Eleanor Finch
On July 21, 2024, Kamala Harris, the 49th vice president of the United States, announced her campaign for president. This was on the same day that incumbent President Joe Biden withdrew his bid for reelection and endorsed her. Harris became the Democratic nominee on August 5, 2024, and selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Harris's platform included national abortion protections, LGBT+ rights, stricter gun control, and addressing climate change. She also supported federal cannabis legalization, strengthening voting rights, and federal funding of housing. Harris's campaign used social media and digital ads to target younger voters and Latino voters in battleground states. Despite this, she lost the election to Donald Trump.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Running for president in 2024 | Yes |
| Running for governor of California | Considering, will decide by the end of summer |
| Running for governor of California in 2026 | Yes, according to sources |
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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. On the same day, 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 domestic platform was similar to Biden's on some issues. She supported 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. Harris departed from Biden on economic issues, proposing what has been described as a "populist" economic agenda.
Harris's campaign initially used Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" as Walz's walk-on music at rallies, but later began using John Mellencamp's "Small Town." In August 2024, after Trump used the Foo Fighters' song "My Hero" at a rally without permission, the band released a statement saying that any increased royalties from the song's usage would be donated to the Harris campaign. A digital ad featuring Beyoncé's song "Freedom" debuted on July 25. The Harris campaign also released ads in English and Spanish, targeting Latino voters in battleground states.
Harris stated that she believed the immigration system was "broken" and needed to be fixed. During an August 2024 visit to the border in Arizona, she advocated for stricter asylum rules than President Biden and pledged to crack down on fentanyl. She also supported a bipartisan bill, the Secure the Border Act, which would have funded additional border agents.
In October 2024, Puerto Rican musicians Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, Luis Fonsi, Ricky Martin, and Don Omar endorsed Harris. On October 31, 2024, LeBron James also endorsed her. However, Harris's campaign was opposed by some Arab Americans due to her stance on the Israel-Hamas war and the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
Despite endorsements and a strong platform, Harris was defeated in the 2024 election by former President Donald Trump and his running mate, U.S. Senator JD Vance of Ohio. Trump's inner circle included influential figures from various sectors, and his campaign spent a significant amount of money on political advertisements, including one attacking Harris's views on transgender rights.
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Harris's stance on immigration
Kamala Harris, the former Vice President of the United States, was the Democratic Party's nominee for president in the 2024 election. Harris's stance on immigration has evolved over time, with a shift from more progressive views to a greater emphasis on enforcement. As a former Attorney General of California, Harris dealt with international border issues, including drug cartels and human trafficking, while maintaining border security. During her vice presidency, she focused on addressing the root causes of migration from Central America, such as economic insecurity, corruption, human rights, criminal gang violence, and gender-based violence.
Harris has expressed support for comprehensive immigration reform, seeking pathways to citizenship for immigrants without legal status, with faster tracks for those who arrived as children. She has also endorsed a bipartisan border security bill that includes increased funding for border agents, expanded detention facilities, and improvements to the asylum process. However, her stance has been criticised for moving away from more progressive immigration reforms promised by President Biden, towards more aggressive legal enforcement.
Harris has faced criticism from Republicans, who claim that her reversal of Trump's immigration policies has led to a humanitarian and national security crisis on the southern border. They have also asserted that she is responsible for overseeing border enforcement and controlling illegal immigration. However, immigration experts note that measuring Harris's success in addressing root causes is challenging, as results may only be seen in the long term.
Harris's campaign has attempted to distance her from more liberal immigration positions from her 2020 presidential bid, such as decriminalising unauthorised border crossings and overhauling Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Instead, she has emphasised border security and supported a bipartisan bill that would increase funding for border agents and expand detention facilities. Harris has also criticised Trump's zero-tolerance policies that separated families at the border, and she has pledged to support and protect asylum seekers.
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Harris's popularity with younger voters
In 2024, Kamala Harris, the 49th vice president of the United States, announced her presidential campaign, selecting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Harris's campaign targeted younger voters, aiming to build momentum for a bigger youth vote. This strategy was largely centred around social media, particularly TikTok, where Harris posted campaign information and participated in trends and memes. This approach was designed to make politics feel more approachable and less intimidating to younger voters, and to show that Harris valued their concerns and voices.
Harris's social media presence was successful in engaging young voters and making them more excited to partake in the 2024 election. Her content referenced topics such as climate change, women's rights, and social justice in a friendly, humorous format that resonated with Gen Z and young adults. However, some sources suggest that Harris's use of TikTok may have contributed to her defeat in the 2024 election, arguing that it made young voters more conservative or Republican-leaning.
In addition to her social media strategy, Harris's campaign also highlighted issues that were important to younger voters, such as protecting reproductive rights and climate action. Harris's historic potential as the first woman, first Asian American, and second Black president was also emphasised, with young voters excited about the prospect of electing someone who more closely represented their demographics.
Following her loss in the 2024 election, Harris is now considering a run for governor of California, with a decision expected by the end of the summer. She maintains significant leads in early national polls and has the support of several California Democratic candidates and allies.
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Harris's vice-presidential career
Kamala Harris was sworn in as the 49th Vice President of the United States on January 20, 2021. She is the first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American to be elected to this position. Harris is also the first Black woman to be elected vice president and the first to appear on a major party's national ticket.
Harris has had a trailblazing career, serving as a United States Senator and Attorney General of California before becoming vice president. As vice president, she has focused on advancing opportunities, delivering for families, and protecting fundamental freedoms. She has led the fight for abortion rights, freedom from gun violence, voting rights, and access to clean water and air. Harris has also prioritised job creation through investments in small businesses and community banks.
In terms of legislative achievements, Harris has cast 33 tie-breaking votes, more than any other vice president, to pass significant acts such as the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act. Additionally, she played a crucial role in the Biden-Harris administration's efforts to invest in economic opportunities, resulting in a record 21 million new small business applications and 16 million new jobs. They also lowered the unemployment rate to a 50-year low, improved maternal health by expanding postpartum care through Medicaid, and tackled the climate crisis through significant investments.
During her vice presidency, Harris also took on international responsibilities. She participated in a joint press conference with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine at the Munich Security Conference. Additionally, she visited Zambia and Ghana, where she visited Cape Coast Castle, one of around 40 "slave castles" that served as prisons and embarkation points for slaves being taken to the Americas.
In 2024, Harris launched her own presidential campaign after Biden withdrew his candidacy and endorsed her. She became the Democratic nominee and selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. However, she was defeated by the Republican nominees, former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator JD Vance.
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Harris's 2028 presidential campaign chances
Kamala Harris, the former vice president of the United States, is seriously considering a run for governor of California in 2026. She has set herself a deadline of the end of the summer of 2025 to decide. Harris would be the first Black woman to be governor in America if she wins. However, a win in the gubernatorial election would almost certainly take a 2028 presidential run off the table, according to her allies.
Harris has been generating buzz for a 2028 presidential run, with early polls showing her dominance in a field of potential Democratic rivals. She maintains significant leads in national polls of the field of possible candidates. However, her advisers have told her that they expect a tough race for the Democratic nomination. One anonymous donor told a news outlet that Harris is "done" at the top of the ticket, and that the country will have become more conservative by 2028, making it difficult for her to win.
Harris has kept on some of her most senior and trusted aides, including chief of staff Sheila Nix and senior advisers Kirsten Allen and Ike Irby. Longtime advisers Brian Nelson and Minyon Moore, as well as her former White House chief of staff Lorraine Voles, also remain key parts of her inner circle. Other top aides in California are waiting for a signal from Harris to engage.
When asked if he would like to see Harris run again, Democratic strategist James Carville refrained from taking a strong position. He said that Harris passes anything you could say about who could run for president in terms of resume and experience. However, he added that it would be very difficult for her to win the nomination, but that would be the case for anybody else. Carville also said that Harris would have been a much better candidate if the Democrats had held an open primary for her to compete in following President Biden's exit from the race.
In conclusion, Harris is still considering a 2028 presidential run and is currently leading in early polls. However, she faces challenges, including a potentially tough race for the Democratic nomination and the need to improve her performance as a candidate. Harris's decision on whether to run for governor of California in 2026 may also impact her plans for the 2028 presidential election.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Kamala Harris, the 49th vice president of the United States, announced her 2024 campaign for president on July 21, 2024.
Kamala Harris is seriously considering running for governor of California in 2026. She has given herself a deadline of the end of the summer to decide.
Harris ran as a moderate Democrat in 2024, with a platform that 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.
Harris's political career began as a prosecutor in California, where she served as San Francisco's District Attorney and later as the state's Attorney General. She then became the 49th vice president of the United States.
