Greg Harris (Ohio)

Greg Harris is an American politician of the Democratic party who challenged incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot's bid for re-election in 2004. Harris lost the general election 59-41%.

2004 Congressional race

As director of a local public policy organization, Harris was well known in political circles but had little public name recognition. He focused his 2004 race on voter registration and turnout, and his surprising performance encouraged the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) to target the race in 2006. Harris decided against another race against Chabot despite support from Paul Hackett and then-Congressman and current Ohio Governor Ted Strickland.

Late in the 2004 campaign, Harris was named to Howard Dean's "Dean Dozen," although this "net-roots" support was too late to affect the outcome of the election. While Ohio's First congressional district is largely Catholic and right of center, Harris ran as an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq and in support of such causes as universal health care, energy independence, campaign finance reform, and increased education funding. Harris was endorsed by the progressive Cincinnati weekly newspaper, "CityBeat", as well as the region's African American newspaper, the "Cincinnati Herald."

Harris's only victory in a contested election came in 2004 against former Sen. Bill Bradley press secretary Richard Lerner.

2007 City Council race

Harris recently announced his candidacy for Cincinnati City Council for the November 2007 election. [ [http://www.citybeat.com/2006-11-15/porkopolis.shtml New Candidates and Budgets] Announcement of 2007 City Council Campaign.]

References

External links

* [http://www.votegregharris.com Greg Harris for Council Campaign Website]
* Transcripts from the CNN Lou Dobbs Show profile of Harris' candidacy: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0410/15/ldt.01.html
* ABC affiliate transcript on Howard Dean appearance on behalf of Greg Harris: http://www.wcpo.com/news/2004/local/10/21/dean_harris.html