Greg Harris (politician) explained

Greg Harris
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:5 June 1955
Birth Place:Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Education:University of Colorado, Boulder (BA)

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.[1]

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.[2] 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]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: White. Jesse. Legislators' Portraits and Biographies. 66. Illinois Blue Book 2019-2020. Springfield, Illinois. Illinois Secretary of State. 2019. October 4, 2019.
  2. Web site: McKeon Congratulates Greg Harris . 2006-10-12 . 2008-07-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080706050626/http://www.larrymckeon.com/html/pr/McKeon-Congratulates-Greg-Harris-176.asp . dead .
  3. http://www.chicagoelections.com/ Chicago Board of Elections
  4. Web site: Illinois State Board of Elections . 2007-11-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081127033620/http://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionInformation/SelectSearchType.aspx?id=21 . 2008-11-27 . dead .
  5. Web site: Illinois Gov. Quinn signs civil union bill. Garcia. Monique. St. Louis Post‑Dispatch. February 2011 . 2016-08-01.
  6. Web site: After eight terms, Illinois House majority leader Greg Harris won't seek re-election .
  7. News: Miller. Rich. Madigan appoints Rep. Greg Harris as new Majority Leader. January 13, 2019. January 10, 2019. Capitol Fax.
  8. News: Hinton . Rachel . House Democratic leader Harris to end legislative run after giving 'a voice to so many who have continuously felt left out' . Chicago Sun-Times . 29 November 2021 . en.
  9. Web site: Illinois General Assembly - Representative Committees . 2022-07-03 . ilga.gov.