Kerri Harris | |
---|---|
Member of the Delaware House of Representatives from the 32nd district | |
Assumed office November 9, 2022 | |
Preceded by | Andria Bennett |
Personal details | |
Born | December 24, 1979 |
Political party | Democratic |
Children | 2 |
Education | Howard Community College (AS) Wilmington University |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Air Force |
Years of service | 2001–2008 |
Rank | Loadmaster |
Battles/wars | Iraq War |
Kerri Evelyn Harris (born December 24, 1979)[1] is an American activist and politician who is the Democratic state representative for Delaware's 32nd district.[2][3] She was previously a Democratic candidate for United States Senate in 2018, mounting an unsuccessful primary challenge to incumbent US Senator Tom Carper.
In February 2018, Harris announced that she would be challenging three-term incumbent US Senator Tom Carper in the Democratic primary election.[4] She ran on a platform supporting Medicare for All, universal pre-K, a $15 an hour minimum wage, and criminal justice reform, among other progressive proposals.[5][1][6] Harris identifies as a progressive, but when asked if she was a democratic socialist, Harris said she "doesn’t necessarily consider herself one."[7] She received endorsements from progressive groups and individuals, including Justice Democrats, Our Revolution, state representative Sean Lynn, and future congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Ayanna Pressley.[8][9][10][11][12][13] Ocasio-Cortez held multiple rallies with Harris in Delaware after Harris assisted her with her own successful primary campaign against incumbent congressman Joe Crowley.[14][15] Harris lost to incumbent Senator Tom Carper in the September 2018 primary, receiving 35% of the vote. Despite her loss, Harris received the highest vote share of a Democratic primary candidate challenging a statewide incumbent in Delaware in 20 years.[16][17][18]
Harris announced in January 2022 that she would be launching a campaign for the Delaware House of Representatives in the 32nd district. Harris defeated three other candidates in the Democratic primary, receiving 65% of the vote.[19][3] She defeated Republican Cheryl Precourt in the general election on November 8, 2022, by a 16-point margin.[20][21]
Following Carper's retirement announcement in 2023, it was reported that Harris was looking at a 2024 run for U.S. House, since the seat will be vacant due to incumbent Congressman Lisa Blunt Rochester's campaign for Carper's U.S. Senate seat.[22][23]
Harris lives in Dover, Delaware. She joined the United States Air Force in 2001 following the September 11 terrorist attacks and retired from active duty in 2008.[24][1] Harris identifies as a lesbian and African American.[25][26][27] She has two children.[1]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tom Carper (incumbent) | 53,633 | 64.59% | |
Democratic | Kerri Evelyn Harris | 29,406 | 35.41% | |
Total votes | 83,039 | 100.00% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Kerri Evelyn Harris | 725 | 64.56% | |
Democratic | Phil McGinnis | 270 | 24.04% | |
Democratic | Lamont C. Pierce | 76 | 6.77% | |
Democratic | Lavaughn McCutchen | 52 | 4.63% | |
Total votes | 1,123 | 100.00% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Kerri Evelyn Harris | 2,691 | 57.97% | ||
Republican | Cheryl Precourt | 1,951 | 42.03% | ||
Total votes | 4,642 | 100.00% | |||
Democratic hold |