Simone Lawson
Kamala Harris is known for her progressive political views, which she has expressed through her voting record, public speeches, and interviews. Harris has served as the District Attorney of San Francisco, Attorney General of California, a United States Senator, and the Vice President of the United States. In her political career, she has advocated for issues such as reproductive rights, immigration reform, and supporting the middle class. Harris has also taken a strong stance on issues like sex work decriminalization and education, proposing a government funding program to pay tuition fees for students from low-income families.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Economic Policy | Major economic legislation, including investments in infrastructure and green energy, mortgage assistance for first-time homebuyers, tax credit for parents of newborns, and bans on price gouging at the grocery store |
| Foreign Policy | Counter China's growing influence, regulate artificial intelligence, and curb threats stemming from AI |
| LGBTQ+ Rights | Spoke out against Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law, hosted Pride Month receptions, and pledged support for the local LGBTQ+ community |
| Climate Change | Co-sponsored the Green New Deal, proposed a $10 trillion plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and advocated for climate action and legislation |
| Education | Supports busing to desegregate public schools and the creation of a government funding program to pay tuition and fees for students from low-income families |
| Immigration | Believes the immigration system is "broken" and supports increasing the number of Border Patrol agents |
| Criminal Justice | Supported Los Angeles Police Department budget cuts and donations to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, but has been criticized for being "tough on crime" |
| Abortion | Consistently supported abortion rights and is seen as a stronger reproductive rights advocate compared to Biden |
| Israel-Gaza Conflict | Supports a two-state solution and has called for an end to the war in Gaza, but has not supported an arms embargo on Israel |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Kamala Harris's views on reproductive rights
Kamala Harris has been an outspoken advocate for reproductive freedom and abortion rights throughout her career. She has been seen as a stronger advocate for reproductive rights than her predecessor, Joe Biden. Harris has consistently supported abortion rights and has made abortion central to her campaign. She has advocated for legislation that would safeguard reproductive rights nationwide.
Harris has indicated her support for abortion access and other forms of reproductive health care. She has pledged that if Congress passes a law to restore reproductive freedom, she will sign it into law as president. She has also committed to this promise several times during her campaign.
Harris opposes the Hyde Amendment, which limits federal spending on abortions to cases of rape, incest, or the life of the pregnant person. She has also been critical of the Supreme Court's 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed states to set their own policies on abortion legality. She has endorsed the restoration of the prior federal standard under Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed the right to abortion until the point of fetal viability.
Harris has also addressed state abortion bans, often framing the issue as a matter of personal freedom. She has reiterated federal protections for abortion care under EMTALA in cases of pregnancy-related emergencies and reinforced requirements for pharmacies to provide access to reproductive health pharmaceuticals. Additionally, she has supported policies to strengthen data privacy to protect those seeking reproductive health care.
If elected, Harris has promised to take bold action to ensure that everyone can access abortion services, regardless of their identity or location. She has also committed to ending discriminatory barriers to abortion care, such as insurance coverage bans.
Political Campaigns: Nonprofit or For-Profit?
You may want to see also
Harris's stance on immigration
Kamala Harris's stance on immigration has evolved over time. Initially, as a senator, she supported progressive tax programmes and co-sponsored a bill with Bernie Sanders to expand social security for the elderly. As her political career progressed, her views on immigration became more moderate.
During her 2019 presidential campaign, Harris supported a corporate tax rate of 35%, up from 21%. This was proposed to be a part of her economic agenda, which also included tackling the cost of living. In contrast to her earlier support for social security expansion, she also backed President Biden's more moderate proposal to increase the corporate tax rate to 28%.
On the topic of immigration specifically, Harris has reiterated her support for border security and high-skilled immigration. She has also expressed support for admitting more civilian refugees escaping war or violence. In contrast to many Trump supporters, only 27% of Harris supporters favour mass deportations of immigrants living in the country illegally, while 72% oppose such actions.
Harris's stance on the border has shifted over time, becoming more moderate. On the campaign trail, she expressed support for a cross-party border security bill that would include funding for border wall construction. This position differs from her earlier support for progressive tax programmes and social security expansion.
Overall, Harris's views on immigration appear to have evolved from her early days as a senator to her more recent role as a vice-presidential and presidential candidate. While she still supports progressive policies like admitting more refugees, her stance on border security and corporate tax rates has become more moderate.
Campaigning Strategies: Effective Methods for Success
You may want to see also
The Vice President's views on the economy
As a senator, Kamala Harris supported progressive tax programmes and sponsored a bill with Bernie Sanders to expand social security for the elderly by increasing the tax rate on investments. She also supported a corporate tax rate of 35%, up from 21%. As vice president, Harris worked with President Biden to pass major economic legislation, including investments in infrastructure and green energy.
Harris has positioned herself as a champion of the middle class, promising to ban price gouging, promote housing affordability, reduce healthcare costs, and revise former President Donald Trump's tax cuts. She has proposed providing up to $25,000 in down payment assistance and a $10,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers.
Harris has also supported a $15-per-hour nationwide minimum wage and endorsed restrictions on the "gig" economy. She has co-sponsored the Child Care for Working Families Act, which would create new federal entitlement programs for childcare. Additionally, she supported Bernie Sanders' plan for free college and the Debt-Free College Act of 2018, aiming to eliminate tuition and fees for students.
Harris's critics argue that her economic policies would stifle American prosperity and increase the country's debt. They claim that her proposals for free healthcare for illegal immigrants would add to the financial burden on taxpayers. However, Harris and her supporters argue that her policies will create an opportunity economy where everyone has a fair chance to compete and succeed.
Harris' Slogan: Uniting America Under a Progressive Vision
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Harris's views on sex work
Kamala Harris, the former Vice President of the United States, has had somewhat of a varied history with regard to her views on sex work. During her time as a senator, Harris actively supported anti-sex work legislation, such as the SESTA/FOSTA bills. In 2015, while serving as California's attorney general, her office was involved in an effort to deny gender-affirming care to an incarcerated trans woman, Michelle Norsworthy.
However, in 2019, Harris expressed a more progressive stance on the issue. During an interview with The Root, she was asked whether sex work should be decriminalized, to which she responded, "I think so, I do." She elaborated by saying that when it comes to consenting adults, consensual behaviour should not be criminalized as long as no one is being harmed. Harris drew a distinction by stating that those in sex work who exploit or harm others should indeed face criminal prosecution.
Despite this statement, Harris's campaign in 2024 declined to clarify her current position on the decriminalization of sex work. This shift towards the centre on certain issues has been noted by observers. It is worth noting that Harris's views on sex work may have evolved over time, reflecting a recognition of the complexities surrounding the issue and the need to balance different considerations.
Harris's reluctance to engage publicly on this topic may be influenced by the ongoing political discourse and the potential impact on her electability. However, it is important for policymakers and society to continue discussing sex work and exploring solutions that prioritize the well-being and rights of those involved, while also addressing concerns related to exploitation and harm.
Political Organizations and the Do Not Call List
You may want to see also
Harris's views on education
Kamala Harris has expressed a variety of views on education during her political career. She has emphasised the importance of strengthening public education and providing support for students, schools, and families. Harris has also demonstrated a commitment to improving the working conditions and wages of teachers. During her 2020 presidential campaign, she called for a $13,500 raise for every teacher, acknowledging the importance and nobility of their work.
Harris supports the expansion of career and technical education, including job-training partnerships between high schools, local businesses, and labour unions. This approach aims to prepare students for in-demand industries and recognises that "four-year college is not the only pathway to a good career." She also advocates for making trade school and community college free for all Americans and investing in registered apprenticeships.
The Democratic Party platform, which Harris aligns with, includes a focus on universal pre-kindergarten and a reduced emphasis on standardised testing. Harris has also been a proponent of the child tax credit and has criticised attempts by Donald Trump to eliminate the Department of Education. She has expressed support for programs like Head Start, which benefit low-income families, and has championed the Biden administration's efforts on student loan forgiveness and debt relief.
Harris has sharply disagreed with some of Donald Trump's proposals on education, particularly his focus on curriculum content and his support for school choice and parent control over public school funding. She has criticised book bans and efforts to restrict the teaching of critical race theory, gender ideology, and other topics that Trump and his allies deem inappropriate. Harris has also opposed Project 2025, a conservative agenda that includes proposals to eliminate Head Start and restrict student loan forgiveness.
Unsolicited Texts: Nuisance or Illegal?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Kamala Harris believes the immigration system is "broken" and needs to be fixed. She has been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration's treatment of people trying to immigrate to the U.S. or seeking asylum.
Harris supports the use of busing to desegregate public schools. She also backs a government funding program to pay tuition and fees for students from lower-income families to attend public colleges and universities.
Harris has supported a number of progressive tax programmes. She co-sponsored a bill with Bernie Sanders to expand social security for the elderly by increasing the tax rate on investments. She has also backed a corporate tax rate of 35%.
In 2019, Harris said that her position on sex work had "relaxed" and that she supported the decriminalization of sex work.
Harris has been called "the Biden administration's voice for reproductive rights". She has a 100% rating from the abortion rights advocacy group Planned Parenthood Action Fund and has been endorsed by several abortion rights and women's organizations.
