Greg Harris (politician)

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Greg Harris

| image = Greg Harris 2009 Cropped.jpg

| office = Majority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives

| term_start = January 9, 2019

| term_end = January 11, 2023

| predecessor = Barbara Flynn Currie

| successor = Robyn Gabel

| state_house1 = Illinois

| district1 = 13th

| term_start1 = December 1, 2006

| term_end1 = January 11, 2023

| predecessor1 = Larry McKeon

| successor1 = Hoan Huynh

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|6|5}}

| birth_place = Denver, Colorado, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic

| education = University of Colorado, Boulder (BA)

| caption = Harris in 2009

}}

Gregory S. Harris (born June 5, 1955) is an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives in the 13th district from 2007 to 2023. He sponsored the Acts which legalized civil unions and same sex marriage in Illinois and rose to become House Majority Leader in 2019. Harris retired as Leader, not seeking reelection to the House in 2022.

Early life and career

Harris is an alumnus of the University of Colorado at Boulder. He then worked for social service agencies. He served in senior positions with the National Home Furnishings Association. He then became chief of staff for Chicago alderman Mary Ann Smith, a position in which he served for 14 years.{{cite book|editor-last=White|editor-first=Jesse|chapter=Legislators' Portraits and Biographies|page=66|title=Illinois Blue Book 2019-2020|location=Springfield, Illinois|publisher=Illinois Secretary of State|year=2019|access-date=October 4, 2019|url=https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/illinois_bluebook/legbios.pdf}}

Legislative tenure

Larry McKeon, who had held the seat for five terms, announced his intention to retire from the legislature in July 2006. He had, though, already been re-elected in the March primary election to be the Democratic candidate on the November general-election ballot, and it fell to the local Democratic committeemen to select his successor to appear on the ballot. Harris, like McKeon, is both openly gay and HIV-positive. He was elected in November 2006.{{Cite web |url=http://www.larrymckeon.com/html/pr/McKeon-Congratulates-Greg-Harris-176.asp |title=McKeon Congratulates Greg Harris |access-date=2006-10-12 |archive-date=2008-07-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706050626/http://www.larrymckeon.com/html/pr/McKeon-Congratulates-Greg-Harris-176.asp |url-status=dead }} No Republican filed for the District 13 seat.[http://www.chicagoelections.com/ Chicago Board of Elections] He also ran unopposed for re-election in 2008.{{Cite web |url=http://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionInformation/SelectSearchType.aspx?id=21 |title=Illinois State Board of Elections |access-date=2007-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081127033620/http://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionInformation/SelectSearchType.aspx?id=21 |archive-date=2008-11-27 |url-status=dead }}

In 2010, Harris sponsored The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection & Civil Union Act (SB1716), which was signed into law on January 31, 2011, by Governor Pat Quinn. The act established civil unions in Illinois.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/illinois/article_9f7c59ce-2d93-11e0-8e4a-0017a4a78c22.html|title=Illinois Gov. Quinn signs civil union bill|last=Garcia|first=Monique|website=St. Louis Post‑Dispatch|date=February 2011 |access-date=2016-08-01}}

In 2013, Harris was the lead sponsor in the IL House of the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, signed into law by Governor Quinn, an act which legalized same-sex marriage in Illinois that went into effect in June 2014.{{cite web | url=https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/politics/state/2021/11/29/illinois-house-majority-leader-not-seek-re-election/8798090002/ | title=After eight terms, Illinois House majority leader Greg Harris won't seek re-election }}

On January 10, 2019, Harris became the House Majority Leader.{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Rich|title=Madigan appoints Rep. Greg Harris as new Majority Leader|access-date=January 13, 2019|date=January 10, 2019|newspaper=Capitol Fax|url=https://capitolfax.com/2019/01/10/madigan-appoints-rep-greg-harris-as-new-majority-leader/}}

On November 29, 2021, Harris announced that he would not seek reelection.{{cite news |last1=Hinton |first1=Rachel |title=House Democratic leader Harris to end legislative run after giving 'a voice to so many who have continuously felt left out' |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2021/11/29/22807978/illinois-house-majority-leader-greg-harris-will-not-seek-reelection |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=29 November 2021 |language=en}}

As of July 3, 2022, Representative Harris is a member of the following Illinois House committees:{{Cite web |title=Illinois General Assembly - Representative Committees |url=https://ilga.gov/house/RepCommittees.asp?MemberID=2811 |access-date=2022-07-03 |website=ilga.gov}}

Personnel & Pensions Committee (HPPN)
(Chairman of) Rules Committee (HRUL)

Electoral history

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 13th Representative District General Election, 2006{{cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=w53ABRLDmbQ%3d&OfficeType=TPsWaFcg2f%2bZHFrYI%2b6FR4Fu5cxamu0awn%2bLrIqClxk%3d&T=637800090005336292|title=Election Results 2006 GENERAL ELECTION|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|access-date=February 10, 2022}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Gregory Harris

| votes = 19865

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 19865

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 13th Representative District General Election, 2008{{cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=LS4TzkCHj7M%3d&OfficeType=TPsWaFcg2f%2bZHFrYI%2b6FR4Fu5cxamu0awn%2bLrIqClxk%3d&T=637800092913508915|title=Election Results 2008 GENERAL ELECTION|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|access-date=February 10, 2022}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Gregory Harris (incumbent)

| votes = 31013

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 31013

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 13th Representative District General Election, 2010{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=2puhcHM6Y7k%3d&OfficeType=TPsWaFcg2f%2bZHFrYI%2b6FR4Fu5cxamu0awn%2bLrIqClxk%3d&T=637800809548795182|title=Election Results 2010 GENERAL ELECTION|access-date=February 10, 2022|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections}}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Gregory Harris (incumbent)

| votes = 21617

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 21617

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 13th Representative District General Election, 2012{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=nXntMiWaUAc%3d&OfficeType=TPsWaFcg2f%2bZHFrYI%2b6FR4Fu5cxamu0awn%2bLrIqClxk%3d&T=637800810682936279|title=Election Results 2012 GENERAL ELECTION|access-date=February 10, 2022|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Gregory Harris (incumbent)

| votes = 33488

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 33488

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 13th Representative District General Election, 2014{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=9jUH%2fxjsZXo%3d&OfficeType=TPsWaFcg2f%2bZHFrYI%2b6FR4Fu5cxamu0awn%2bLrIqClxk%3d&T=637800084762722945|title=Election Results 2014 GENERAL ELECTION|access-date=February 10, 2022|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Gregory Harris (incumbent)

| votes = 22632

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 22632

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 13th Representative District General Election, 2016{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=bt7bri46n7I%3d&OfficeType=TPsWaFcg2f%2bZHFrYI%2b6FR4Fu5cxamu0awn%2bLrIqClxk%3d&T=637799224834523605|title=Election Results 2016 GENERAL ELECTION|access-date=February 10, 2022|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Gregory Harris (incumbent)

| votes = 40831

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 40831

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 13th Representative District General Election, 2018{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=bt7bri46n7I%3d&OfficeType=TPsWaFcg2f%2bZHFrYI%2b6FR4Fu5cxamu0awn%2bLrIqClxk%3d&T=637799224834523605|title=Election Results 2016 GENERAL ELECTION|access-date=February 10, 2022|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Gregory Harris (incumbent)

| votes = 39456

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 39456

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 13th Representative District General Election, 2020{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=prSXs26mKQc%3d&OfficeType=TPsWaFcg2f%2bZHFrYI%2b6FR4Fu5cxamu0awn%2bLrIqClxk%3d&T=637799212198404851|title=Election Results 2020 GENERAL ELECTION|date=December 4, 2020|access-date=February 10, 2022|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Greg Harris (incumbent)

| votes = 46016

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 46016

| percentage = 100.0

}}

References

External links

[http://www.ilga.gov/house/rep.asp?MemberID=2562 Representative Greg Harris (D) 13th District] at the Illinois General Assembly
[http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=100&MemberID=2348 100th], [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=99&MemberID=2145 99th], [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=98&MemberID=1931 98th], [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=97&MemberID=1718 97th], [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=96&MemberID=1514 96th], [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=95&MemberID=1324 95th], [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=94&MemberID=1322 94th]
[http://www.gregharris.org/ State Representative Greg Harris] constituency site
{{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=69268 | fec= | congress= }}
[http://www.housedem.state.il.us/members/harrisg/index.htm Gregory Harris] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112195201/http://www.housedem.state.il.us/members/harrisg/index.htm |date=2011-01-12 }} at Illinois House Democrats

{{s-ttl|title=Majority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives|years=2019–2023}}

Category:1955 births

Category:Democratic Party members of the Illinois House of Representatives

Category:American gay politicians

Category:LGBTQ people from Colorado

Category:LGBTQ state legislators in Illinois

Category:Living people

Category:People with HIV/AIDS

Category:Politicians from Chicago

Category:University of Colorado Boulder alumni

Category:21st-century members of the Illinois General Assembly