View source for Erika Harold

{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox person
|name        = Erika Harold
|image       = Ms. Erika Harold (cropped).JPG
|caption     = Harold in [[St. Louis, Missouri]], in January 2014
|birth_name  = Erika Natalie Louise Harold
|birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1980|2|20}}
|birth_place = [[Urbana, Illinois]], US
|death_date  = 
|death_place = 
|party       = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|education   = [[University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign|University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Harvard University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
|title       = [[Miss Illinois]] 2002<br>[[Miss America 2003]]
|predecessor = [[Katie Harman]]
|successor   = [[Ericka Dunlap]]
}}
'''Erika Natalie Louise Harold''' (born February 20, 1980) is an American attorney, politician, and former [[Miss America]].

Harold was [[Miss Illinois]] 2002 and Miss America 2003.  Her pageant platform was combating bullying.  In 2014, she was a candidate in the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] primary for the [[Illinois's 13th congressional district|13th Congressional District seat in the State of Illinois]], ultimately losing the nomination to the incumbent, [[Rodney Davis (politician)|Rodney Davis]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/dec/31/former-miss-america-erika-harold-joins-congression/|title=Former Miss America Erika Harold joins Congressional race in Illinois|newspaper=The Washington Times|access-date=October 14, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref>  In the [[2018 Illinois Attorney General election|2018 election]], she was the Republican nominee for [[Illinois Attorney General]].<ref>{{Cite news|author=ABC 7 News |title=Erika Harold wins GOP Attorney General nomination, Kwame Raoul leads Democrats |access-date=March 20, 2018 |url=http://abc7chicago.com/politics/ap-harold-wins-gop-attorney-general-nomination-raoul-leads-democrats/3239622/}}</ref>

==Background and legal career==
[[File:UrbanaSign.jpg|thumb|left|120px|Sign for [[Urbana, Illinois]] honoring Harold]]
Harold was born in [[Urbana, Illinois]]. Her [[ethnicity]] includes [[Greeks|Greek]], German and English on her father's side; and on her mother's side, both [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] and African-American.<ref name="HarvCrim021405">Ury, Faryl. [http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2005/2/14/miss-america-visits-hrc-after-serving/ Miss America Visits HRC], ''[[The Harvard Crimson]]'', February 14, 2005.</ref>

She graduated from the [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign|University of Illinois]], [[Phi Beta Kappa]] with a B.A. in political science and was a Chancellor's Scholar.<ref name="meyerCapel-bio">{{cite news
| title=Erika N. L. Harold
| url=http://www.meyercapel.com/erika-harold
| work=meyercapel.com
| access-date=March 21, 2018
| archive-date=July 2, 2016
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702214515/http://www.meyercapel.com/erika-harold
| url-status=dead
}}</ref> In 2007, she received her [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] from [[Harvard Law School]], where she won best brief in the [[Ames Moot Court Competition|Harvard Ames Moot Court]] semi-final and final rounds of competition.<ref name="Burke02012011" /><ref>Zhou, Kevin. [http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2006/11/15/justice-kennedy-presides-at-law-school/ Justice Kennedy Presides at Law School, Law students face Supreme Court justice in Moot Trial Competition], ''[[The Harvard Crimson]]'', November 15, 2006.</ref>  She has worked in Chicago, Illinois, as an associate attorney at [[Sidley Austin LLP]] and at Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella.<ref name="Burke02012011">Press Release. [http://www.burkelaw.com/News/Firm+Welcomes+New+Associate Firm Welcomes New Associate], Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C., February 1, 2011.</ref>  She later was a commercial litigation attorney for Meyer Capel law firm in [[Champaign, Illinois]].<ref name="Pantagraph6Jun13" /><ref name="2civility">{{cite web |title=Erika Harold Appointed as Executive Director of Commission on Professionalism |url=https://www.2civility.org/erika-harold-appointed-as-executive-director-of-commission-on-professionalism/ |website=2civility.org |date=March 22, 2022 |access-date=2022-05-05}}</ref> In 2022, she was appointed by the [[Illinois Supreme Court]] as executive director of the Commission on Professionalism.<ref name="2civility"/>

==Pageants==
[[File:Miss America 2002 Erika Harold.jpg|thumb|left|[[Miss America 2003]] Erika Harold at a news conference at the [[National Press Club (United States)|National Press Club]] discussing her campaign to fight youth violence in 2002]]
She became  [[Miss America 2003]] on September 21, 2002 (as [[Miss Illinois]] 2002). Her official platform was "Preventing Youth Violence and Bullying: Protect Yourself, Respect Yourself."  Her platform choice grew out of personal experience; she recounted having been the subject of racial and sexual harassment<ref name="Salon2002Abstain">Riscol, Lara. [http://dir.salon.com/story/mwt/feature/2002/10/28/miss_abstinence/index.html Miss America's stealth virginity campaign] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060617044653/http://dir.salon.com/story/mwt/feature/2002/10/28/miss_abstinence/index.html |date=June 17, 2006 }}, ''[[Salon (website)|Salon]]'', October 28, 2002.</ref> while growing up.  In a May 2, 2003, speech, Harold said when she turned to teachers and school administrators, her concerns were dismissed.<ref name="NPR050203">[https://www.npr.org/programs/npc/2003/030502.eharold.html Erika Harold, Miss America 2003, National Press Club Luncheon Speaker – May 2, 2003], ''[[National Public Radio]]'', May 2, 2003.</ref> As part of her platform, she became a national spokesperson for Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, a national advocacy group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2003/09/05/effects_of_bullying_arent_confined_to_childhood_study_finds/|title=Boston.com / News / Nation / Effects of bullying aren't confined to childhood, study finds|website=archive.boston.com|access-date=November 17, 2016}}</ref>

In the first week of her reign, she also adopted a secondary platform for [[sexual abstinence]].<ref name="Salon2002Abstain" /> [[The Washington Times]] suggested that pageant officials demonstrated a liberal bias when they allowed [[Miss America 1998]] [[Kate Shindle]], whose platform was [[Prevention of HIV/AIDS|HIV prevention]], to advocate condom distribution and needle exchange during her time as Miss America.<ref name="Salon2002Abstain" />  On October 8, 2002, Harold gave a speech at the [[National Press Club (USA)|National Press Club]] in Washington during which she stated that she would talk about sexual abstinence and that she "will not be bullied" into dropping the topic from her platform.<ref>[http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/bpnews.asp?ID=14407 Miss America resists pressure to silence abstinence message] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315172703/http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/bpnews.asp?ID=14407 |date=March 15, 2014 }}, ''[[Baptist Press]]'', October 9, 2002.</ref>  Thirty-eight members of Congress sent her a letter of support, encouraging her to press on with her "healthy message of abstinence until marriage."<ref>Carmon, Irin. [http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2003/9/25/there-she-is-so-youre-from/ There She Is, Inside the year of the Harvard beauty queen], ''[[The Harvard Crimson]]'', September 25, 2003.</ref> During her time as Miss America, Harold interacted with legislators and testified before Congress on [[bullying]] and abstinence, which provided her with additional motivation to pursue a political career.<ref>Friedman, Hilary Levey. [http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2012/06/miss_america_and_politics_why_are_so_many_beauty_queens_running_for_office_.single.html Here She Comes, Miss (Elected) America], ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'', June 26, 2012.</ref>

==Politics==
[[File:Erika Harold.jpg|thumb|[[Miss America 2003]] Erika Harold]]
[[File:Erika Harold (13049184745).jpg|thumb|right|Harold at the [[Conservative Political Action Conference]] in 2014]]
Harold is a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], and was the Youth Director for the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Partisan primary|primary]] campaign of Illinois [[gubernatorial]] candidate [[Patrick O'Malley (American politician)|Patrick O'Malley]].<ref>[http://www.theicfg.com/2013/02/13/plenty-of-republican-lt-governor-choices-exist-for-2014/ Plenty of Republican Lt. Governor choices exist for 2014] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321042410/http://www.theicfg.com/2013/02/13/plenty-of-republican-lt-governor-choices-exist-for-2014/ |date=March 21, 2013 }}, Illinois Conservatives, February 13, 2013.</ref> She later served as a delegate to the [[2004 Republican National Convention]].<ref>Griffy, Leslie. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140611030223/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1520720.html Ex-Miss America a delegate to GOP convention], ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', January 12, 2004, page 6</ref> She gave a speech to the convention on August 31, 2004, to support [[George W. Bush]]'s [[faith-based initiatives]].<ref>Tartakoff, Joseph M. [http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2004/9/13/hls-bound-beauty-queen-boosts-bush-new/ HLS-Bound Beauty Queen Boosts Bush], ''[[The Harvard Crimson]]'', September 13, 2004.</ref>  She worked on the Bush campaign to reach out to minority voters.<ref name="HarvCrim021405" />

In May 2012, Harold was one of four finalists for the Republican nomination for Congress in Illinois's 13th district, a nomination selected by the Republican chairmen of the 14 counties covered by the 13th Congressional District, instead of a primary election.<ref name="May2012ChiSunTimes">Pallasch, Abdon M. [http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/12400853-418/former-miss-america-in-running-for-downstate-gop-congressional-nomination.html Former Miss America in running for Downstate GOP congressional nomination], ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', May 8, 2012.</ref> The Republican chairmen selected [[Rodney L. Davis]], over Harold, and Davis was subsequently elected to Congress, in an expensive race.<ref name="Pantagraph6Jun13">Lowe, Kenneth. [http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/government-and-politics/gop-candidate-erika-harold-says-she-will-stress-conservative-values/article_666bba10-cf00-11e2-a709-001a4bcf887a.html GOP candidate Erika Harold says she will stress 'conservative values'], ''[[The Pantagraph|Bloomington-Normal Pantagraph]]'', June 6, 2013.</ref><ref>Sabella, Jen. [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/24/erika-harold-former-miss-_n_1449315.html Erika Harold, Former Miss America, Considering GOP Bid For U.S. House (PHOTOS)], ''[[Huffington Post]]'', April 24, 2012.</ref>

===2014 congressional campaign===
{{See also|2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois#District 13}}
On June 4, 2013, Harold announced she would run against Rep. [[Rodney L. Davis]], R-Ill. in the 2014 Republican primary for [[Illinois's 13th congressional district]].<ref>Blake, Aaron. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/06/04/former-miss-america-erika-harold-launches-congressional-run/ Former Miss America Erika Harold launches congressional run], ''[[The Washington Post]]'', June 4, 2013.</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Linares, Veronica|title=Miss America 2003 to run for Congress Illinois|url=http://www.upi.com/blog/2013/06/05/Miss-America-2003-to-run-for-Congress-Illinois/4751370462087/|publisher=UPI|access-date=June 5, 2013}}</ref> Davis, Harold's opponent in the primary, was among the top targets for Democrats in 2014.<ref>Camia, Catalina. [https://www.usatoday.com/story/onpolitics/2013/06/04/miss-america-congress-erika-harold-davis/2387747/ Ex-Miss America Erika Harold begins Congress campaign], ''[[USA Today]]'', June 4, 2013.</ref> On March 18, 2014, Harold lost the Republican primary to Davis 54%–41%.<ref name=illprimary>[http://www.elections.il.gov/Downloads/ElectionInformation/VoteTotals/2014GPOfficialVote.pdf/ Official Illinois State Board of Elections Results] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128011354/http://www.elections.il.gov/Downloads/ElectionInformation/VoteTotals/2014GPOfficialVote.pdf |date=January 28, 2015 }}</ref><ref name=roll>{{cite news|last=Cahn|first=Emily|title=Ann Callis, Rodney Davis to Face Off in Targeted Illinois District|url=http://atr.rollcall.com/ann-callis-rodney-davis-illinois-primary/|access-date=March 19, 2014|newspaper=Roll Call|date=March 18, 2014}}</ref>

===2018 campaign for Illinois attorney general===
{{See also|2018 Illinois Attorney General election}}
On August 15, 2017, Harold announced that she would seek the Republican nomination to be Illinois attorney general.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2017-08-15/urbanas-harold-announces-bid-attorney-general.html|title = Urbana's Harold announces bid for attorney general| date=August 15, 2017 }}</ref> On March 20, 2018, she won the Republican nomination for attorney general garnering 59% of the vote in a two-way contest against Gary Grasso, a former mayor of Burr Ridge, IL, now a member of the DuPage County Board and a litigation attorney.<ref>[https://elections.suntimes.com/results/illinois-attorney-general/ Illinois Attorney General Election Results], Chicago Sun-Times, March 20, 2018.</ref> She lost the general election to Democrat [[Kwame Raoul]] garnering 43% of the vote to his 55%.

===Electoral history===
{{Election box begin no change
| title = [[Illinois's 13th congressional district]] Republican primary results, 2014<ref name=illprimary/>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Rodney L. Davis
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 27,816
| percentage = 55
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Erika Harold
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 20,951
| percentage = 41
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Michael Firsching]]
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 2,147
| percentage = 4
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 50,914
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = Illinois Attorney General election, 2018 Republican primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Erika Harold
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 378,707	
| percentage = 59.15
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Gary Grasso
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 261,509
| percentage = 40.85
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 640,216
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = Illinois Attorney General election, 2018
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Kwame Raoul]]
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 2,488,326
| percentage = 54.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Erika Harold
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 1,944,142
| percentage = 42.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Bubba Harsy
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 115,941
| percentage = 2.6
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 4,548,409
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
| winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
| loser      = 
}}
{{Election box end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Commons}}

==External links==
* {{Twitter}}
* [http://www.meyercapel.com/erika-harold Erika Harold biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702214515/http://www.meyercapel.com/erika-harold |date=July 2, 2016 }}
* {{C-SPAN|1003622}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{s-bef|before=Kristin Castillo}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Miss Illinois]]|years=2002}}
{{s-aft|after=Michelle LaGroue}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Katie Harman]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Miss America]]|years=2003}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ericka Dunlap]]}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Paul Schimpf]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[Illinois Attorney General|Attorney General of Illinois]] |years=[[2018 Illinois Attorney General election|2018]]}}
{{s-aft|after=Tom DeVore}}
{{s-end}}

{{MissAmericas 2000–2019 |state=collapsed}}
{{Miss America 2003 Delegates}}
{{Miss America}}
{{Illinois Pageant Winners}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harold, Erika}}
[[Category:1980 births]]
[[Category:African-American Christians]]
[[Category:African-American people in Illinois politics]]
[[Category:American people of German descent]]
[[Category:American people of Greek descent]]
[[Category:American people of Russian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Welsh descent]]
[[Category:American women lawyers]]
[[Category:21st-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:Harvard Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Illinois Republicans]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Miss America 2003 delegates]]
[[Category:Miss America winners]]
[[Category:People from Urbana, Illinois]]
[[Category:University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumni]]
[[Category:Women in Illinois politics]]
[[Category:African-American beauty pageant winners]]
[[Category:Black conservatism in the United States]]
[[Category:Beauty queen-politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American women politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American women politicians]]