Public Record
Respect for the Constitution and Andy Harris
He brands himself as a constitutional conservative guided by “the rule of law.” His actions—especially around the 2020 election and January 6—show selective constitutional fidelity and weakened checks and balances.
What Harris says publicly
Andy Harris frequently frames himself as a defender of the Constitution, the rule of law, and America’s founding principles. In public statements and media appearances, he emphasizes:
- Upholding the Constitution as written
- Defending “law and order”
- Protecting individual liberties
- Opposing what he calls “government overreach”
- Respect for democratic institutions and norms
His rhetoric casts himself as a constitutional conservative—someone guided by fidelity to the nation’s founding document rather than partisan loyalty.
Voting record
Where Harris has supported constitutional principles
Supported independent redistricting to protect equal representation
Harris backed the Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission over partisan legislative maps — a position courts later upheld when they struck down the legislature's map as an unconstitutional extreme partisan gerrymander. (Source: Wikipedia — Andy Harris)
Where Harris has undermined constitutional norms
Invokes constitutional rights selectively — opposing mandates for some while restricting rights for others
Harris has invoked First Amendment and constitutional liberty arguments when opposing vaccine mandates and policies he dislikes. But that framing has not been applied consistently. He voted against the Equality Act (2021), which would have extended federal civil rights protections to LGBTQ+ people — protections rooted in the same constitutional guarantees of equal treatment. He has supported positions aligned with restricting what can be taught in public schools about race, history, and gender identity — restrictions legal scholars and the ACLU have argued violate students' and educators' First Amendment rights. Harris also cosponsored the "First Amendment Defense Act," which the ACLU argued would have opened the door to taxpayer-funded discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, single mothers, and unmarried couples. A constitutional framework applied to protect some Americans' freedoms while limiting others' is not a principled constitutional position — it is a political one. (Source: Wikipedia — Andy Harris; Harris press release — Equality Act vote; On The Issues — Harris civil rights record)
Voted against gun safety legislation following mass shootings — and was investigated for defying Capitol security screening
Harris voted against the federal Assault Weapons Ban of 2022, which came directly in response to mass shootings in Uvalde, TX (19 children killed), Buffalo, NY (10 Black shoppers killed), and Highland Park, IL. The bill passed the House 217–213 — Harris was one of only two Republicans from the entire Maryland delegation to vote against it. Harris told constituents at a town hall that gun violence "doesn't happen on the Eastern or Western Shore of Maryland," while also supporting the Dickey Amendment blocking CDC research into gun violence. He was separately investigated by Capitol Police in January 2021 for defying the magnetometers Speaker Pelosi ordered installed at House floor entrances — screening he bypassed while other members complied. (Source: Maryland Matters — Assault Weapons Ban vote; My Eastern Shore MD — Harris gun town hall; Maryland Matters — Harris Capitol magnetometer investigation)
Objected to certifying the 2020 Electoral College results
Harris objected to the certification of Electoral College results from Pennsylvania and Arizona on January 6–7, 2021 — a process critics and constitutional scholars argued undermined the constitutional framework for transferring presidential power. (Source: Wikipedia — Andy Harris)
Voted against establishing a January 6th Commission
Harris voted against a bipartisan commission to investigate the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, which critics argued was an attack on the constitutional process of certifying presidential elections. (Source: GovTrack — Harris votes)
Blocked Washington D.C. from implementing a locally passed law
Harris inserted a federal spending rider blocking D.C. from using locally raised tax revenue to implement a marijuana legalization measure passed by 70% of D.C. voters — overriding local self-governance and raising constitutional questions about congressional authority over D.C. (Source: Wikipedia — Andy Harris)
Impact on democracy in Maryland’s 1st District
Erosion of democratic trust
When elected officials challenge lawful elections, public confidence in democracy suffers—especially in rural communities already facing disinformation.
Weakened constitutional norms
Normalizing objections without evidence lowers the bar for future attacks on elections.
Distraction from governing
Time spent undermining constitutional processes is time not spent addressing real needs—jobs, health care, infrastructure, and education on the Eastern Shore.
Public Statements and Voting Record
Bottom line: Public Statements and Voting Record
Where he has supported constitutional principles
- Backed independent redistricting over partisan gerrymanders
Where he has undermined constitutional norms
- Objected to 2020 Electoral College certification
- Voted against January 6th Commission
- Blocked D.C. from implementing a voter-approved law
- Voted against gun safety legislation after mass school shootings; investigated for bypassing Capitol security
- Invoked First Amendment selectively — opposing mandates while restricting LGBTQ+ rights and curriculum