Harris McDowell
McDowell in 1965
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Delaware's At-large district
In office
January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1967
Preceded byHarry G. Haskell Jr.
Succeeded byBill Roth
In office
January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1957
Preceded byHerbert B. Warburton
Succeeded byHarry G. Haskell Jr.
Member of the Delaware Senate
In office
January 3, 1943 - January 3, 1947
Member of the Delaware House of Representatives
In office
January 3, 1941 - January 3, 1943
Personal details
Born
Harris Brown McDowell Jr.

(1906-02-10)February 10, 1906
Middletown, Delaware, U.S.
DiedNovember 24, 1988(1988-11-24) (aged 82)
Middletown, Delaware, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
ChildrenHarris McDowell III
Residence(s)Middletown, Delaware
Alma materBeacom Business College
Occupationfarmer

Harris Brown McDowell Jr. (February 10, 1906 – November 24, 1988) was an American farmer and politician from Middletown in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and five terms as U.S. Representative from Delaware.

Early life and family

McDowell was born near Middletown, Delaware. He attended the public schools of Middletown, and graduated from Beacom Business College in Wilmington. He lived in Middletown, was engaged in farming, also in the insurance and real estate business, and was a member of the State Board of Agriculture from 1937 until 1940.

Political career

McDowell served in the State House during the 1941/42 session and then in the State Senate for the 1943/44 and 1945/46 sessions. During those years he was a director of Interstate Milk Producers Cooperative and member of Delaware Farm Bureau from 1941 until 1948. He served as Secretary of State for Delaware during Governor Elbert N. Carvel's first term, from 1949 until 1953 and was a member of New Castle County Zoning Commission in 1953 and 1954.

McDowell was elected to the U.S. Representatives in 1954, defeating Republican Lillian I. Martin. During this term, he served with the Democratic majority in the 84th Congress. He lost his bid for a second term in 1956 to Republican Harry G. Haskell Jr. McDowell then was elected again to the U.S. Representatives in 1958, defeating incumbent Republican U.S. Representative Harry G. Haskell Jr., and won election three more times, also defeating Republicans James T. McKinstry in 1960, Wilmer F. Williams in 1962, and James H. Snowden in 1964. During these terms, he served with the Democratic majority in the 86th, 87th, 88th, and 89th Congress. Finally, he lost his bid for a sixth term in 1966 to William V. Roth Jr., then a Wilmington lawyer. His support of President Lyndon Johnson's war policies may have contributed to his defeat. In all, he served twice, once from January 3, 1955 until January 3, 1957, and again from January 3, 1959 until January 3, 1967, during the administrations of U.S. Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson.

McDowell did not sign the 1956 Southern Manifesto, and voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1960 and 1964,[1][2] and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.[3]

Death and legacy

McDowell died in Middletown, Delaware on November 24, 1988, Thanksgiving Day, after a stroke a month prior.[4] He is buried in the Forest Presbyterian Cemetery there. His son, Harris McDowell III, was a member of the Delaware Senate from 1977 to 2021.

Almanac

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. Members of the General Assembly take office the second Tuesday of January. State Senators have a four-year term and State Representatives have a two-year term. U.S. Representatives take office January 3 and have a two-year term.

Public Offices
Office Type Location Began office Ended office notes
State Representative Legislature Dover January 3, 1941 January 3, 1943
State Senator Legislature Dover January 3, 1943 January 3, 1947
U.S. Representative Legislature Washington January 3, 1955 January 3, 1957
U.S. Representative Legislature Washington January 3, 1959 January 3, 1961
U.S. Representative Legislature Washington January 3, 1961 January 3, 1963
U.S. Representative Legislature Washington January 3, 1963 January 3, 1965
U.S. Representative Legislature Washington January 3, 1965 January 3, 1967
United States Congressional service
Dates Congress Chamber Majority President Committees Class/District
1955–1957 84th U.S. House Democratic Dwight D. Eisenhower at-large
1959–1961 86th U.S. House Democratic Dwight D. Eisenhower at-large
1961–1963 87th U.S. House Democratic John F. Kennedy at-large
1963–1965 88th U.S. House Democratic John F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson		 at-large
1965–1967 89th U.S. House Democratic Lyndon B. Johnson at-large
Election results
Year Office Subject Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes %
1954 U.S. Representative Harris B. McDowell Jr. Democratic 79,201 55% Lillian I. Martin Republican 65,035 45%
1956 U.S. Representative Harris B. McDowell Jr. Democratic 84,644 48% Harry G. Haskell Jr. Republican 91,538 52%
1958 U.S. Representative Harris B. McDowell Jr. Democratic 76,797 50% Harry G. Haskell Jr. Republican 76,099 50%
1960 U.S. Representative Harris B. McDowell Jr. Democratic 98,227 50% James T. McKinstry Republican 96,337 50%
1962 U.S. Representative Harris B. McDowell Jr. Democratic 81,166 53% Wilmer F. Williams Republican 71,934 47%
1964 U.S. Representative Harris B. McDowell Jr. Democratic 112,361 57% James H. Snowden Republican 86,254 43%
1966 U.S. Representative Harris B. McDowell Jr. Democratic 72,142 44% William V. Roth Jr. Republican 90,961 56%
1968 U.S. Representative Harris B. McDowell Jr. Democratic 82,993 41% William V. Roth Jr. Republican 117,827 59%

References

  1. ↑ "HR 8601. PASSAGE".
  2. ↑ "H.R. 7152. PASSAGE".
  3. ↑ "TO PASS H.R. 6400, THE 1965 VOTING RIGHTS ACT".
  4. ↑ Moyed, Ralph (November 26, 1988). "Harris B. McDowell Jr. dies". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. p. 1. Retrieved September 22, 2022. Free access icon
  • Martin, Roger (1997). Elbert N. Carvel. Wilmington, Delaware: Delaware Heritage Press. ISBN 0-924117-08-7.
  • Hoffecker, Carol E. (2000). Honest John Williams. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press.
  • Martin, Roger A. (1995). Memoirs of the Senate. Newark, Delaware: Roger A. Martin.
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