Omar Bennett
Kamala Harris, the 49th vice president of the United States, announced her presidential campaign on July 21, 2024, after incumbent President Joe Biden withdrew his bid for reelection and endorsed her. Harris, who served as vice president from 2021 to 2025, became the Democratic Party's nominee and selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. She advocated for national abortion protections, LGBT+ rights, stricter gun control, and addressing climate change. Despite a strong campaign, Harris ultimately lost the election to the Republican ticket of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator JD Vance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of presidential campaign | 2024 |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Running mate | Minnesota Governor Tim Walz |
| Political issues | Abortion, LGBT+ rights, gun control, climate change, federal cannabis legalization, voting rights, healthcare, housing, immigration, transgender rights |
| Campaign strategies | Memes, deceptive videos, celebrity endorsements, bilingual ads |
| Campaign music | "Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen, "Small Town" by John Mellencamp |
| Election result | Lost to Republican nominees Donald Trump and JD Vance |
| Future plans | Considering a run for California governor in 2026, may embark on a second presidential campaign in 2028 |
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What You'll Learn
Kamala Harris's 2024 presidential campaign
On July 21, 2024, Kamala Harris, the 49th vice president of the United States, announced her campaign for president. The incumbent, President Joe Biden, withdrew his bid for reelection and endorsed her. Harris became the nominee of the Democratic Party on August 5, 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, LGBT+ rights, stricter gun control, and legislation to address 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 proposed a "populist" agenda, departing from Biden's stance.
Harris's campaign utilised social media platforms like X and Instagram, with the handle @KamalaHQ, to reach younger voters. They also employed various advertising strategies, including a digital ad featuring the song "Freedom" by Beyoncé and bilingual ads in English and Spanish to target Latino voters in battleground states. The campaign faced opposition from some Arab Americans due to Harris's stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict and the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
In the lead-up to the election, Harris gained endorsements from prominent figures, including Puerto Rican musicians Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, Luis Fonsi, Ricky Martin, and Don Omar, as well as LeBron James. However, Harris ultimately lost the 2024 election to Donald Trump, and her team continued to appeal for funds a week after the election.
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Harris's stance on immigration
Kamala Harris, the 49th vice president of the United States, announced her 2024 presidential campaign on July 21, 2024. Harris's stance on immigration has been a key and contentious issue in the election.
Harris has stated that she believes the immigration system is "broken" and needs to be fixed. She has supported a bipartisan bill, the Secure the Border Act, which would have funded additional border agents and closed the border if it became too crowded. During her campaign, she has pledged to crack down on fentanyl and has advocated for stricter asylum rules than President Biden. Harris has also expressed support for the construction of a border wall, with her campaign video stating that she "supports increasing the number of Border Patrol agents".
Harris's supporters have taken a different position on mass deportations, with only 27% in favour, while 72% oppose it. In contrast, 88% of Trump supporters favour mass deportations. Harris supporters are more likely to favour allowing undocumented immigrants to live and work in the US if they are married to an American citizen (80%) compared to 37% of Trump supporters. Additionally, 85% of Harris supporters support admitting more civilian refugees who are escaping war or violence, compared to 49% of Trump supporters.
Harris's stance on the border has been described as moderate, and she has expressed support for a cross-party border security bill. She has also stated that she would prioritise supporting and strengthening the middle class, with a focus on economic issues such as tackling the cost of living and addressing inflation and high-interest rates.
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Harris's popularity with younger voters
Kamala Harris, the 49th vice president of the United States, announced her 2024 campaign for president on July 21, 2024. Harris's domestic platform included support for national abortion protections, LGBT+ rights, stricter gun control, and legislation to address climate change. She also supported federal cannabis legalization, strengthening voting rights, and federal funding of housing.
Harris's campaign had a notable focus on attracting younger voters. This strategy was twofold: firstly, by utilising social media platforms such as TikTok to connect with younger demographics; and secondly, by highlighting Harris's alignment with young people on issues like reproductive rights, climate action, economic justice, and gun violence prevention.
Harris's use of TikTok was particularly noteworthy, as it allowed her to engage with younger voters in an authentic and approachable manner. Her content referenced topics such as climate change, women's rights, and social justice in a friendly and humorous format that resonated with Gen Z and young adults. This strategy was designed to make politics feel more accessible and less intimidating to younger voters, and it appeared to be successful in generating enthusiasm and excitement among this demographic.
In addition to her social media presence, Harris also benefited from endorsements by prominent figures that appealed to younger voters. For example, in October 2024, Puerto Rican musicians Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, Luis Fonsi, Ricky Martin, and Don Omar endorsed Harris, and on October 31, 2024, LeBron James also endorsed her. These endorsements likely contributed to the momentum Harris was building among younger voters.
While Harris ultimately lost the 2024 election to Donald Trump, her popularity with younger voters was significant. Her campaign's focus on engaging this demographic through modern strategies and highlighting shared values likely contributed to her strong showing among younger Americans.
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Harris's vice-presidential career
Kamala Harris, the former 49th vice president of the United States, announced her 2024 campaign for president on July 21, 2024. Harris, who was the first woman, Black American, and South Asian American vice president, had a historic public service career, breaking barrier after barrier.
Harris graduated from Howard University and the University of California, Hastings College of Law. She began her career in public service as the District Attorney of San Francisco, becoming the first Black person to do so in the state of California. She focused on aggressively prosecuting criminals while also creating paths to rehabilitation for non-violent offenders. Harris helped non-violent criminals get job training and worked to keep young offenders in school. She then became the Attorney General of California, where she continued to fight for social justice and civil rights.
Harris was sworn in as vice president on January 20, 2021. As vice president, she cast 33 tie-breaking votes, more than any other vice president, to pass significant legislation such as the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act. She supported a bipartisan bill, the Secure the Border Act, which would have funded additional border agents. Additionally, she supported national abortion protections, LGBT+ rights, stricter gun control, and legislation to address climate change. Harris also supported federal cannabis legalization, strengthening voting rights, and federal funding for housing.
Harris launched her 2024 presidential campaign after incumbent President Joe Biden withdrew his candidacy and endorsed her. She selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate and became the nominee of the Democratic Party. During her campaign, Harris advocated for a "new generation of leadership" and focused on protecting fundamental freedoms, including a woman's right to make decisions about her own body. She also pledged to address economic concerns, such as reducing the cost of living and making housing more affordable. Harris's campaign utilized social media platforms like X and Instagram to reach younger voters, and she was endorsed by several celebrities and public figures. Despite her efforts, Harris ultimately lost the 2024 election to the Republican nominees, former President Donald Trump, and Ohio Senator JD Vance.
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Harris's defeat to Trump
Kamala Harris, the 49th vice president of the United States, announced her 2024 campaign for president on July 21, 2024. She selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, and the pair faced off against former President Donald Trump and US Senator JD Vance of Ohio. Harris's campaign focused on issues such as national abortion protections, LGBT+ rights, stricter gun control, and addressing climate change. She also supported federal cannabis legalization, strengthening voting rights, and fortifying the Affordable Care Act. However, Harris was ultimately defeated by Trump in the 2024 election.
There are several speculated reasons for Harris's defeat to Trump. One factor may have been depressed turnout among Democratic voters. Between 2020 and 2024, the Democratic presidential nominee's vote total decreased significantly, while Trump's tally increased marginally. This suggests that many Democratic voters chose to stay home rather than support Harris. Additionally, Harris's decision to avoid media interviews during the first half of her campaign may have created the impression that she was dependent on scripted remarks and unable to think on her feet.
Another factor could be the changing demographics of the electorate. According to political analyst David Shor, increased levels of voter participation now favor Republicans. This shift was particularly evident among less politically engaged individuals, who swung strongly towards Trump in 2024. These voters, who are more responsive to changes in economic conditions, may have been influenced by high prices and economic concerns.
Trump's campaign strategies also played a role in his victory. He successfully built on the Republicans' growing strength among white working-class voters, creating a multi-ethnic working-class coalition. Trump made gains among Latinos, African Americans, and young adults, with his share of the Black male vote increasing from 12% to 20% and carrying Hispanic men by nine points. Trump's intense personal bond with his supporters mobilized them to action, and his campaign chose to focus on appealing to the Republican base rather than moderating their message to reach a wider audience.
In the aftermath of her defeat, Harris and her team were left reeling. According to insiders, the realization that she was going to lose was a difficult moment, and Harris herself expressed concern about the future of the country. Harris's loss highlighted the structural and political issues facing the Democratic Party, and the need for reform to remain competitive in future elections.
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Frequently asked questions
Kamala Harris ran for president in 2024. She was the Democratic Party nominee and selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Harris lost the election to the Republican ticket of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator JD Vance.
Harris's domestic platform included national abortion protections, LGBT+ rights, stricter gun control, and legislation to address climate change. She also supported federal cannabis legalization, strengthening voting rights, strengthening the Affordable Care Act, and federal funding for housing. On economic issues, she proposed a populist agenda.
Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, defeated Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 election. Harris reportedly reacted to the news of her defeat with shock and concern for the country's future.
