With former partner Jim VandeHei, Harris founded Politico on January 23, 2007, and served as editor-in-chief until 2019.

[2][3] After graduating from college, Harris worked for The Washington Post for 21 years, having started as an intern.

In 1990, he was transferred to the Post's Richmond bureau, covering Virginia politics during Douglas Wilder's governorship.

[4] Harris began "having conversations" in 2006 with fellow Post journalist Jim VandeHei about creating "a new publication about politics from the ground up".

[6] Harris is married to Ann O'Hanlon, and lives with their three children, Liza, Griffin, and Nikki, in Alexandria, Virginia.