Earl Harris Jr.Serving

Earl Harris Jr.

State HouseDemocrat

IN-HD-2 State House

Multiracial (African American and Mexican-American)·Assistant Democratic Floor Leader

Why This Race Matters

Harris uniquely bridges Indiana's Black and Latino communities as a multiracial legislator (African American and Mexican-American) in a district that is ~50% Black and ~23% Latino. As Assistant Democratic Floor Leader and Chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, he authored the 2026 Working Hoosiers Agenda tackling housing, education, and child care costs. His term expires November 2026.

Won 2024 re-election with 82% of the vote (14,997 votes) against Republican David Ben Ruiz. Has run largely unopposed since 2018 -- ran unopposed in 2018, 2020, and 2022 general elections. His Working Hoosiers Agenda includes 14 bills focused on housing, education, and child care costs. Continues the Harris family political legacy: his father Earl Harris Sr. served HD-2 from 1982-2015, and his mother Donna Harris served 2015-2016.

Key dates to watch: Primary on May 5, 2026 and General Election on November 3, 2026.

About

Earl L. Harris Jr. is an Indiana State Representative for District 2 in Northwest Indiana, covering most of East Chicago in Lake County. The son of two former state representatives -- the late Earl Harris Sr. (African American) and Donna Harris (Mexican-American) -- he bridges Black and Latino communities in a district that is approximately 50% Black and 23% Latino. A two-time Emmy-nominated television producer, he produced the PBS documentary "In My Skin: Shaping the Multiracial Identity in Indiana" exploring the multiracial experience. He serves as Assistant Democratic Floor Leader and Chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus.

Family & Heritage

Son of two former Indiana state representatives: the late Earl Harris Sr. (served 1982-2015, African American) and Donna Harris (served 2015-2016, Mexican-American). His father was African American and his mother is Mexican-American. Harris grew up in East Chicago, Indiana, a diverse community in Northwest Indiana. He frequently navigates questions about his multiracial identity, especially from those who note he doesn't have a Hispanic-sounding name.

Political Career

Before Politics

Founder and owner of Motivation Media (television and video production company); Founder and owner of Harvel (commercial and residential property company); Operations Manager, Educational Television Cooperative; Department Head and Senior TV Producer/Director, Indianapolis Public Schools; President, Educational Television Cooperative (1999-2007); Special project producer for KPWR-FM Power 106 in Burbank, CA (2011)

Education

B.A. Telecommunications, Indiana University Bloomington (1992); M.A. Telecommunications with focus on Digital Storytelling, Ball State University (2012)

Key Issues & Priorities

*Working families and cost of living
*Housing affordability and down payment assistance
*Education access and tuition freezes
*Transportation infrastructure
*Food security (Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program)
*Child care affordability
*Multiracial community representation

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