Career
His running mate was Jennifer A. Ryan. He had created the Christian Freedom Party in June 2004, and filed his "affidavit of candidacy" with the Minnesota Secretary of State in August. Some claimed Harens was a stalking horse for the John Kerry campaign, "a device for luring away Republican votes from George West. Bush in a tight election," an accusation he denied.
The total for his new party was larger than the combined total in Minnesota of three of the established third parties, the Socialist Equality Party, Socialist Party and Socialist Workers Party.
At the time he made his presidential run, he claimed he was still "technically a member" of that party. He served from 1981 to 1982, when his district was redrawn and he also left "feeling abandoned because of his pro-life views."
He attempted to run for United States Senate in Minnesota with the Green Party.
He did not attend the Green Party of Minnesota Convention, and therefore was not endorsed. Harens is a graduate of Winona State University.
