School board candidate says McCrae Dowless asked her to collect absentee ballots

BLADEN COUNTY, N.C. — Throughout his time in politics, McCrae Dowless, the man at the center of the North Carolina District 9 election fraud investigation, has worked for both Democrats and Republicans.

In the 2016 primary, Sabrina Murchison, a Democratic school board candidate, said Dowless wanted to be her campaign manager.

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Past coverage

• NC State Board of Elections Chairman resigns amid controversy
• Who is McCrae Dowless, man who appears to be center of 9th District investigation?
• Photo shows Mark Harris and man at center of election fraud investigation together
• Amid fraud probe, an election redo might require new primary for 9th District
• Dan McCready releases 10 questions for Mark Harris
• Dan McCready withdraws concession to Mark Harris in District 9 race
• 'Things have gotten way out of hand': Bladen Co. BOE vice chair resigns
• NC GOP leader calls for new 9th District election if early voting numbers were leaked
• US House District 9 race investigation: How we got here
• Former NC Gov. Pat McCrory weighs in on U.S. House District 9 investigation
• State officials in Bladen County investigating U.S. House District 9 election
• Channel 9 uncovers similarities between absentee ballots in U.S. House District 9 race
• Second woman claims she was paid to pick up ballots in U.S. House District 9 race

She told Channel 9 she never hired him because of what she says he wanted her to do.

“He wanted me to go out and get the absentee ballots,” Murchison said.

For the past two weeks, Channel 9 has been investigating election fraud allegations in the 9th Congressional District race between Mark Harris and Dan McCready.

Two women told Channel 9 they were told by Dowless to pick up absentee ballots, which is illegal in North Carolina.

“I didn't know it was illegal, but I just didn't feel right,” Murchison said. “Something about it didn't make me feel right.”

Murchison said she never hired him but said Dowless was her informal advisor throughout the campaign, and they spoke a lot.

“I would talk to him almost about every day during the campaign,” she said.

Murchison lost her race.

After the election, she said Dowless wanted her to sign an affidavit for his complaint against the Bladen County Improvement Association political action committee.

Murchison said she refused and the two have had a sour relationship since.

“Knowing that he is a felon and he did time, I hope he comes out and basically tells the truth and let everyone know what really happened with all the candidates he supported,” Murchison said.

Murchison said Dowless helped advise her on where to get campaign donations.

It’s unclear how much contact Mark Harris and Dowless had during the 2018 campaign

Dowless was hired by Red Dome, a political consulting firm working for Harris.

In other 9th Congressional District news, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren is helping McCready raise money.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has not signaled whether he will sign an elections bill that will force a new primary if the state board orders a new election.

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