Harrigan of Hickory owns a firearms manufacturing company based in Burke County. He is also a former Army Green Beret who served in Afghanistan. Harrigan graduated from West Point with a degree in nuclear engineering. He unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Congress in NC District 14 in 2022. He is married to his wife Rocky and has two daughters.
Our Q&A with Pat Harrigan
NC Health News reached out to Pat Harrigan’s campaign multiple times looking for answers to our list of questions and received no response. To give readers information, we combed the internet and social media for information, statements by Harrigan and material from his official campaign website that could address the themes in our questions. Unfortunately, we were not able to find material to answer every question.
What would be your plan for ensuring the future security and strength of Medicare?
No response available. NC Health News could not find anything in the public record on this topic.
What would you support in Congress as a plan to help control health care and pharmaceutical costs?
No response available. NC Health News could not find anything in the public record on this topic.
Where do you stand on time limits for Medicaid and work requirements for the program?
No response available. NC Health News could not find anything in the public record on this topic.
How do you think Congress can improve access to child care?
No response available. NC Health News could not find anything in the public record on this topic.
Where do you stand on federal abortion limits? What gestational limits, if any, would you set?
Harrigan said he supports a federal abortion ban with certain exceptions, Spectrum 1 reported in February.
Harrigan’s campaign website says he will fight to protect the unborn but does not provide any further specifics. Harrigan posted in support of North Carolina’s abortion law restricting most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Additionally, Harrigan responded to a NC Family Policy Council candidate survey that he is against Congress passing legislation that establishes a right to abortion in federal law.
What can the federal government do to support rural hospitals?
No response available. NC Health News could not find anything in the public record on this topic.
Where do you stand on restoring funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program?
No response available. NC Health News could not find anything in the public record on this topic.
PFAS contamination is a country-wide issue; How do you balance public safety and business interests with this issue?
While not a direct answer to this question, in response to a Charlotte Observer 2022 candidate question on the federal government’s role in combating the effects of climate change, Harrigan wrote any response “should only be undertaken if it has no harmful economic effects on our citizens.”
Do you think the federal government is ready for the next pandemic? Why or why not?
No response available. NC Health News could not find anything in the public record on this topic.
What steps would you take to improve access to mental health services and to address the opioid overdose crisis?
No response available. NC Health News could not find anything in the public record on this topic.
Do you think the federal government should enforce stricter requirements for nonprofit hospitals to justify their tax exemptions? Why or why not?
No response available. NC Health News could not find anything in the public record on this topic.
Are there any other health issues you’d like to weigh in on?
Harrigan has not taken many public positions on health care topics. He has repeatedly affirmed his support for veterans, including a Sept. 22 post on X in which he said, “In Congress, I will always prioritize veterans, fight for the care they deserve, and ensure military families are never forgotten.”