Meet Jeff Harris
As House Minority Leader Jeff Harris led Democrats in the Missouri House to their first increase in legislative seats since 1986 and their largest increase since 1978. Jeff, 42, is a rising star of Missouri politics. As House Minority Leader, he led the opposition to Governor Matt Blunt and his slashing of health care for more than 100,000 Missourians.
Jeff was so respected by his colleagues that he was elected unanimously as House Minority Leader. Jeff's fellow House Democrats elected him Minority Whip after just his first year in office.
A native Missourian, Jeff has represented part of his hometown of Columbia in the Missouri House since 2002 winning election with two-thirds of the vote. In 2006, Jeff received 73% of the votes cast, perhaps the highest percentage of any House Democrat in Missouri.
Before being elected to the House, Jeff served as an Assistant Missouri Attorney General working with Attorney General Jay Nixon. He also worked as a field organizer on Congressman Dick Gephardt's 1988 presidential campaign.
Jeff attended the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Senior Executive Program as a Fannie Mae Foundation Fellow. He was selected to be part of an eight-person delegation to the People’s Republic of China by the American Council of Young Political Leaders in 2003. The same group later selected him as a delegate to the first-ever East Asia-Pacific Alumni Summit in Tokyo, Japan in 2006.
 Jeff with his family in Columbia. A 1983 graduate of David H. Hickman High School in Columbia, Jeff graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts from Vanderbilt University in 1987 and received his juris doctor from Cornell Law School in 1991, where he was a member of the Cornell Law Review.
Jeff and his wife Katie live in Columbia, where Jeff is a member of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the Elks Club and the Missouri United Methodist Church. Jeff also actively practices law and is a member of the Missouri Kidney Program Advisory Council. Their daughter Grace Virginia was born in September.
Awards and Honors
Twice-elected Minority Leader by his colleagues in the Missouri House of Representatives
Member of Governor’s Commission on the Future of Higher Education
2003
Missouri Votes Conservation Rising Star Award
David H. Hickman High School Alumni Super Kewp of the Year
2004
GRO Leaders Marching Forth for Justice
Legislator of the Year for Higher Education (from Assistant Minority Leader)
Military Officers Association for America – Certification of Appreciation
Commission on the Future of Higher Education
Member of the Rules Committee at the 2004 Democratic National Convention
Champion of Justice Award from the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys
2005
Missouri Watch Defender of Patient Safety Award
2006
Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation Open Your Heart Award
National Multiple Sclerosis Society Committed Statesperson Award
Services for Independent Living Elected Official Award Nominee
Betty Saunders Elected Office Holders Award
2007
University of Missouri Alumni Alliance Award
Missouri Head Start Association Award of Appreciation
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