Jack Harris not seeking re-election

NDP MP Jack Harris has said he will not be seeking re-election in the district of St. John's East.

In a statement, Harris said in part, “After careful consideration over the past number of weeks I have made the decision not to offer myself for election to the next Parliament, whenever that election will be."

Harris was first elected as MP after winning a by-election in the riding of St. John's East on July 20, 1987. He was defeated in the 1988 federal election. In the 2008 federal election, Harris was again elected as the MP for St. John's East. Harris was re-elected in the 2011 federal election before losing the 2015 election to Liberal Party candidate Nick Whalen. In 2019, Harris was re-elected regaining his old seat.

It wasn't only federal politics, Harris was elected to the House of Assembly in a 1990 by-election and was unopposed when he was elected to succeed Cle Newhook as leader of the provincial New Democrats in 1992. He was re-elected to the Legislature in 1993, 1996, 1999, and 2003 elections. He retired from provincial politics in 2006.