Katherine Harris is an American Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

 politician, former Secretary of State of Florida

Secretary of State of Florida

The Secretary of State of Florida is a constitutional officer of the state government of the U.S. state of Florida, established by the original 1838 state constitution....

, and former member of the United States House of Representatives

United States House of Representatives

The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...

. Harris won the 2002 election to represent Florida's 13th congressional district

Florida's 13th congressional district

Florida's 13th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida that encompasses all of Sarasota, DeSoto, and Hardee counties and most of Manatee County except for a small northern coastal portion that is located in the neighboring 11th Congressional District...

 in the U.S. House of Representatives. She held that post from 2003 to 2007. Harris lost the November 7, 2006, election to represent Florida in the United States Senate

United States Senate

The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...

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Harris rose to national attention as Secretary of State of Florida due to her role in the 2000 presidential election

United States presidential election, 2000

The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....

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Harris' family is one of Florida's wealthiest and most politically influential.