Katherine Harris
Katherine Harris | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 5, 1957 Key West, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Years active | 1994–2007 |
| Known for | Certification of the 2000 U.S. presidential election results in Florida |
Katherine Harris (born April 5, 1957) is a politician from Florida affiliated with the Republican Party. Her political career includes service in the Florida Senate from 1994 to 1998, holding the office of Secretary of State of Florida between 1999 and 2002, and representing Florida's 13th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2003 until 2007. In 2006, Harris was defeated in her campaign for the U.S. Senate by the incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson.
Harris became widely known internationally during the 2000 presidential race while serving as Florida's Secretary of State. She certified George W. Bush's razor-thin win by a margin of 537 votes over Al Gore, thereby securing Florida’s electoral votes and ultimately determining the presidency.
Early life and education
A native of Key West, Florida, Harris descends from one of Florida’s most affluent and politically prominent families. Her parents, Harriett (Griffin) and George W. Harris Jr., were proprietors of Citrus and Chemical Bank located in Lakeland, Florida. Her maternal grandfather, Ben Hill Griffin Jr., was a significant figure in both the citrus and cattle sectors and held considerable influence as a state legislator; he was ranked 261st on the Forbes 400 list prior to his death in 1990. The University of Florida’s Ben Hill Griffin Stadium bears his name.
Harris completed her secondary education at Bartow High School in 1975 after attending Santa Fe Catholic High School. She pursued studies at the University of Madrid in 1978 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Agnes Scott College in 1979. Additionally, she studied theology under Francis Schaeffer at L'Abri in Switzerland. During her college years, she gained experience through internships with U.S. Senator Lawton Chiles and Representative Andy Ireland.
Prior to entering politics, Harris held positions as a marketing executive at IBM and as vice president at a commercial real estate company. In 1996, she obtained a Master of Public Administration specializing in International Trade and Negotiations from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Career
In 1994, Harris launched her political career by running as a Republican candidate for the Florida Senate, participating in one of the state’s costliest legislative races at that time.
Florida senate and Riscorp
During her tenure, Harris played a role in connecting William Griffin, CEO of Sarasota-based Riscorp, Inc., with members of the Florida legislature. In the course of the 1994 election cycle, Riscorp illegally donated $400,000 to various political candidates and committees, including $20,600 directed to Harris’s campaign.
In 1996, Harris introduced legislation designed to restrict competitors' access to Florida's workers' compensation market that challenged Riscorp’s position and backed measures disadvantaging a particular rival company. This controversy reemerged during her 1998 bid for Florida Secretary of State.
William Griffin subsequently pleaded guilty to charges related to illegal campaign contributions and other offenses, receiving a prison sentence in 1998. Harris consistently denied any awareness of these illegal activities; she was never formally charged and was exonerated following a state investigation.
Florida secretary of state
Harris secured election as Florida Secretary of State in 1998 after defeating incumbent Republican Sandra Mortham in the primary and prevailing over Democrat Karen Gievers in the general election. That same year, a constitutional amendment converted the Secretary of State position from an elected role into an appointed one, making Harris the final individual elected to hold this office.
In August 2002, while actively campaigning for a Congressional seat, Harris resigned suddenly due to violating Florida’s resign-to-run law, which mandates that officeholders must resign if their current term overlaps with their candidacy for another office. Harris had not filed a resignation effective upon commencement of her Congressional term, attributing this oversight to confusion stemming from the constitutional amendment that altered the office from elected to appointed status.
International travel
Within her initial 22 months in office, Harris incurred travel expenses surpassing $106,000, outspending the governor and other state cabinet members. Throughout this period, she made ten international trips to eight different nations.
In early 2001, the Florida Senate reduced the $3.4 million budget Harris had designated for international affairs, redirecting those funds to Enterprise Florida, the state's agency for economic growth. Nevertheless, Tom Feeney, who was then Speaker of the Florida House, endorsed Harris as a capable advocate on the global stage. After the House opposed the Senate’s budget cut, the original funding was reinstated; however, Senate President John McKay, Feeney, and Governor Jeb Bush established a review panel to examine Harris’ overseas expenditures dating back to July 1999.
2000 U.S. presidential election
Serving as Secretary of State of Florida and co-chair for Republican George W. Bush's Florida campaign, Harris played a crucial role in the highly contested 2000 presidential race. She supervised the removal of 173,000 names from voter registration lists based on a flawed felon database provided by "Choice Point," which erroneously flagged numerous eligible voters—disproportionately impacting Black citizens.
The election between Bush and Democrat Al Gore was ultimately decided by a margin of only 537 votes, prompting demands for recounts. Following inconclusive recount efforts, Harris stopped the process citing ambiguous recount legislation and certified Bush as Florida’s victor, thereby securing his slim Electoral College lead. While a state circuit court initially upheld her certification, it was later overturned by the Florida Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court then reversed that ruling in Bush v. Gore (2000), finding that Florida’s recount procedures violated the Equal Protection Clause and that no timely alternative recount could be conducted. This decision allowed Harris' certification to remain valid, awarding Florida’s 25 electoral votes to Bush and securing his presidency with a final tally of 271 electoral votes to Gore’s 266.
Harris subsequently authored Center of the Storm, a memoir detailing the election dispute. It also emerged that the Bush campaign assigned personnel specifically to manage her media relations throughout the recount period.
United States congresswoman
In 2002, Harris secured election to represent Florida’s 13th congressional district, defeating Sarasota attorney Jan Schneider by a ten-point margin in a predominantly Republican constituency. Her campaign featured one of the district’s most substantial fundraising efforts for a first-time candidate and benefited from significant backing by the Bush family.
Although Harris contemplated running for retiring Senator Bob Graham's seat in 2004, she was reportedly dissuaded by the Bush administration to step aside in favor of HUD Secretary Mel Martinez, who narrowly prevailed over challenger Betty Castor. Harris was re-elected to her House seat in 2004 with a victory margin comparable to her initial win.
That same year, Harris asserted during a speech that authorities had apprehended a "Middle Eastern" individual attempting to sabotage Indiana’s power infrastructure; however, local officials denied any awareness of such an incident. Additionally, during a campaign event in Sarasota, a local man aggressively confronted Harris and her supporters with his vehicle, resulting in his arrest on charges related to assault with a deadly weapon.
MZM affair
Between 2005 and 2006, Mitchell Wade, founder of the defense firm MZM and a significant contributor to Harris's campaign, became involved in bribery controversies. Wade collected $32,000 in contributions from MZM employees for Harris’s campaign, reimbursing them for these donations. U.S. Attorney Kenneth Wainstein indicated that Harris seemed unaware of the illegality of the contributions. Harris asserted she had no direct knowledge of the unlawful donations; meanwhile, Wade acknowledged that the funds aimed to sway Harris in favor of MZM.
Plea documents submitted by Wade disclosed a March 2005 dinner meeting where Wade and Harris talked about another fundraising event and financial support for a Navy counterintelligence initiative located within Harris’s district. On April 26, 2005, Harris sent a letter to C. W. Bill Young, chairman of the defense appropriations subcommittee, requesting $10 million for the Navy project championed by Wade, ranking it as her third highest priority. However, neither Harris nor Young provided the formal request paperwork related to this proposal.
According to CQPolitics, Harris’s former strategist Ed Rollins described the dinner as costing $2,800—significantly surpassing the $50 gift limit imposed on members of Congress—held at Citronelle restaurant in Washington. During this meeting, Wade expressed MZM’s interest in securing the $10 million appropriation and offered to organize a fundraiser for Harris’s 2006 Senate bid. The Justice Department stated that Wade did not disclose to Harris that these contributions were illegal. Harris maintained that she only consumed a beverage and a small appetizer valued under $100.
Rollins led an internal review concerning Harris’s connections to MZM but could not find definitive evidence clearing her; he and other advisors recommended she withdraw from the race to avoid federal corruption charges. Although Rollins believed Harris did not deliberately violate laws, he pointed out discrepancies in her account and warned about potential perjury risks. He also noted there was no proof that the Navy project was actually situated in her district.
Despite Rollins recalling discussions about the costly meal with Harris, she told the Orlando Sentinel in April 2006 that she was unaware of the meal’s price and claimed her campaign had reimbursed the restaurant. When asked about repaying a meal covered by MZM, she abruptly ended the interview; later, her campaign stated she thought reimbursement had been made and contributed $100 to cover her portion. Harris also asserted that much of the expense resulted from Wade ordering sealed wine bottles to take home—a claim denied by the restaurant.
After this dinner, former senior staffers of Harris said they initially opposed a defense contractor’s $10 million funding request but reversed their stance following Harris’s directive to approve it. In May 2006, Harris’s spokesperson confirmed a previous dinner with Wade in March 2004 during which illegal donations were made; he added that a charitable contribution was made to offset her share of that meal and accepted responsibility for failing to ensure proper reimbursement.
Mona Tate Yost, an aide to Harris, transitioned to working for MZM amid Wade’s efforts to secure federal funds in 2005. In July 2006, Ed Rollins confirmed that Justice Department and FBI agents had interviewed Yost regarding the $32,000 contributions. Federal authorities also questioned Jim Dornan, who stepped down as Harris’s campaign manager in November 2005.
Overview
On June 7, 2005, Harris declared her bid for the United States Senate, aiming to unseat Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson, with campaign strategists Ed Rollins and Jim Dornan supporting her. By May 2006, fundraising obstacles and controversy surrounding contributions from MZM caused her polling numbers to lag behind Nelson’s. Near the end of the primary season, Republican Will McBride trailed Nelson by 31 points, while Harris was behind by 33 points. Nevertheless, Harris maintained strong backing among Republican voters and secured the September 5 primary with approximately half of the votes.
Several party officials questioned her statewide viability:
- Florida Governor Jeb Bush expressed doubts about her electability and encouraged other Republicans to enter the primary.
- National Republican figures, including Karl Rove, were skeptical and sought alternative GOP contenders.
- Florida House Speaker Allan Bense declined invitations to run.
- Former Congressman Joe Scarborough was approached but ultimately did not join the race.
By July 2006, Harris had replaced three campaign managers, and key state Republican leaders withdrew their support due to concerns over her chances in the general election.
Financial struggles were a persistent issue throughout her campaign. Incumbent Nelson enjoyed a significant fundraising lead. On March 15, 2006, Harris committed on Fox News' Hannity & Colmes to contribute $10 million from her inheritance in honor of her late father, George W. Harris Jr., former chairman of Citrus & Chemical Bank.
This $10 million pledge never came to fruition; her father’s estate was left to her mother instead. Harris contributed $3 million but later reclaimed $100,000, casting doubt on her financial resources. In October, she announced intentions to sell her Washington residence to raise funds; however, no sale transpired.
Nelson defeated Harris by a margin exceeding one million votes; she received under 39% of the total vote.
Staff resignations
In February 2006, following disclosures about illicit contributions from Mitchell Wade, both the finance director and treasurer of Harris’s campaign resigned. By April 1, additional departures included her chief campaign advisor, pollster, campaign manager, and several other staff members. Republican consultant David Johnson described the campaign as "imploding."
In early April, Harris accused former aides and national Republican officials of undermining her efforts and threatened an "April surprise" if she was pressured to drop out. Ed Rollins, a former staff member, denied any sabotage and suggested Harris consider her own role in the campaign’s difficulties.
In June, the campaign received a legal invoice mentioning a "DOJ subpoena." A former aide disclosed that Harris had been served with a federal grand jury subpoena but failed to inform senior advisers, which triggered further resignations. On June 8, Fred Asbell, her fourth chief of staff, resigned to pursue business interests but continued as a consultant.
On July 12, spokesperson Chris Christopher Ingram resigned. The next day saw multiple high-level exits: Campaign Manager Glenn Hodas, Field Director Pat Thomas, Political Director Brian Brooks, and Deputy Field Director John K. Byers all left; Travel Aide Kyle Johnson and Field Director Mike Norris remained out of loyalty. Hodas cited Harris’s "tantrums" and "erratic behavior" as reasons for his departure. An anonymous insider described Harris as "very difficult to work with," frequently causing setbacks for herself.
In late August, following a poorly attended rally at Orlando Executive Airport, key staffer Rhyan Metzler resigned. Harris attributed the low turnout to a last-minute venue change caused by a fallen tree; however, airport officials disputed this claim and confirmed the event took place in the originally scheduled hangar. The campaign linked Metzler’s resignation to remarks made by Harris after the rally.
On August 31, 2006, during an appearance on Hardball with Chris Matthews, Harris responded to criticisms from former staff by asserting that her campaign possessed evidence of covert activities and payments behind the scenes.
Absence of Republican backing
The Pensacola News Journal speculated that Harris might step aside from the Senate contest after securing the primary victory, enabling Republicans to choose a different candidate such as Tom Gallagher to oppose Bill Nelson.
In August, Harris showcased endorsements from Republican officials on her campaign platform, yet several lawmakers denied offering their support. Following objections from multiple congressmen after a St. Petersburg Times article, those names were quietly removed without clarification.
Of Harris's three challengers in the primary, only Will McBride endorsed her for the general election. Shortly after the primary concluded, Republican nominees including Charlie Crist and Tom Lee joined Governor Bush on a statewide unity tour; Harris was notably excluded, with party officials explaining the event was limited to candidates for statewide offices. Harris asserted that Governor Bush would campaign alongside her prior to the election, but his representatives refuted this claim.
President Bush did not make any public or private appearances with Harris before the primary but accompanied her at a Tampa fundraiser on September 21. When major Florida newspapers released their endorsements, all 22 supported Senator Nelson; Harris received a sole endorsement from the Polk County Democrat in Bartow.
Successors in Florida's 13th Congressional District
For the 2006 election, Vern Buchanan was the Republican candidate and Christine Jennings represented the Democrats to fill Harris's vacated seat. Initially rated as "leaning Democratic" by CQ Politics, the contest concluded with Buchanan narrowly winning by several hundred votes.
Religious beliefs and statements
Harris served as a featured speaker at the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church's "Reclaiming America for Christ" conference held in Ft. Lauderdale (March 17–18, 2006), advocating for the effort to "restore this nation for Christ." She encouraged participants to "take back America for God," an address highlighted in a Rolling Stone feature.
During an August 24, 2006 interview with the Florida Baptist Witness, Harris urged Christians to vote based on their faith, asserting that governance aligned with Christian principles is critical to prevent secular legislation opposing the intentions of the founders and divine will. She cautioned that failing to elect Christian leaders would result in laws permitting abortion and same-sex marriage, which she argued would undermine Western civilization.
Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) criticized Harris’s comments as inappropriate for a public official. Republican primary contenders such as attorney Will McBride and real estate developer Peter Monroe also denounced her stance, with Monroe labeling her implication that non-Christian voters lack moral insight as "contemptible, arrogant and wicked."
On August 26, 2006, Harris’s campaign released a "Statement of Clarification," stressing her intention to motivate Christian participation in government grounded in Judeo-Christian values. The statement underscored her prior support for Israel and featured an endorsement from her Jewish campaign manager Bryan G. Rudnick. That same day at an Orlando gun show appearance, Harris reaffirmed her conviction that U.S. laws are founded upon biblical tenets such as the Ten Commandments.
On October 3, 2006, during a prayer gathering conducted via telephone, Harris advocated ending the separation between church and state by encouraging pastors to comprehend "kingdom government" and its significance in earthly rule under God. She also prayed for Jewish individuals to embrace Christianity, seeking harmony between their hearts and minds with Christian doctrine.
Political views and legislative history
Harris maintained conservative stances, opposing abortion and research involving embryonic stem cells. She advocated for Social Security reform that would allow private investment accounts and supported the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which granted legal recognition to fetuses. Her legislative record includes backing tax reductions, the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act aimed at restricting consumer bankruptcy filings, welfare reform initiatives, school voucher programs, the Patriot Act, the Flag Desecration Amendment, the Federal Marriage Amendment, and the 2003 military intervention in Iraq. During a 2006 debate, she refrained from explicitly endorsing the Iraq War Resolution after it became evident that Iraq did not possess weapons of mass destruction. Regarding arms export policies, she opposed supplying weapons to rogue states such as China.
Cultural references
Katherine Harris was impersonated on Saturday Night Live by Ana Gasteyer and on MADtv by Mo Collins. Actress Laura Dern portrayed her in the 2008 film Recount, a role that earned Dern a Golden Globe award. Harris was also mentioned in an episode of Family Guy (Season 5, Episode 16) and appeared in filmmaker Kevin Smith’s DVD monologue titled An Evening with Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder. Additionally, comedian Janeane Garofalo provided a satirical portrayal of Harris on the podcast The Majority Report with Sam Seder.
Personal background
Harris comes from a family deeply rooted in Christian evangelism, with her grandfather having served as a missionary in Africa and her aunt and uncle leading the Arab World Missions as of 2006. She received mentorship from Dr. Francis Schaeffer at a L'Abri Fellowship International center and attended Greystone, a Christian camp for girls located in Asheville, North Carolina. Harris has identified her faith as "the most important thing in my life." Raised within the conservative Presbyterian Church in America, she has openly criticized the more progressive Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and was attending Calvary Chapel, a non-denominational charismatic church in Sarasota, Florida as of 2006.
In 1996, Harris wed Swedish businessman Sven Anders Axel Ebbeson and became stepmother to his daughter Louise. Ebbeson died by suicide in 2013 following reports of a serious illness. After a period away from public life, Harris remarried in 2017 to Richard Ware, a banker from Texas.