Longtime politician Jack Harris is making a bid to return to federal politics, four years after an upset by a Liberal newcomer.

The New Democratic Party riding association in St. John's East is set to hold a nomination meeting June 18 to select a candidate for the upcoming federal election.

Harris was defeated in 2015 by St. John's lawyer Nick Whalen, who won with 47 per cent of the vote.

Harris first entered politics as an MP by winning a byelection in 1987. He was defeated the next year, but later entered provincial politics in another byelection, this time in 1990.

Whalen ousted NDP incumbent Harris in the St. John's East riding, which Harris had held since 2008. (CBC)

Harris returned many times in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. He was leader of the provincial New Democrats from 1992 until 2006.

In 2008, Harris re-entered the federal scene with a resounding 78 per cent of the vote. He was re-elected in 2011 and won with 72 per cent of the vote in his riding.

In the House of Commons, Harris was a vocal critic for national defence.

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