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Former Florida Secretary Of State Katherine Harris' Husband Commits Suicide

Former Florida Secretary Of State Katherine Harris' Husband Commits Suicide
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The husband of former Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris has committed suicide, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.

Police confirmed to the AP that Anders Ebbeson, Harris' husband, was found dead of apparent suicide at the couple's home in Sarasota.

Ebbeson, a Swedish businessman, was 68. According to Pastor William Hild of Sarasota First Baptist Church, Harris' husband had been dealing with health issues in recent years.

"On behalf of the family, Katherine's husband took his own life,” Hild said at a news conference, according to the Herald Tribune. “They are asking for privacy, prayer, thoughts and love from the community.”

Harris was thrust into the national spotlight during the controversy over Florida's ballots in the 2000 presidential election. The Republican Secretary of State certified that George W. Bush had defeated Democrat Al Gore in the Sunshine State, a decision later upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

In 2002, Harris was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida's 13th District. In 2006, she unsuccessfully attempted to unseat Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.). Harris left Congress in 2007.

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Before You Go

In Memoriam: Notable 2013 Political Deaths
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Ed Koch Served as: U.S. congressman from New York (1969-1977), Mayor Of New York City (1978-1989)Died on: Feb. 1, 2013 at age 88 of congestive heart failure. (credit:AP)
(02 of29)
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Cardiss Collins (right)Served as: U.S. congresswoman from Illinois (1973-1997) Died on: Feb. 3, 2013 at age 81 of complications from pneumonia (credit:AP)
(03 of29)
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Marco McMillianServed as: Democratic candidate for mayor of Clarksdale, Miss. (2013)Died on: February 26, 2013 at age 33. McMillan was found murdered near a Mississippi River levee. (credit:Marco McMillian Campaign/Facebook)
(04 of29)
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William RoyerServed as: U.S. congressman from California (1979-1981) Died on: April 8, 2013 at age 92 of natural causes (credit:Getty Images)
(05 of29)
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Charlie Wilson (right)Served as: Ohio state representative (1997-2005), Ohio state senator (2005-06), U.S. congressman from Ohio (2007-2011)Died on: April 14, 2013 at age 70, a few months after suffering a stroke (credit:Getty Images)
(06 of29)
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Bob EdgarServed as: U.S. congressman from Pennsylvania (1975-1987) Died on: April 23, 2013 at age 69 of a heart attack (credit:Getty Images)
(07 of29)
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Frank LautenbergServed as: U.S. senator from New Jersey (1982-2001, 2003-2013) Died on: June 3, 2013 at age 89 of complications from viral pneumonia (credit:AP)
(08 of29)
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Argeo Paul CellucciServed as: Massachusetts state representative (1977-1985), Massachusetts state senator (1985-1991), Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts (1991-99), Governor of Massachusetts (1997-2001), U.S. Ambassador to Canada (2001-05)Died on: June 8, 2013 at age 65 of complications from ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease (credit:AP)
(09 of29)
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Barbara VucanovichServed as: U.S. congresswoman from Nevada (1983-1997)Died on: June 10, 2013 at age 91 after a brief illness (credit:AP)
(10 of29)
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Bill Hathaway (far left) Served as: U.S. congressman from Maine (1965-1973), U.S. senator from Maine (1973-79) Died on: June 25, 2013 at age 89Correction: A previous version of this slide misstated that Hathaway was on the far right. (credit:AP)
(11 of29)
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William GrayServed as: U.S. congressman from Pennsylvania (1979-1991), House Majority Whip (1989-1991)Died on: July 1, 2013 at age 71 (credit:AP)
(12 of29)
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Arlan StangelandServed as: U.S. congressman from Minnesota (1977-1991) Died on: July 2, 2013 at age 83 (credit:Getty Images)
(13 of29)
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Donald IrwinServed as: U.S. congressman from Connecticut (1959-1961, 1965-69), Connecticut state treasurer (1961-63), Mayor of Norwalk, Conn. (1971-75)Died on: July 7, 2013 at age 86 from heart problems (credit:Getty Images)
(14 of29)
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Lindy BoggsServed as: U.S. congresswoman from Louisiana (1973-1991) Died on: July 27, 2013 at age 97 of natural causes (credit:AP)
(15 of29)
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Lois DeBerryServed as: Tennessee state representative (1972-2013)Died on: July 28, 2013 at age 68 of pancreatic cancerCorrection: A previous version of this slide incorrectly identified DeBerry as a Tennessee state senator. (credit:AP)
(16 of29)
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William ScrantonServed as: U.S. congressman from Pennsylvania (1961-63), governor of Pennsylvania (1963-67); U.N. Ambassador (1976-77)Died on: July 28, 2013 at age 96 of a cerebral hemorrhage (credit:Getty Images)
(17 of29)
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Jack HightowerServed as: Texas state representative (1953–55), Texas state senator (1965-1974), U.S. congressman from Texas (1975-85)Died on: Aug. 3, 2013 at age 86 (credit:Getty Images)
(18 of29)
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John J. GilliganServed as: U.S. congressman from Ohio (1965-67), governor of Ohio (1971-75)Died on: Aug. 26, 2013 at age 92 (credit:AP)
(19 of29)
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Harry Byrd Jr.Served as: U.S. senator from Virginia (1965-1983)Died on: July 30, 2013 at age 98 (credit:AP)
(20 of29)
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E. Clay Shaw Jr.Served as: Mayor of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (1975-81), U.S. congressman from Florida (1981-2007)Died on: Sept. 10, 2013 at age 74 of lung cancer (credit:Getty Images)
(21 of29)
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Rod GramsServed as: U.S. congressman from Minnesota (1993-95), U.S. senator from Minnesota (1995-2001) Died on: October 8, 2013 at age 65 from cancer (credit:AP)
(22 of29)
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Tom FoleyServed as: U.S. congressman from Washington state (1965-1995), House Majority Whip (1981-87), House Majority Leader (1987-89), Speaker of the House (1989-1995), U.S. Ambassador to Japan (1997-2001)Died on: Oct. 18, 2013 at age 84 (credit:AP)
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Bill YoungServed as: Florida state senator (1960-1970), U.S. congressman (1971-2013) from FloridaDied on: Oct. 18, 2013 at age 82 (credit:AP)
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Major Owens (left)Served as: U.S. congressman from New York (1983-2007)Died on: Oct. 21, 2013 at age 77 of renal failure and heart failure (credit:AP)
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Ike SkeltonServed as: U.S. congressman from Missouri (1977-2011)Died on: Oct. 28, 2013 at age 81 (credit:AP)
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John McCollisterServed as: U.S. congressman from Nebraska (1971-77) Died on: Nov. 1, 2013 at age 92 (credit:Getty Images)
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William CoyneServed as: Pennsylvania state representative (1971-72), U.S. congressman from Pennsylvania (1981-2003)Died on: Nov. 3, 2013 at age 77, two months after falling and sustaining head injuries (credit:Getty Images)
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John EisenhowerServed as: U.S. Ambassador to Belgium (1969-1971)Died on: Dec. 21, 2013 at age 91 (credit:AP)
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Andrew JacobsServed as: U.S. congressman from Indiana (1965-1973, 1975-1997)Died on: Dec. 28, 2013 at age 81 (credit:Getty Images)
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