Republican Mark Harris' life at a glance

The Associated Press

FULL NAME: Mark Everette Harris.

EARLY YEARS: Born April 24, 1966, in Winston-Salem. Went to Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem.

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, Appalachian State University, 1987; Master of Divinity degree, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1991; Doctor of Divinity degree, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2009.

OCCUPATION: Senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Charlotte, since 2005 (currently on leave).

PREVIOUS CAREER: Senior pastor of Center Grove Baptist Church, Clemmons, 1989-1999; senior pastor of Curtis Baptist Church, Augusta, Ga., 2000-2005; president of Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, 2011-2013; trustee, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1999-2009. This is his first run for government office.

FAMILY: Wife, Beth. Married since 1987. Three children: Laura, 25; John, 24; and Matthew, 22.

QUOTE: "We decided to enter the United States Senate race for North Carolina because we do care. We care about your family. We care about our family. The fact of the matter is we spent the last quarter of a century in ministry, walking through life with families, caring for them, ministering to them." — Harris at a Raleigh rally.