Co. Supervisor Nikiya Harris launches campaign for Senate

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee County Supervisor Nikiya Harris announced Monday, May 14th that she will be running for Wisconsin State Senate.

Harris is running for the 6th District Senate seat that opened up after Spencer Coggs became Milwaukee County's treasurer.

Harris says job creation and education would be her focus if elected, and that state politics needs new leaders to move forward.

"The old guard has had its day, and to get our state out of the trouble we currently face, we need fresh new leaders who can look at our problems without the blinders of the past. Leaders who can bring different voices to the table and create new coalitions to meet our challengers," Harris said.

Harris represents the 2nd District, which includes north side neighborhoods near McGovern Park.  She was elected to the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors in a special election in May 2010. 

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Harris is a graduate of Washington High School.  She earned a Master’s Degree in Adult Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Education, both from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM).  She also holds a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Helen Bader Institute of Nonprofit Management.  She is a previous Milwaukee Urban League Young Professional, where she was the Community Services Chairwoman.

State Assembly member Elizabeth Coggs has said she will also run for the open seat.