Public Record
Human Rights and Andy Harris
He invokes freedom, liberty, and constitutional protections. His voting record repeatedly limits voting access, equality protections, reproductive autonomy, and humanitarian safeguards.
What Harris says publicly
On his official issue pages and in public remarks, Andy Harris frames himself as a defender of freedom, liberty, and constitutional rights. His messaging frequently emphasizes:
- Protecting individual freedoms
- Defending religious liberty
- Upholding the Constitution
- Resisting what he calls “government overreach”
His rhetoric presents him as a champion of rights grounded in American values and personal liberty.
Voting record
Where Harris has supported human rights
Supported sanctions against human rights violators
Harris has voted for sanctions packages targeting regimes with documented human rights abuses, including measures related to Iran and Russia, using economic tools as a human rights enforcement mechanism. (Source: Congress.gov — Harris)
Opposed partisan gerrymandering that dilutes minority representation
Harris backed the independent Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission, opposing the legislature's partisan map that courts later struck down as unconstitutional — a map critics argued also diluted Eastern Shore voices. (Source: Wikipedia — Andy Harris)
Served in the U.S. Navy Reserve, upholding constitutional rights
Harris served as commanding officer of the Johns Hopkins Naval Reserve Medical Unit from 1989 to 1992, providing service in defense of the rights and freedoms protected by the U.S. Constitution. (Source: Ballotpedia — Andrew Harris)
Where Harris has opposed human rights measures
Voted against the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization
Harris voted against VAWA reauthorization in 2022, which expanded protections for Indigenous women, LGBTQ+ survivors, and human trafficking victims — groups with documented gaps in federal legal protection. (Source: GovTrack — Harris votes)
Voted against the Equality Act
Harris voted against the Equality Act, which would have extended civil rights protections to LGBTQ+ individuals in housing, employment, and public accommodations under federal law. (Source: GovTrack — Harris votes)
Voted against the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
Harris voted against the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would have established new federal standards on the use of force, banned chokeholds, and limited qualified immunity — measures tied to reducing racially disparate outcomes in law enforcement. (Source: GovTrack — Harris votes)
Impact on Maryland’s Eastern Shore
Selective freedom
Harris’s definition of “rights” prioritizes ideological alignment over universal protection—leaving many constituents outside the circle of those he actively defends.
Disproportionate harm
Communities of color, LGBTQ+ residents, immigrants, women, and low-income families on the Shore face higher barriers when federal protections are weakened.
Rights without remedies
When protections are stripped away, individuals are left with fewer legal tools to defend themselves against discrimination or abuse.
Public Statements and Voting Record
Bottom line: Public Statements and Voting Record
Where he has supported human rights
- Supported sanctions against human rights-violating regimes
- Opposed partisan gerrymandering that dilutes representation
- U.S. Navy Reserve service in defense of constitutional rights
Where he has opposed human rights protections
- Voted against VAWA reauthorization (2022)
- Voted against the Equality Act
- Voted against the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act