Jordan A. Harris
{{short description|American politician}}
{{For|athlete|Jordan Harris (ice hockey)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{BLP sources|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jordan Harris
| image = Jordan A. Harris 2022 (cropped).jpg
| state_house2 = Pennsylvania
| district2 = 186th
| term_start2 = January 1, 2013
| term_end2 =
| predecessor2 = Harold James
| successor2 =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|5|12}}
| birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| education = Millersville University (BA)
Cabrini University (MEd)
Neumann University
| website = {{URL|pahouse.com/harris|Official website}}
| residence = Philadelphia
| profession = Legislator
}}
Jordan A. Harris is an American politician who has served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 2013, representing the 186th district in South and Southwest Philadelphia. A member of the Democratic Party, he currently serves as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
Harris is a member of the Knight Foundation's Philadelphia Community Advisory Committee.{{Cite web|url=https://knightfoundation.org/communities/philadelphia/|title=Knight Foundation: Philadelphia}}
Early life and education
Harris attended John Bartram Motivation High School in Philadelphia. Harris holds a bachelor's degree in governmental and political affairs from Millersville University and a master's degree in education from Cabrini College. He is currently enrolled in a doctoral program at Neumann University. Harris is a former teacher in the Philadelphia Public Schools. He has served in city government, rising to the position of director of the Philadelphia Youth Commission.
Political career
Since his election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2012, Harris has advocated for criminal justice reform, supporting clean slate bills to allow people convicted of felonies to, after a certain amount of time, have their conviction removed from their record.{{Cite web |title=Rep. Jordan A. Harris {{!}} Biography |url=https://www.pahouse.com/Harris/About/Biography |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=www.pahouse.com |language=en}} Harris worked on this legislation since he was sworn into office, and Governor Tom Wolf signed the Clean Slate Act in June 2018.{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Jan |date=2018-06-28 |title=New law opens the door to giving ex-criminal offenders a 'clean slate' |url=https://www.pennlive.com/politics/2018/06/gov_tom_wolf_signs_law_that_op.html |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=pennlive |language=en}} As of June 2022, over 40 million Pennsylvanians have had their record sealed as a result of the law.
Harris was selected by the Pennsylvania Democratic Party as one of 20 delegates to the United States Electoral College for Joe Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, in the 2020 United States presidential election.{{Cite web |last=Routh |first=Julian |date=2020-12-14 |title=Pennsylvania's presidential electors make it official, formally certify vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2020/12/14/pennsylvania-electoral-college-presidential-election-certify-joe-biden-kamala-harris/stories/202012140075 |access-date=2020-12-30 |website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |language=en}}
Harris previously served as the Chair of the Pennsylvania House Legislative Black Caucus and served as the Democratic Whip in the 2021-2022 legislative session.
In May 2023, Harris, along with fellow Philadelphia-area Representative Jared Solomon, established the legislative Black-Jewish Caucus.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Cassie |date=2023-05-01 |title=Pennsylvania lawmakers establish Black-Jewish caucus |url=https://www.phillytrib.com/news/state_and_region/pennsylvania-lawmakers-establish-black-jewish-caucus/article_53cbd26a-5e88-5eab-a873-0cf07fb2e475.html |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=The Philadelphia Tribune |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.pahouse.com/Harris/?pg=bio Biography at pahouse.com]
{{Pennsylvania House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Jordon A.}}
Category:2020 United States presidential electors
Category:20th-century African-American politicians
Category:21st-century African-American politicians
Category:African-American state legislators in Pennsylvania
Category:Cabrini University alumni
Category:Democratic Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Category:Millersville University of Pennsylvania alumni
Category:Neumann University alumni
Category:Politicians from Philadelphia
Category:Schoolteachers from Pennsylvania
Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
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