Greg Harris (politician)

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. Harris announced that he would not seek reelection in November 2021.

Greg Harris
Harris in 2009
Majority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives
In office
January 9, 2019 – January 11, 2023
Preceded byBarbara Flynn Currie
Succeeded byRobyn Gabel
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 13th district
In office
December 1, 2006 – January 11, 2023
Preceded byLarry McKeon
Succeeded byHoan Huynh
Personal details
Born (1955-06-05) June 5, 1955
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Colorado, Boulder (BA)

Early life and career

Harris is an alumnus of the University of Colorado at Boulder. He then worked for social service agencies.[1] 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.[2]

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.[1] He was elected in November 2006.[1] No Republican filed for the District 13 seat.[3] He also ran unopposed for re-election in 2008.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6]

On January 10, 2019, Harris became the House Majority Leader.[7]

On November 29, 2021, Harris announced that he would not seek reelection.[8]

As of July 3, 2022, Representative Harris is a member of the following Illinois House committees:[9]

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

Electoral history
Illinois 13th Representative District General Election, 2006[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gregory Harris 19,865 100.0
Total votes 19,865 100.0
Illinois 13th Representative District General Election, 2008[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gregory Harris (incumbent) 31,013 100.0
Total votes 31,013 100.0
Illinois 13th Representative District General Election, 2010[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gregory Harris (incumbent) 21,617 100.0
Total votes 21,617 100.0
Illinois 13th Representative District General Election, 2012[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gregory Harris (incumbent) 33,488 100.0
Total votes 33,488 100.0
Illinois 13th Representative District General Election, 2014[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gregory Harris (incumbent) 22,632 100.0
Total votes 22,632 100.0
Illinois 13th Representative District General Election, 2016[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gregory Harris (incumbent) 40,831 100.0
Total votes 40,831 100.0
Illinois 13th Representative District General Election, 2018[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gregory Harris (incumbent) 39,456 100.0
Total votes 39,456 100.0
Illinois 13th Representative District General Election, 2020[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Greg Harris (incumbent) 46,016 100.0
Total votes 46,016 100.0

References
  1. "McKeon Congratulates Greg Harris". Archived from the original on 2008-07-06. Retrieved 2006-10-12.
  2. White, Jesse, ed. (2019). "Legislators' Portraits and Biographies". Illinois Blue Book 2019-2020 (PDF). Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Secretary of State. p. 66. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  3. Chicago Board of Elections
  4. "Illinois State Board of Elections". Archived from the original on 2008-11-27. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
  5. Garcia, Monique (February 2011). "Illinois Gov. Quinn signs civil union bill". St. Louis Post‑Dispatch. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  6. "After eight terms, Illinois House majority leader Greg Harris won't seek re-election".
  7. Miller, Rich (January 10, 2019). "Madigan appoints Rep. Greg Harris as new Majority Leader". Capitol Fax. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  8. Hinton, Rachel (29 November 2021). "House Democratic leader Harris to end legislative run after giving 'a voice to so many who have continuously felt left out'". Chicago Sun-Times.
  9. "Illinois General Assembly - Representative Committees". ilga.gov. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  10. "Election Results 2006 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  11. "Election Results 2008 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  12. "Election Results 2010 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  13. "Election Results 2012 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  14. "Election Results 2014 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  15. "Election Results 2016 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  16. "Election Results 2016 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  17. "Election Results 2020 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. December 4, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
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