Former U.S. Senator Fred Harris of Oklahoma, who also pursued a Democratic presidential nomination, passed away on Saturday, November 23, 2024 at the age of 94. His wife, Margaret Elliston, announced his peaceful passing due to natural causes, adding, “Fred Harris was a wonderful and beloved man. His memory is a blessing.”
Born in a small two-room farmhouse near Walters, Oklahoma on November 13, 1930, Harris experienced a modest upbringing. By the age of five, he had already started working on the family farm, guiding a horse in circles to power a hay baler for a daily wage of 10 cents.
Harris’s journey into politics started in the Oklahoma State Senate, where he served from 1956 to 1964. He transitioned to the U.S. Senate in 1964 through a special election to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Senator Robert S. Kerr. Harris was re-elected in 1966 and remained in office until 1973.
As the Democratic National Committee chairman from 1969 to 1970, Harris significantly influenced the overhaul of the party’s delegate selection process. His leadership sparked rule changes that increased the representation of women and minorities as convention delegates and in leadership roles. Harris, in 2004, commented on these changes: “I think it’s worked wonderfully. It’s made the selection much more legitimate and democratic.”
Additionally, Harris was part of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, also known as the Kerner Commission. President Lyndon Johnson established this commission to probe the urban race riots of the 1960s. The commission’s 1968 landmark report declared, “Our nation is moving toward two societies—separate and unequal.”
In 1976, Harris vied for the Democratic presidential nomination but withdrew after early contests didn’t go in his favor. Post his political career, he relocated to New Mexico and took up a position as a political science professor at the University of New Mexico. Harris wrote and edited more than a dozen books, largely focusing on politics and Congress.
Throughout his life, Harris remained a staunch supporter of civil rights and anti-poverty programs. Alongside his first wife, LaDonna, a Comanche, he was deeply involved in Native American issues. New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham lauded his contributions to their state and the nation, stating, “In addition to being a highly accomplished politician and professor, he was a decent, honorable man who treated everyone with warmth, generosity, and good humor.”
Harris’ passing brought about an outpouring of grief from leaders across New Mexico, former students, and colleagues from the University of New Mexico. Remembered as an adept Democratic lawmaker, a prolific author, and an inspiring educator, his legacy continues to influence those who learned from his example.
U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury remembered Harris as a steadfast advocate for public service who inspired many to walk in his footsteps. According to U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján, Harris was not just a senator, chairman, and professor of national repute, but also a much-loved friend and mentor to New Mexicans.
Harris is survived by his wife, Margaret Elliston, and his three children from his first marriage: Kathryn, Byron, and Laura.