Malcolm Rivera
Kamala Harris, the former Vice President of the United States, has had a long political career, including three statewide office wins as California's attorney general and US senator. In 2024, Harris became the Democratic presidential candidate and the first woman of colour with a shot at the presidency. Despite losing the election to Donald Trump, Harris garnered 75 million votes, and her supporters believe she could still have a chance at the presidency in the future.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Kamala Harris's previous position | Vice President |
| Harris's opponent in the 2024 election | Donald Trump |
| Number of votes Harris received | 75 million |
| Number of battleground states won by Trump | 7 |
| Number of paths to 270 electoral college votes for Trump | More than Harris |
| Possible reasons for Harris's loss | Her stance on transgender issues, her avoidance of media interviews, her inability to portray herself as a common-sense center-left candidate |
| Possible reasons for Trump's win | His modulated stance on abortion, his popularity among white working-class voters, Latinos, and African Americans |
| Future possibilities for Harris | Seeking the presidency again, becoming the first black female governor of California |
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What You'll Learn
Kamala Harris's strengths and Trump's weaknesses
Kamala Harris's strengths include her popularity as a good role model, being down-to-earth, and her honesty. A survey conducted in 2024 showed that Harris held a 19% advantage over Trump in being a good role model, a 13-point lead as being more down-to-earth, and an 8-point advantage in honesty. Harris also polled well on mental sharpness, with 61% of voters describing her as "mentally sharp", compared to 52% for Trump.
Harris has a strong track record in politics, having won statewide office three times as California's attorney general and later as a US senator. She also served as District Attorney of San Francisco, and as Vice President of the United States. She has a broad base of support, with 49% of registered voters saying they would vote for her in the 2024 election, and she polled well with Black, Asian, and Latino voters.
Donald Trump's weaknesses include his age, and the perception that he is not "mentally sharp". If he were to win the 2024 election, he would become the oldest person to take office, at 78. While Trump had an advantage on the economy, with 55% of voters saying they were confident in his ability to make good decisions on economic policy, this was a decrease from two months prior, when 58% of voters viewed him as "mentally sharp".
Trump has also been accused of discriminating against employees on the basis of race and other categories prohibited by civil rights laws, and of weaponizing the government for his own political ends.
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The impact of Harris's decision to avoid media interviews
Kamala Harris' avoidance of media interviews has had a significant impact on her political career and public perception. While some may view her decision as a strategic move, it has also led to criticism and speculation. By avoiding media interviews, Harris misses opportunities to connect with voters, explain her policies, and address concerns directly. This can lead to a lack of transparency and make her appear inaccessible or out of touch with the public.
During her 2024 presidential campaign, Harris faced increasing pressure from the media, with outlets like the Washington Post arguing that "the media and public have legitimate questions, and she should face them." Her avoidance became a talking point, with Trump's running mate, J.D. Vance, approaching Harris' plane in Wisconsin to question why she refused to answer the media's questions. This put Harris in a defensive position and provided ammunition for her opponents.
The impact of Harris' decision to avoid media interviews also extended to her supporters and the Democratic Party. Some journalists and political analysts suggested that Harris' reluctance to engage with the traditional media could be a sign of self-importance or a lack of confidence in her ability to handle tough questions. This perception may have influenced how her supporters and the Democratic Party strategized and interacted with the media during the campaign.
Additionally, Harris' avoidance of media interviews may have contributed to a sense of uncertainty or distrust among voters. In a highly scrutinized political race, voters often seek direct engagement and transparency from candidates. By avoiding interviews, Harris might have missed chances to clarify her positions, address controversies, or connect with undecided voters. This could have led to a lack of trust and potentially influenced voting decisions.
However, it is worth noting that Harris' decision to limit media interviews may have been a calculated strategy. Running a condensed and improbable campaign, Harris and her team might have chosen to prioritize certain engagement formats over others. While this approach may have contributed to criticism, it also allowed Harris to control her message and potentially avoid negative media narratives.
In conclusion, Kamala Harris' decision to avoid media interviews during her presidential campaign had a notable impact. It led to criticism, speculation, and pressure from the media and provided ammunition for her opponents. It also potentially influenced public perception, affected her connection with voters, and shaped the Democratic Party's strategy. While there may have been strategic reasons for her decision, the avoidance of media interviews had repercussions that extended beyond her campaign and into the public's trust and support.
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Harris's stance on transgender issues
While Kamala Harris has been described as a complicated choice for LGBTQ+ people, her presidency would likely be a win for transgender rights. Harris has one of the best records on marriage equality of any 2020 candidate, but her record on trans rights is more mixed.
Harris has been criticised for her support of FOSTA/SESTA, a 2018 package of bills that aimed to curb sex trafficking by shutting down sites used by sex workers. Many sex workers, especially transgender sex workers, decried the measures as deadly, as they wiped out critical screening tools they used to keep themselves safe. However, Harris now says she supports decriminalising sex work.
Harris has also been questioned about her grasp of transgender issues. During her 2024 campaign, she released an LGBTQ+ platform that included a rollback of Trump's transgender military ban, an end to discrimination under the guise of religion, and the passage of the Equality Act. However, this platform received little attention outside of queer media.
Despite this, the Biden-Harris administration has made LGBTQ rights a cornerstone of its policy agenda, including consistently suing states to block anti-trans laws and policies. The administration has also taken steps to protect transgender people against discrimination, such as ordering federal agencies to ensure that the Supreme Court's decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, which held that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, applies to housing, healthcare, and credit lending. They have also expanded access to gender-affirming healthcare and accurate gender markers on federal government identification documents.
Harris has also spoken out against book bans in schools and libraries, acknowledging that these bans disproportionately target LGBTQ+ authors and subjects. She has also introduced Title IX updates, which include the right for students to use bathrooms that align with their gender identities.
Overall, while Harris's stance on transgender issues may be complicated, her presidency would likely lead to continued progress on transgender rights.
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The possibility of Harris becoming the first female president
The possibility of Kamala Harris becoming the first female president of the United States was a topic of much discussion in the 2024 election. Harris, the incumbent vice president, was the Democratic nominee and faced off against former president Donald Trump. Despite losing the election, Harris garnered 75 million votes, and her supporters and political analysts argue that she could have a path to the presidency in the future.
Harris's campaign was not without its struggles. Her decision to avoid media interviews during the first half of her campaign may have hurt her, as it created the impression that she was dependent on scripted remarks and afraid to think on her feet. Additionally, her stance on transgender issues was heavily targeted by the Trump campaign, which invested heavily in negative advertising. Serving as vice president to a president whose approval rating had plunged also put her at a disadvantage.
However, Harris had certain advantages as well. She had previously won statewide office three times as California's attorney general and later as a US senator. She had also captured a groundswell of support in her bid for the presidency, and her supporters argue that this, combined with the unusual circumstances of her condensed campaign, means there is still scope for her to seek the Oval Office again. Additionally, historically, it has been harder for a Republican to win the presidency than a Democrat, with a Democrat in the Oval Office for 20 of the last 32 years.
While some Democrats are sceptical of giving Harris another chance after her loss to Trump, it is clear that she has a base of support and a path to the presidency, making her a potential future contender for the office and the first female president of the United States.
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Harris's chances of winning without Pennsylvania
While most political experts agree that Kamala Harris's easiest path to victory in the Electoral College is through Pennsylvania, there are a few ways she could win without the state. Pennsylvania, with its 19 electoral votes, is the biggest battleground state in 2024 and is expected to play a significant role in deciding the election between Harris and former President Donald Trump.
Harris could win without Pennsylvania by adding North Carolina and Georgia, or with Arizona, Nevada, and either North Carolina or Georgia. If she secures both North Carolina and Georgia, two states where Trump is currently ahead, she could win with just Michigan's addition. Harris could also win by sweeping the Sun Belt states of Nevada, Arizona, North Carolina, and Georgia, even if she loses all three northern battlegrounds. While this is unlikely, a senior campaign advisor, David Plouffe, noted that the Harris team isn't ruling out this possibility.
Harris's path to victory without Pennsylvania would be more challenging, but not impossible. She would need to focus on other swing states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona, and Nevada. These states are highly competitive and could provide Harris with the electoral votes needed to reach the 270 required to win the presidency.
Despite the challenges, Harris has a strong base of support and has won statewide office three times as California's attorney general and later as a US senator. She also captured 75 million votes in the 2024 election, demonstrating her broad appeal. While some Democrats are sceptical of giving her another chance after her loss to Trump, her supporters argue that her groundswell of support and the unusual circumstances of her condensed campaign show she still has a chance at the Oval Office.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Kamala Harris lost the 2024 election to Donald Trump.
Yes, Kamala Harris can run for president again. While some Democrats are sceptical about giving her another chance, her aides, allies and donors argue that there is still scope for her to seek the presidency.
Some of the challenges Kamala Harris might face in her future presidential bid include negative perceptions of her by the public, such as being "flat-out unqualified and unprepared to be president". She also needs to work on her ability to think on her feet, as avoiding media interviews during her 2024 campaign created the impression that she was dependent on scripted remarks.
Kamala Harris has the support of the Democratic base, and she has won statewide office three times as California's attorney general and later as a US senator. She also has experience as vice president.
