Dr. Carl Harris has been a resident of St. Louis, Missouri since early childhood, relocating from Cleveland, Mississippi with his family in pursuit of greater opportunities. He attended and graduated from St. Louis Public Schools, completing his studies at Ofallon Technical High School as part of the class of 1981.

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Dr. Harris was awarded an athletic scholarship and subsequently enrolled in a small college in Missouri for the 1981–1982 academic year. In 1982, he got married and joined the US Military. After serving five years in the US Navy, he returned to St. Louis and achieved a bachelor's degree in business administration with a minor in Marketing, in 1991.

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Between 1990 and 2002, Dr. Harris distinguished himself as a prolific writer advocating for social, political, and economic causes within the St. Louis community, minority communities, and across the nation. His interest in public service led him to seek public office in 2002, further deepening his perspective on Missouri and national politics. From 2003 to 2006, he continued his political advocacy as a Community Organizer.

 

Dr. Harris transitioned into the construction industry in 2007, working initially as a carpenter and later advancing to corporate management within the home improvement sector. During this period, he obtained an MBA from Northcentral University in 2019 and completed his Doctorate in Business and Public Administration from National University in 2023.

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Dr. Harris is the founder of SME Global Business Consulting LLC, established in 2022. Since 2024, he has served as an advisor and project manager for the SLDC small business grant program in St. Louis. Recently, he has managed projects focused on affordable and market-rate housing development in north St. Louis. As of February 24, 2026, Dr. Harris is a Democratic candidate for the US Congress representing Missouri’s First District. 

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Key Areas of Attacks on Civil Rights (2025-2026 Context)

• Government Accountability & Rule of Law: Efforts have been made to weaken, dismantle, or bypass established anti-discrimination protections and federal civil rights enforcement agencies. This includes targeting organizations that challenge these policies and installing political loyalists in key administrative roles.

• LGBTQ+ and Reproductive Rights: Specific actions include targeting Planned Parenthood, reducing access to reproductive healthcare, and implementing policies that restrict protections for transgender individuals, such as limiting their participation in sports and narrowing the legal definition of sex.

• Voting Rights and Democracy: Attacks include restricting voting access and, according to reports on future policy plans like "Project 2025," rearranging the Department of Justice to deprioritize civil rights enforcement.

• Workplace and Education Equality: The administration has targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, labeling them as unlawful discrimination and mandating "colorblind" policies that may mask systemic disparities.

• Immigration and Due Process: Reports indicate punitive actions against asylum seekers, including forced returns to third countries and, in some cases, the violation of due process for immigrants.

• Data Suppression: Deliberate efforts to remove datasets that document economic, social, and health disparities for underserved communities.