoming freshmen representatives and senators.[5] His campaign and legislative work have received coverage from regional outlets including the Carolina Journal, WBTV, WBT radio, and Spectrum News, as well as national outlets such as The Hill, Fox Business, and NOTUS.[10][12][6][7][20][3]

His appearances on C-SPAN have been catalogued in the network's congressional archives.[22]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "HARRIGAN, Patrick Luke".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H001101.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 "About Pat".Office of Congressman Pat Harrigan.https://harrigan.house.gov/about.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Rep. Pat Harrigan Argues for a Return to 'Principled Compromise'".NOTUS — News of the United States.https://www.notus.org/congress/pat-harrigan-north-carolina-interview.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Patrick Luke Harrigan".LegiStorm.https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/476979/Patrick_Luke_Harrigan.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "North Carolina new members 2025".The Hill.https://web.archive.org/web/20241219012212/https://thehill.com/new-members-guide-2025/5003320-north-carolina-new-members-2025/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Special Forces combat vet Pat Harrigan makes another run for Congress".WBT.https://wbt.com/694451/special-forces-combat-vet-pat-harrigan-makes-another-run-for-congress/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Green Beret to Congressman: Republican Pat Harrigan on crime and partisan divide".Spectrum News.October 8, 2025.https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/podcasts/2025/10/07/congressman-pat-harrigan-on-crime-in-charlotte.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "May 17, 2022 Election Results".North Carolina State Board of Elections.https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=05/17/2022&county_id=0&office=FED&contest=0.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "November 8, 2022 Election Results".North Carolina State Board of Elections.https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/08/2022&county_id=0&office=FED&contest=0.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Harrigan announces second run for Charlotte-area congressional seat".Carolina Journal.https://www.carolinajournal.com/harrigan-announces-second-run-for-charlotte-area-congressional-seat/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "Former Green Beret announces run for McHenry's seat".The Hill.https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4343336-former-green-beret-announces-run-mchenrys-seat/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Pat Harrigan declares victory in 10th Congressional District".WBTV.https://www.wbtv.com/2024/03/06/pat-harrigan-declares-victory-10th-congressional-district/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ "March 5, 2024 Primary Election Results".North Carolina State Board of Elections (archived).https://web.archive.org/web/20241227114057/https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=03/05/2024&county_id=0&office=FED&contest=0#expand.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ "Republican Pat Harrigan wins election to U.S. House in North Carolina's 10th Congressional District".KDVR (AP).https://kdvr.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-ap-race-call-republican-pat-harrigan-wins-election-to-u-s-house-in-north-carolinas-10th-congressional-district/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "November 5, 2024 General Election Results".North Carolina State Board of Elections (archived).https://web.archive.org/web/20250126202710/https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/05/2024&county_id=0&office=FED&contest=0.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "Beyer, Harrigan Introduce Legislation to Improve Methane Capture".Office of Congressman Don Beyer.https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=8923.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Reps. Pat Harrigan and Don Beyer introduce bipartisan bill to use NASA technology to track methane leaks".Washington Reporter.https://washingtonreporter.news/exclusive-reps-pat-harrigan-and-don-beyer-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-use-nasa-technology-to-track-methane-leaks/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ "Press Release: Congressman Pat Harrigan and Congressman Don Beyer Introduce Bipartisan Methane Monitoring Science Act".Quiver Quantitative.https://www.quiverquant.com/news/Press+Release%3A+Congressman+Pat+Harrigan+and+Congressman+Don+Beyer+Introduce+Bipartisan+Methane+Monitoring+Science+Act.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Press Release: Congressman Pat Harrigan Votes for Critical Mineral Dominance Act Aimed at Reducing U.S. Dependency on Foreign Supply Chains".Quiver Quantitative.https://www.quiverquant.com/news/Press+Release%3A+Congressman+Pat+Harrigan+Votes+for+Critical+Mineral+Dominance+Act+Aimed+at+Reducing+U.S.+Dependency+on+Foreign+Supply+Chains.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Rep. Pat Harrigan blasts Democrats' 'temper tantrum' as government shutdown deepens".Fox Business.October 15, 2025.https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6382789808112.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "US attorney seeks dismissal of libel suit against Harrigan".Carolina Journal.November 7, 2025.https://www.carolinajournal.com/us-attorney-seeks-dismissal-of-libel-suit-against-harrigan/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Pat Harrigan".C-SPAN.https://www.c-span.org/person/?141233.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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