Patricia Harless

Patricia Fincher Harless^[1] (born November 13, 1963)^[2] is a Texan politician and businesswoman who represented the 126th district in the Texas House of Representatives until 2017.

Patricia Harless
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 126th district
In office January 8, 2007 – January 8, 2017
Preceded by	Peggy Hamric
Succeeded by	Kevin Roberts
Personal details
Born	Patricia Fincher (1963-11-13) November 13, 1963 (age 61)
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Sam Harless ​ (m. 1985)​
Children	1
Residence(s)	Spring, Texas, U.S.
Alma mater	LeTourneau University

Political career

Harless was appointed to the Texas Motor Vehicle Board overseeing the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles by Governor George W. Bush and later re-appointed by Governor Rick Perry, serving from 1998 to 2005.^[1]

She was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2006 for the 126th district as a member of the Republican Party. She was sworn in on January 8, 2007 succeeding Republican Peggy Hamric and was subsequently re-elected four times.^[1]

In 2016, she declined to seek re-election and was succeeded by Kevin Roberts.^[3]

In 2019, Sam Harless was elected to the Texas House of Representatives for her former district.^[4]

Electoral history

2006

Texas General Election, 2006: House District 126[5]
Party	Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Patricia Harless	18,112	64.77%
Democrat	Chad Khan	9,114	32.59%
Libertarian	Oscar J. Palma, Jr.	736	2.63%
Margin		8,998	32.18%

2008

Texas General Election, 2008: House District 126[6]
Party	Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Patricia Harless (Incumbent)	32,748	59.40%
Democrat	Chad Khan	21,179	38.42%
Libertarian	Oscar J. Palma, Jr.	1,204	2.18%
Margin		11,569	20.98%

2010

Texas General Election, 2010: House District 126[7]
Party	Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Patricia Harless (Incumbent)	25,534	68.14%
Democrat	Casey McKinney	11,938	31.86%
Margin		13,596	36.28%

2012

Texas General Election, 2012: House District 126[8]
Party	Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Patricia Harless (Incumbent)	40,311	100.00%
Margin		40,311	100.00%

2014

Texas General Election, 2014: House District 126[9]
Party	Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Patricia Harless (Incumbent)	23,899	86.31%
Libertarian	Cris Hernandez	3,791	13.69%
Margin		20,108	72.62%

Personal life

Harless married Sam Harless in 1985 and has one child.^[10] She co-owns Fred Fincher Motors, a car dealership group founded by her parents in 1959, with her husband and previously served as CFO.^[1][11]