The Institute for Legislative Analysis announced on Apr. 23 that Congressman Pat Harrigan, representing North Carolina’s 10th District, has been named a recipient of the Defender of Limited Government Award. The recognition is based on his voting record, which the organization said aligns closely with the limited government principles outlined in the U.S. Constitution.
The award is part of ILA’s annual Limited Government Index, which analyzes nearly 90,000 congressional votes to evaluate how lawmakers adhere to constitutional limits and principles. This distinction highlights how elected officials’ voting patterns can reflect broader political philosophies and shifts within Congress.
“I took an oath to uphold the Constitution, and every vote I cast is guided by that commitment,” Congressman Pat Harrigan said. “The federal government works best when it stays within its constitutional limits, protecting individual liberty, defending private property, and getting out of the way of the American people. This recognition is a reflection of the voters of NC-10 who sent me here to fight for exactly those principles, and I will keep fighting for them every day.”
Ryan McGowan, Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Legislative Analysis, said: “We are excited to release this latest edition of our Limited Government Index. While scorecards based on a handful of votes can be useful for showing differences among lawmakers, our annual index covers every substantive vote and is designed to show how political philosophies and party dynamics change over time. Coupled with our latest tools and new policy centers, we hope to make the limited government position better known and lawmakers more accountable.”
According to ILA’s findings in its most recent study cycle, Harrigan earned an alignment score of 89.45% in 2025—seven points above his district’s estimated baseline—and received perfect or near-perfect scores across categories such as energy policy, fiscal issues, government spending oversight, and protection of individual liberties.
In related background information about his electoral performance,Pat Harrigan defeated Ralph R. Scott Jr. in the 2024 general election with approximately 57.5% percent (233 votes) compared to Scott’s 38.2% (155 votes).
The formal presentation ceremony for this award will take place at the Conservative Partnership Center on May 19th.