Omar Bennett
Kamala Harris has run for president of the United States more than once. In 2019, she sought the Democratic nomination for the 2020 presidential election but withdrew from the race before the primaries, citing a shortage of funds. In 2024, Harris launched another presidential campaign, this time with the endorsement of Joe Biden, who had dropped his bid for re-election. She became the Democratic nominee and the second woman, first Black woman, and first South Asian person to be a major party's presidential nominee. However, she lost the election to the Republican nominees, former president Donald Trump and Ohio senator JD Vance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of first presidential run | 2020 |
| Outcome of first presidential run | Withdrew before primaries |
| Year of second presidential run | 2024 |
| Outcome of second presidential run | Lost to Republican nominees |
| First name | Kamala |
| Surname | Harris |
| Date of birth | 20 October 1964 |
| Place of birth | Oakland, California |
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What You'll Learn
Kamala Harris's 2024 presidential campaign
Kamala Harris, the 49th vice president of the United States, announced her 2024 presidential campaign on 21 July 2024. This was the same day that incumbent President Joe Biden withdrew his bid for reelection and endorsed her. Harris became the Democratic Party nominee on 5 August 2024, following a virtual roll call vote. She selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate the following day.
Harris's campaign platform included national abortion protections, LGBTQ+ rights, stricter gun control, and addressing climate change. She also supported federal cannabis legalization, strengthening voting rights, strengthening the Affordable Care Act, and federal funding of housing. On economic issues, Harris departed from Biden, proposing a "populist" agenda. Harris's campaign was also marked by her strong stance on immigration, believing the system to be "broken" and advocating for stricter asylum rules.
Harris's 2024 campaign attracted support and opposition from various groups and individuals. She received endorsements from public figures such as LeBron James and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. However, some Arab Americans expressed frustration with her stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict and the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon. Harris also faced opposition from some senior figures within her own party, including former President Barack Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Harris's campaign utilized social media platforms like X and Instagram, with the handle @KamalaHQ, to appeal to younger voters. They employed various strategies, including reposting memes and using popular music at rallies. The campaign also released targeted ads, such as "Determination," aimed at Latino voters in battleground states, and "Tougher," highlighting her experience as a border-state prosecutor.
Ultimately, Harris lost the 2024 election to the Republican nominees, former President Donald Trump, and Ohio Senator JD Vance. Despite the loss, Harris's campaign was a significant milestone, as she was the first female, Black, and South Asian vice president to run for the presidency.
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Harris's vice presidency
Kamala Harris sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination in 2019 but withdrew from the race before the primaries due to a shortage of funds. In March 2020, she endorsed Joe Biden for president. Biden selected her as his running mate, and they won the 2020 presidential election. Harris then became the first person of colour, the first woman, and the first Asian American to hold the vice presidency.
During her vice presidency, Harris took on various other responsibilities and initiatives. She led efforts to bring down healthcare costs, lower drug prices, and cap insulin prices for seniors. Harris also oversaw the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, working to address the epidemic of gun violence in the nation. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in advancing America's interests on the world stage, taking a stand against authoritarians and dictators while strengthening NATO.
In July 2024, after Biden withdrew his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election, Harris launched her own campaign with his endorsement. She selected Minnesota governor Tim Walz as her running mate. However, she faced opposition from prominent figures, including former president Barack Obama and former House speaker Nancy Pelosi. Harris ultimately lost the election to the Republican nominees, former president Donald Trump, and Ohio senator JD Vance.
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Biden-Harris ticket
Kamala Harris sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination in 2019 but withdrew from the race before the primaries, citing a shortage of funds. In March 2020, she endorsed Joe Biden for president. Senior members of the Congressional Black Caucus had endorsed the idea of a Biden-Harris ticket as early as May 2019. In late February 2020, Biden won a landslide victory in the 2020 South Carolina Democratic primary with the endorsement of House whip Jim Clyburn. Clyburn then suggested Biden choose a Black woman as his running mate, and Biden selected Harris. Their ticket defeated the incumbent president and vice president, Donald Trump and Mike Pence, in the 2020 presidential election.
Harris served as Vice President of the United States from 2021 to 2024. During her first year in office, she cast 13 tie-breaking votes in the evenly-split Senate, the most tie-breaking votes in a single year in US history. On November 19, 2021, Harris served as acting president for an hour and twenty-five minutes while Biden underwent a colonoscopy, becoming the first woman to assume the powers and duties of the presidency. Harris was considered a pivotal member of the Biden administration due to her tie-breaking vote in the Senate.
In 2024, Harris launched her own presidential campaign. Biden dropped out of the race in July 2024, and Harris became the Democratic nominee, selecting Minnesota governor Tim Walz as her running mate. However, Harris lost the election to the Republican nominees, former president Trump and Ohio senator JD Vance.
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Harris's public image
Kamala Harris has had a trailblazing career, making history several times over. She is the first woman of colour, the first South Asian-American, the second African-American woman, and the first African-American and Asian-American to serve as Vice President of the United States. Harris is also the first woman of colour to serve as California attorney general.
Harris has an informal online community of supporters called #KHive, which formed during her 2020 presidential campaign to defend her from perceived misinformation and racist and sexist attacks. Harris has also gained national exposure and recognition as a future leader within the Democratic Party, and her growing prominence has been noted, especially after Biden's faltering performance in a televised debate with Trump. Harris's public appearances since leaving office indicate that she sees a future as a leader of the Democratic Party, and she is seriously considering a run for governor of California.
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Harris's defeat in the 2024 election
Kamala Harris' defeat in the 2024 election was a significant moment in American political history. Harris, who served as Vice President under President Joe Biden, had become the second woman, first Black woman, and first South Asian person to be a major party's presidential nominee. She launched her campaign in July 2024, after Biden withdrew his candidacy and endorsed her. Despite this endorsement and her own political experience, Harris faced an uphill battle from the start.
One of the main challenges Harris encountered was strong opposition from within her own party. Top aides to Biden warned Democratic donors that running Harris against Donald Trump would be a "mistake". This internal division and lack of support from key figures within the Democratic Party hindered her campaign. Additionally, Harris struggled to connect with voters and faced difficulties in adapting to the modern campaign landscape, such as being unable to secure an interview with influential podcaster Joe Rogan.
Another factor contributing to Harris' defeat was the changing demographics and voting patterns in the country. The Democratic Party faced a series of structural and political issues, including a lack of understanding of the concerns of moderate and conservative non-white voters, who were increasingly aligning with their white counterparts. This shift in voting patterns benefited the Republican Party, leading to their victory in the 2024 election.
The results of the election highlighted the need for the Democratic Party to address these underlying issues and reconnect with the voters. Harris' loss served as a turning point, bringing to light the importance of adapting to the changing political landscape and effectively communicating their agenda to the American people. Despite her defeat, Harris' nomination as the first Black woman and South Asian person to be a major party's presidential nominee represented a significant step forward in terms of representation and diversity in American politics.
Harris' defeat in the 2024 election had far-reaching implications for the Democratic Party and American politics as a whole. It prompted a period of introspection and reflection on the part of the Democrats, leading to efforts to rebuild their brand and reconnect with voters. The outcome also underscored the evolving nature of American politics and the need for political parties to remain attuned to the changing demographics and priorities of the electorate.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Kamala Harris was a presidential candidate in the 2020 election but withdrew from the race before the primaries. She then became Joe Biden's running mate and they won the 2020 election.
No, Kamala Harris did not become president. She ran again in the 2024 election but lost to the Republican nominees, former president Trump and Ohio senator JD Vance.
Kamala Harris selected Minnesota governor Tim Walz as her running mate in the 2024 election.
Yes, on November 19, 2021, Kamala Harris served as acting president from 10:10 to 11:35 am EST while Joe Biden underwent a colonoscopy. She was the first woman, and the third person overall, to assume the powers and duties of the presidency as acting president of the United States.
