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Michelle Harris (Arizona)
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Michelle Harris (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Arizona State Senate to represent District 13. Harris lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Harris completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Michelle Harris served in the U.S. Air Force from 1990 to 2011. Her professional experience includes working as an Airborne Cryptologic Linguist for the United States Air Force.[1]
Elections
2018
- See also: Arizona State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Arizona State Senate District 13
Incumbent Sine Kerr defeated Michelle Harris in the general election for Arizona State Senate District 13 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Sine Kerr (R) | 62.5 | 50,432 |
 | Michelle Harris (D)  | 37.5 | 30,215 | |
| Total votes: 80,647 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Arizona State Senate District 13
Michelle Harris advanced from the Democratic primary for Arizona State Senate District 13 on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michelle Harris | 100.0 | 11,267 |
| Total votes: 11,267 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Arizona State Senate District 13
Incumbent Sine Kerr defeated Brent Backus and Don Shooter in the Republican primary for Arizona State Senate District 13 on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sine Kerr | 50.1 | 12,824 |
 | Brent Backus | 29.8 | 7,634 | |
 | Don Shooter | 20.0 | 5,121 | |
| Total votes: 25,579 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Michelle Harris participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on August 21, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Michelle Harris's responses follow below.[2]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | We have to pass legislation to define and implement a Drought Contingency Plan. I explain more in the question about Arizona’s greatest challenge. We have to review the many corporate tax loopholes and credits the state has enacted over the years. These have gone unchecked and we don’t know if they are still beneficial to our economy or draining our state funding. These funds could be going to public education and public sector workers like police, fire department and state employees who haven’t seen a wage increase in 10 years. Lastly, we have to enact stronger ethics laws for elected officials. Legislators shouldn’t be voting on laws that directly benefit their personal and family businesses. They shouldn’t be a pass-through for corporate lobbyists to enact pet legislation. And they shouldn’t be flouting immunity laws to get out of personal legal issues.[3][4] | ” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | Public Education. I was raised in Buckeye and benefitted from a strong public education system. Times have changed since I left school 30 years ago. We have to start treating public education like critical infrastructure. We have to increase funding in our state. We have to bring transparency to public charter schools because they receive taxpayer money. We have to stop siphoning money away from public schools to fund private and parochial schools. A strong public education system is not only a state constitutional requirement, it also provides a capable workforce needed to drive our economy.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[4]
|
” |
Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Michelle Harris answered the following:
What qualities do you possess that would make you a successful officeholder?
| “ | What I bring is the maturity and integrity of a seasoned military leader. This is experience needed to get people to work together to solve problems, because problems aren’t partisan. We need leaders who will speak out when something is wrong. Leaders who will fight for the people we represent, rather than out-of-state special interest groups. Leaders who know our words must match our actions, and that they have consequences.[4] | ” |
| “ | I believe the core responsibilities are being accountable and accessible to the people in my district. You have to show up in the community, take phone calls and answer emails. All of my events are open to the public and publicized well in advance. I will do the same after I’m elected. I also believe it’s important to establish relationships with the cities and towns in my district, so we can work together to get them the support they need to grow and prosper.[4] | ” |
| “ | The greatest challenge facing Arizona is the continued drought and drop in the Colorado River. We are approaching the level that would require implementation of drought plans. However, our elected leaders have failed come up with a plan, let alone put legislation in place to support that plan. This must be done next legislative session, or else the federal government will force one on us. We need to take concrete steps to ensure we cut water usage, principally in residential markets, to protect our agricultural water supply. If we don’t take steps now the drought could permanently impact our state’s economy and everyone who lives here.[4] | ” |
| “ | Yes I do. You have to get to know and understand the people you work with in order to accomplish a goal. Once you know what motivates people and how to speak their language, you can start working towards finding solutions. We, as politicians, have to deliver ideas, not insults, in order to govern and provide a more prosperous future for all of us.[4] | ” |
| “ | I completely support the Independent Redistricting Commission we have in Arizona. The only way to ensure redistricting isn’t influenced by partisan control is to keep it separate from the state legislature and Governor. I oppose any attempt to chip away at the independence of the current commission, such as bringing it under control of the Governor or state legislature, as some have proposed. We have to protect and strengthen the commission in the coming years. There will be redistricting after the next census in 2020, and these changes affect our representation for the next 10 years.[4] | ” |
Ballotpedia biographical submission form
The candidate completed Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form:
| “ | What is your political philosophy?
I decided to run to bring accountability and accessibility to elected office.[4] |
” |
| —Michelle Harris[1] | ||
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information submitted on Ballotpedia’s biographical information submission form on August 22, 2018.
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Michelle Harris's responses," August 21, 2018
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
Current members of the Arizona State Senate
Leadership
Senate President:Warren Petersen
Majority Leader:Janae Shamp
Minority Leader:Priya Sundareshan
Senators
District 1
Mark Finchem (R)
District 2
Shawnna Bolick (R)
District 3
John Kavanagh (R)
District 4
Carine Werner (R)
District 5
Lela Alston (D)
District 6
District 7
Wendy Rogers (R)
District 8
Lauren Kuby (D)
District 9
Kiana Sears (D)
District 10
David Farnsworth (R)
District 11
District 12
Denise Epstein (D)
District 13
Javan Mesnard (R)
District 14
Warren Petersen (R)
District 15
Jake Hoffman (R)
District 16
Thomas Shope (R)
District 17
Vince Leach (R)
District 18
District 19
David Gowan (R)
District 20
Sally Gonzales (D)
District 21
Rosanna Gabaldón (D)
District 22
Eva Diaz (D)
District 23
Brian Fernandez (D)
District 24
Analise Ortiz (D)
District 25
Tim Dunn (R)
District 26
Flavio Bravo (D)
District 27
Kevin Payne (R)
District 28
Frank Carroll (R)
District 29
Janae Shamp (R)
District 30
Hildy Angius (R)
Republican Party (17)
Democratic Party (13)
