First District voters who have supported Andy Harris as a “man of principle” better think again. Last week Harris had two decisions to make. First, would he support a budget resolution that increases the federal debt? Second, how would he react to President Trump and Vice President Vance bullying Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in the Oval Office?
Harris chose Trump over principle twice.
In April 2024, Harris wrote: “Our national debt is almost $35 trillion. That is over $103,000 per citizen. It is time to get our fiscal house in order.” The House-passed FY 2026 budget raises the Federal Debt Ceiling by four trillion dollars. Guess who voted for it? Andy Harris. Like every other Republican in the House of Representatives save one, Harris voted “aye.”
The bill extends and expands Trump’s 2017 tax cuts at a 10-year cost of $4.5 trillion (as much as $11.2 billion if you believe The Committee for a Responsible Budget).
So much for fiscal responsibility. Harris is putting Trump ahead of principle.
But it gets worse. Donald Trump has adopted Putin’s Russia as our ally. The President has called Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator.”
Only a little over a year ago, Andy Harris, then Co-Chair of the House Ukraine Caucus, wrote: “Tomorrow marks two years since Vladimir Putin began the brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine. In that time, the Ukrainian people have demonstrated extraordinary courage and resolve in the face of evil and have bravely faced down the onslaught of unprovoked Russian aggression on their lives and in their country. I am proud to join my fellow Congressional Ukraine Caucus Members in introducing this new House Resolution to commemorate Ukraine as she stands against the continued, unprovoked, and illegal Russian aggression.”
After Friday’s disastrous Oval Office meeting, Harris dutifully lined up behind nearly every other Congressional Republican to criticize President Zelenskyy rather than Trump.
Our man in Washington wrote: “It was unbecoming of President Zelenskyy to disrespect the President and Vice-President of the United States on live television in our cherished Oval Office. President Trump rightly pointed out the Russia/Ukraine war could lead to World War III – this calls for diplomatic leadership not grandstanding and performative behavior on the world stage.”
Harris has not disagreed with Trump calling Zelenskyy a dictator and talking about inviting Putin to visit the president in Washington. Will the House Ukraine Caucus expel Harris? It should.
Another Maryland Congressman, Steny Hoyer reacted differently to last Friday’s Oval Office abuse of President Zelenskyy. Hoyer wrote:
“Donald Trump and JD Vance’s treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office today is among the most disgraceful, feckless, and destructive scenes in the annals of American diplomacy. A president who is serious about a just, lasting peace does not invite the leader of a besieged ally to the White House only to berate him in front of the world. The only people talking about World War III are Trump and Vladimir Putin.”
“Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people want peace. They have wanted it ever since Putin illegally annexed Crimea in 2014. They have prayed for it every single one of the 1,100 days since Putin launched his illegal, full-scale invasion of their sovereign nation. Ukrainians correctly recognize, however, that they will never know peace again if they concede to Vladimir Putin’s demands. Neither will the free world. Any agreement that fails to guarantee Ukraine’s security and deal Putin a resounding strategic defeat is not a peace deal – just an opportunity for Russia to recover, rearm, and reinvade in the near future. Crucially, a Russian victory would be an invitation to dictators around the world to take aim at other democratic nations. “
“History makes that lesson plain. Neville Chamberlain did not secure peace by forfeiting Sudetenland. Donald Trump will not secure peace by gifting Putin the Donbas. Appeasing a dictator does not sate his hunger for expansion; it only makes him crave it more.”
“Many of my Republican colleagues profess to know that lesson. Now is the time to prove it. Do not let our Congress – and our country – abandon Ukraine.”
The Eastern Shore needs a Congressional representative who represents its residents, not Donald Trump. I would trade Harris for Hoyer in a microsecond.
Did you know that Andy Harris claims his mother was Ukrainian? I wonder what she would think about her son’s cozying up to Trump as the president abandons Ukraine.
The First District needs someone other than Andy “Handgun” Harris in Washington. You know that. You have heard it before.
J.E. Dean writes on politics, government, and, too infrequently, other subjects. A former counsel on Capitol Hill and public affairs consultant, Dean also writes for Dean’s List on Medium and Dean’s Issues & Insights on Substack.
Chris Gordon says
Unless you are a major donor, don’t bother trying to communicate with Harris. I have emailed him several times and have never gotten a response.
Sian Salsbury says
I have too. It’s time to stage protests outside of his offices.
John Dean says
Thank you for reading the piece.
I am not surprised you haven’t heard from him. I suspect he is more communicative with Donald Trump. Sad.
Ron Jordan says
It is so simple and Andy has never looked out for his constituents, especially here on the eastern shore. He only cares about keeping his job, kowtowing to DT and now the shadow President, Elon Musk. The best way for folks in our district to be represented is by someone who cares about us, Andy has shown he doesn’t, the real problem as long as he is in office, he never will.
John Dean says
Thank you for the comment. I agree–The First District needs somebody other than Andy Harris in Congress.
Bill Anderson says
As you well know, every two years the people of the First District have the opportunity to retire Andy Harris from his congressional duties. They never succeed in doing so. There must be a good reason.
Chris Gordon says
Why in the world did you vote for him?
Deirdre LaMotte says
They vote for him because he has an R after his name. You know, if you are working class or not college educated apparently, it’s about
“the libs” and if you have means it’s about that and getting tax breaks.
Now maybe all see how shallow and wrong they are. Or, probably not.
However, Harris comes by it honestly; he is a fascist like his father.
We will see how gutting our nation, abandoning a democratic ally, stock market dives
and the obliteration of programs most Americans depend on, including Veterans, affects
voting. When someone’s grandmother or mother is kicked out of a nursing home because Medicaid has eradicated rural hospitals and nursing homes, perhaps people will realize
how much our government does for them.
All will suffer, though, as Trump has said. Do people realize that is the language of autocrats?
They cause the suffering that they predict so people accept it.
It is slimy and meant to play cruel mind games on citizens.
Welcome to Stalin 2.0. No hyperbole intended.
Steve says
A reason, sure. A good one? No.
Jim Shifrin says
I have also emailed Harris after painfully experiencing his website which seems to make it all but impossible to do so. He did respond, or rather his staff did but with a generic response that did not address my questions. The question is how to get through to the people that vote for him to find out why?
John Dean says
I would suggest sharing some of your experiences with Rep. Harris in a letter to the editor of the Spy and other papers. I would also work with the Democratic party to register voters and help find competitive candidates for all offices.
Thank you for your comment.
Chris Gordon says
Here is his email address but he won’t respond to that either:
[email protected]
Karen Mack says
Rep. Harris is firmly in Trump’s camp and will continue to support him with blind loyalty. I have written to him on several occasions recently and every response began with praise for the President and a complete abrogation of his responsibilities to the citizens of the Eastern Shore (and all of District 1) who elected him.
Look at his voting record and you will see things that should give pause to the farmers on the Shore. The utter disregard for constituents as well as the moral vacuum of his excuses mean it is time to seek someone who will truly work for the people, not for the dictator in chief. It is my fervent hope that a qualified candidate appears soon, someone we can all get behind to turn the tide back to government of, for and by the people.
Frederick Patt says
It has been obvious from his first term that Harris does not represent the interests of the Eastern Shore. He doesn’t care about the Chesapeake Bay.
John Dean says
I agree.
Sian Salsbury says
Thank you! We need to protest this worthless politician. He never does anything for the Eastern Shore. Wake up people and vote him out. Otherwise your voting for President Putin.
Linda S says
Thank you for this! I have never known a more useless politician.
Deirdre LaMotte says
About 5 years ago Linda Knight and I made an appointment with Harris’ Queen Anne County office to discuss
the many issues we had with Harris. Imagine our surprise to find the local police had been called to patrol during our meeting with our Congressman’s staff. Not only was that insulting but his staff was not responsive to
hearing complaints. This is a man who is secure in his gerrymandered district. Yeah, give him a few hundred thousand and he’ll come calling.
What a wanker.
Thank you Talbot for your strong protest tonight in front of the Tidewater Inn for Harris fundraiser for top donors.
Love to see that list!