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J. Harris Lobbying Missouri Profile

June 27, 2019 | St. Louis Public Radio

St. Louis Public Radio publishes an ongoing profile of lobbying firms and their activities. This transparency report reflects the 24 month and lifetime activity of The J. Harris Company.

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Parson named Statesman of the Year

January 29, 2019 | Missouri Times

"I can think of no better person to be named Statesman of the Year than Governor Mike Parson. He rose to the occasion when called to duty, and he has done an excellent job righting the ship of state," said James Harris.

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'She's a lucky duck': GOP implodes again for McCaskill

April 23, 2018 | Politico

"If you want to go out and talk tax reform, if you want to go out and talk about other things, you can -- but you really won't have any coverage because all that's coming out in Missouri is about the scandals," Harris said.

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Presidential primary calendar could help congressional challengers

January 11, 2016 | Roll Call

"The S.E.C. states," said Midwest-based Republican consultant James Harris, using the nickname for the group of southern states that share the March 1 primary date, "will have an uptick in their normal turnout because of the presidential primaries."

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Who has the ear of Gov. Mike Parson?
Meet his inner circle

June 20, 2018 | The Kansas City Star

"Harris worked as political director for Republican Matt Blunt's successful 2004 gubernatorial campaign, eventually winning the coveted appointment of director of boards and commissions - a job that allowed him to oversee appointments for the new administration."

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Politically Speaking:
James Harris Optimistic About Missouri GOP's Fortunes

June 30, 2014 | St. Louis Public Radio

"St. Louis Public Radio reporters Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies continue their mini-series on Missouri's top behind-the-scenes players. For this week's show, Rosenbaum and Mannies welcomed Republican political consultant James Harris to the show. "

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Missouri GOP coalescing around Hawley to challenge McCaskill

July 19, 2017 | FOX 2 now

"Republican political strategist James Harris, who worked as a consultant with Hawley, says the 37-year-old attorney general would be a "perfect candidate"."

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Raise Your Hands for Kids promotes Amendment 3 at Muleskinners meeting

September 23, 2016 | Missourian

"James Harris spoke and took questions about Constitutional Amendment 3, which will appear on the Nov. 8 general election ballot, at a meeting of the Democratic Boone County Muleskinners."

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To Avoid Senate Primary Fight, Missouri Republicans Want Hawley to Decide

July 6, 2017 | Morning Consult

"Republicans will want to avoid a contentious primary given what happened in 2012, when a divided Republican primary field wound up working in Sen. McCaskill's favor, said James Harris, a Missouri-based Republican consultant."

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James Harris' memo sparks skirmish over Supreme Court

January 31, 2010 | St. Louis Business Journal

"A political dispute has erupted over a memo sent this week by James Harris, executive director of Better Courts for Missouri, urging Republican state senators to intervene in a case pending before the Missouri Supreme Court. A former chief justice of the court contends the memo violates a state law prohibiting tampering with a judicial proceeding."

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Top GOP Senate recruit courts Bannon after threat

October 5, 2017 | Politico

"James Harris, a Republican operative in the state who is close to Hawley, was similarly skeptical of Bannon's potential impact."

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Missouri Governor Eric Greitens to be replaced by longtime traditional politician

May 30, 2018 | ABC News

"With the scandals, controversies and charges that have swirled around the statehouse during Greitens' tenure, the next few months and years for Parson, a Republican like Greitens, will undoubtedly be tough, but James Harris, who consulted for Parson's 2016 campaign, said he is up for the task."

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Inside the campaign that defeated Claire McCaskill

November 6, 2018 | McClatchy

"James Harris, a Jefferson City-based Republican consultant, said that the scandal cramped Hawley's ability to campaign. He skipped county GOP events and left the state party's annual convention in Kansas City early to avoid being seen with Greitens in public."

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Missouri's rural-urban split fuels disagreements over police control, state agenda

October 29, 2018 | The Kansas City Star

""The state's experience with allowing St. Louis to gain local control of the city's police department has not been good - crime has gone up, accountability has gone down, and politicians are trying to exert control over the department," said political strategist James Harris."

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Here's what Missouri Influencers have to say about local control

October 29, 2018 | The Kansas City Star

"James Harris, political strategist: I absolutely think that the state has a vested interest in continuing to maintain control of the Kansas City police department, as politicization of the police force is a real risk."

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In their own words: Should Missouri judges face term limits?

October 22, 2018 | The Kansas City Star

"James Harris, political strategist: I firmly believe that federal judges should not have term limits. The framers of the Constitution very specifically made these positions a lifetime appointment to ensure an independent judiciary."

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Who is Missouri's next governor? Mike Parson, in many ways Greitens' polar opposite

May 29, 2018 | The Kansas City Star

"I think he'll be the right person ... to heal the state," said James Harris, a veteran GOP consultant who worked on Parson's campaign for lieutenant governor. "There's a lot of raw emotions, and I think he can bring the state together."

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Outside groups dominate spending in Missouri campaigns with dark-money donations

August 20, 2018 | The Kansas City Star

"Regrettably, this is the new norm," said James Harris, a longtime Republican political consultant in Missouri. "And the casualty is the political process is much less transparent."

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Outside groups dominate spending in Missouri campaigns

August 26, 2018 | NBC KSDK Channel 5

""Regrettably, this is the new norm," said James Harris, a longtime Republican political consultant in Missouri. "And the casualty is the political process is much less transparent.""

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What GOP primary? Josh Hawley focusing U.S. Senate bid '100 percent' on McCaskill

December 27, 2017 | The Kansas City Star

"James Harris, a Jefferson City-based Republican strategist, said party leaders are "laser-focused" on making sure Hawley wins the nomination."

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In their own words: Missouri leaders split on raising minimum wage

October 1, 2018 | The Kansas City Star

"James Harris, political strategist: Often when discussing wages, people do not separate part-time, entry-level jobs from full-time, career positions. Entry-level positions are meant to prepare a young person for the workforce, or serve as supplemental income for those who cannot find or sustain a family-supporting position. They are not intended to be a full-time career."

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Term limits have been 'a disaster' for Missouri, say many state leaders

September 24, 2018 | The Kansas City Star

"Term limits have allowed more citizens to enter the legislature, and to do so on a regular basis, resulting in a more responsive legislature," said James Harris, a Republican political strategist. "Without entrenched incumbents, lawmakers are encouraged to keep in touch with the citizens they represent."

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OK, Missouri Influencers: How would you bring transparency to political donations?

August 27, 2018 | The Kansas City Star

"James Harris, political strategist: "I do not think lobbyist gifts sway lawmakers. Often, trade associations have constituents in Jefferson City and want to sit down with lawmakers for a meal, and I think this is understandable. I have never seen a lawmaker sell out over a hamburger."

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Missouri Plan for selecting judges faces new challenge

November 27, 2010 | St. Louis Post Dispatch

"But lobbyist James Harris - one of the main forces behind the effort to change the way judges are selected in the state - sees something different in the vote tallies."

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Jefferson City, Missouri 65101

Phone: 573-761-7875

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