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.
Jim Bachman says
Trump
John Dean says
Correct!
Kent Robertson says
Mr Dean, I would like to hear your solution to the Ukrainian war.
Jennifer Beatty Bodine says
I am very surprised our Eastern Shore congressman voted to raise the debt ceiling and extend the tax breaks for the wealthiest. A fiscal conservative? I don’t think so. Looks like a simple toady parroting his Bad Boy in the White House. We are not the 1% over here on the shore. He is an embarrassment, just like his idol. By his actions “Go Russia, boo Ukraine” he is saying.
Rodney Tong says
And to think that Andy Harris’ mother is Ukranian.
She must be rolling over in her grave.
John Dean says
Thanks for reading the piece and for your comment.
Melissa L Barrett says
I agree wholeheartedly. But Andy is not just abandoning Ukraine, he is also abandoning the farmers of the Eastern Shore by supporting Trump’s refusal to honor the sustainable farming grants awarded during the Biden Administration. Furthermore, by supporting Trump’s disastrous embrace of fossil fuel production over saving the environment, Andy has abandoned the watermen (and women) of the Eastern Shore who depend on clean water to provide a habitat for abundant fish, crabs and oysters.
Lance Simon says
I couldn’t agree more, and he has nothing to help stop the layoffs of .gov workers and contractors in his district. My wife and I have called his office 5+ time to leave comments and ask for an open forum with Rep. Harris — Crickets.
Art Cecil says
Mr. Dean: What might your proposal be to stop the fighting in Ukraine? President Trump has put his on the table. Criticism without solutions is easy but gets no where.
Deirdre LaMotte says
His “proposal on the table” was what the invading Army, Putin, is asking for. It is as if Churchill was
told to just capitulate to Hitler because, “he doesn’t have the cards”. WTH? Zelenskyy has been fighting
the invasion of his democratic nation, the rape of its women systematically from Putin’s orders, the kidnapping of children, the destruction of cities and you question why he will not give in to Putin’s
poodle and his appalling side kick?
You know that Putin is our enemy and wants to destroy us, correct? And you may need to understand that for a variety of reasons Trump is selling our nation’s soul for Putin. Literally. If Ukraine falls,
the expansion into NATO territories begin. And Trump will not stand by Article 5 of NATO: when a NATO member is invaded, NATO allies will respond together. NATO is finished because of Trump. China’s invasion of Taiwan is not out of the question then……
Michael Davis says
Harris is not a fiscal conservative. He is pro Russia. Nor does not represent the interests of the people in his distract. By interests, I’m thinking of health, welfare, a clean environment, good schools and economic opportunity. He just voted for the Republican budget resolution that will result in major cuts to medical care and environmental programs. We have an airport in town and he does not even support the FAA. Harris is a Trump sycophant. The sooner people in the 1st District see that, the more likely voters will send him packing.
Charles Barranco says
Sounds like the stable genius, intelligentsia is going to be in direct conflict with the Magnitsky Act, if he invites the world, renowned human abuse, dictator, Mr. Putin. The bill was co-sponsored by Ben Carden and John McCain to prevent people like Putin and specifically, Putin for orchestrating the murder of Sergei Magnitsky from coming to this country. It will be a flagrant violation of the Magnitsky Act if Putin sets foot in this country. Congress passed the bill and made it into law. It seems laws enacted by Congress are to be ignored by president felon.
Rick Hughes says
Well said! I am NOT with Andy, though he said one thing correctly about the Russian invasion of Ukraine;
“this calls for diplomatic leadership not grandstanding and performative behavior on the world stage”. Of course Andy meant Zelensky, but this describes Trump and Vance to a big T!
Caroline Thomas says
Talbot Dems Walk for Democracy starts tomorrow at 5pm from their office on Dover St. to The Tidewater Inn at 5:30 pm where Harris is hosting a high dollar fundraiser. He needs to know how we feel!
Wilson Dean says
As pointed out in this article and by many of the commenters, Andy Harris dishonors the Eastern Shore. He reverses his earlier principled stands on Ukraine and the national debt, while refusing to support the sustainable farming and environmental programs so important to so many making a living on the Eastern Shore.
Yet Harris continues to be re-elected year after year. This is not a favorable comment about the voters on the Eastern Shore. Perhaps many who so blindly vote Republican without a second thought should look beyond their willful ignorance and elect someone who will really care about them in the 2026 election.
Rebecca Ellison says
Andy Harris is the Chairman of the ultra far right Freedom Caucus and has been so for years. That puts him among the worst of the worst, not only for his pro-Trump voting record, but because, as such, he was directly involved in leading/planning the January 6th assault on the Capital. Probably also the outrageous Trump playbook, ‘Project 2025’.
He is a doctor who, during the Covid pandemic, was quoted as being angry after he prescribed ivermectin (horse dewormer) for a patient of his with Covid … and, apparently, the pharmacist (rightly) refused to fill it.
It is now an OPEN SECRET in the County that the elusive Andy Harris is scheduled to host his financial donors at a fundraising event in Easton, on Thursday, March 6th, at the TIDEWATER INN … 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm.
Kent Robertson says
Ivermectin has been used very safely in 10s of millions of humans for decades. That it can also be used to deworm horses does not diminish its high efficacy and low risk profile. Get your facts straight.
HR Worthington says
Rebecca, thank you for this comment. I unfortunately missed the protest this afternoon.
In the meantime, could please tell me how many of the COVID vaccine boosters you have had? There is new research suggesting the original vaccine didn’t work on a subset of population below a certain IQ, and one of the lesser-known side effects is continued difficulty with critical reasoning. I will be sure pass along the study when I see you at the next anti Harris event. -HR
Judy Wixted says
The people of the First District would welcome an in-person Town Hall with their Representative. A cowardly, hide behind the telephone Town Hall where calls are screened and invites rare is woefully inadequate. But then again, so is his representation.
Maris Wicker says
Thank you for this article. Harris is a spineless waste of time.
John Dean says
Thank you for reading the piece. I share your view that Harris should not be in Congress.
Myra Frost says
I can’t imagine the lies he tells himself about Ukraine and his connection to it.
John Dean says
I can’t either . . .
HR Worthington says
Indeed. What we really need is another Democrat to vote for the “Inflation Reduction Act II” and to continue funding the war in the Ukraine indefinitely. Don’t want to do that? Fine, then let’s fund the “security guarantee” indefinitely. Either way, the money has got to flow across the Atlantic, right? Afterall, we wouldn’t want anything to get in the way of the time-honored tradition of having our European betters chastise us while we indirectly subsize their welfare state.
I love how you criticize the budget bill in one breath and suggest we should fund the war (or the peace) in the next. Don’t let anyone ever accuse you of being a one-dimensional thinker.
Incidentally, tax cuts are not a “cost” they are a reduction in revenue. On the contrary, all government spending is de facto a tax because it needs to be paid for somehow. That payment always comes in the form of a tax. It could be a tariff, an income tax, a sales tax, or inflation. Pick your poison, but there needs to be a tax and there always is.
P.S. I would like you to run against Andy. You should really do it. Do you have any SCAS hats left? It would make a wonderful campaign merch.
Nancy L Minot says
Omg yes! Andy Harris has no position or opinion other than what Trump tells him to have. He’s not representing us. He can’t even represent himself