Chris Harris (February 19, 1948 – December 19, 2015) was an American politician and lawyer.
Biography
Chris Harris was born on February 22, 1948 in Pasadena, California. He graduated from Arlington High School, in Arlington, Texas. Harris attended Texas Christian University, and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Baylor Law School. Harris practiced family and business law. He and his wife, Tammy, lived in Arlington, Texas. He died at a hospital in Fort Worth on December 19, 2015 at the age of 67.
Political career
Harris served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1985 to 1991 and then served in the Texas State Senate from 1991 to 2013. Harris was a Republican.
Controversy
Harris received international attention as a result of a session in the Texas Senate where he confronted a man (who had been in the US since 1988) giving testimony in his native Spanish, interrupting his testimony and demanding, "Why aren't you speaking in English?" Continuing, Harris added, "it's insulting to us", then later, "It is very insulting. If he knows English, he needs to be speaking in English."
Election history
Election history of Harris from 1992.
Most recent election
2004
Texas general election, 2004: Senate District 9| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
|---|
| Republican | Chris Harris (Incumbent) | 143,501 | 100.00 | +13.44 |
| Majority | 143,501 | 100.00 | +26.87 |
| Turnout | 143,501 | | +51.50 |
| Republican hold |
Previous elections
2002
Texas general election, 2002: Senate District 9| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
|---|
| Republican | Chris Harris (Incumbent) | 81,994 | 86.56 | -13.44 |
| Libertarian | David C. Pepperdine | 12,727 | 13.44 | +13.44 |
| Majority | 69,267 | 73.13 | -26.87 |
| Turnout | 94,721 | | -54.26 |
| Republican hold |
2000
Texas general election, 2000: Senate District 10| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
|---|
| Republican | Chris Harris (Incumbent) | 187,302 | 100.00 | 0.00 |
| Majority | 187,302 | 100.00 | 0.00 |
| Turnout | 187,302 | | +25.85 |
| Republican hold |
1996
Texas general election, 1996: Senate District 10| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
|---|
| Republican | Chris Harris (Incumbent) | 154,989 | 100.00 | 0.00 |
| Majority | 154,989 | 100.00 | 0.00 |
| Turnout | 154,989 | | +19.83 |
| Republican hold |
Republican primary, 1996: Senate District 10| Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
|---|
| ✓ | Chris Harris (Incumbent) | 30,330 | 77.80 | |
| Jim Lollar | 8,656 | 22.20 | |
| Majority | 21,674 | 55.59 | |
| Turnout | 38,986 | | |
1994
Texas general election, 1994: Senate District 10| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
|---|
| Republican | Chris Harris (Incumbent) | 129,343 | 100.00 | +38.64 |
| Majority | 129,343 | 100.00 | +77.27 |
| Turnout | 129,343 | | -40.30 |
| Republican hold |
1992
Texas general election, 1992: Senate District 10| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
|---|
| Democratic | Bob Bass | 83,711 | 38.64 | |
| Republican | Chris Harris (Incumbent) | 132,947 | 61.36 | |
| Majority | 49,236 | 22.73 | |
| Turnout | 216,658 | | |
| Republican hold |