Malcolm Rivera
Kamala Harris is an American politician and attorney who served as the 49th vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2025 under President Joe Biden. She was the first female U.S. vice president, as well as the first African-American and Asian-American vice president. Harris's political positions are reflected in her voting record, public speeches, and interviews. She has taken stands on issues such as immigration, abortion, global alliances, climate change, and democracy. Harris has also advocated for tax-funded gender-affirming surgery for transgender people in prison and supported Israel's right to defend itself. As vice president, she worked with President Biden to pass major economic legislation, including investments in infrastructure and green energy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Political affiliation | Democratic Party |
| Political views | Pragmatic moderate, liberal |
| Economic policy | Tackle the cost of living, middle-class tax cuts, tax hikes on the wealthy and corporations, mortgage assistance for first-time homebuyers, a tax credit for parents of newborns, and bans on price gouging at the grocery store |
| Foreign policy | Support for Israel, focus on securing a ceasefire deal |
| Healthcare | Initially supported publicly-funded healthcare programmes and Medicare-for-All, but later softened her support |
| Immigration | Endorses comprehensive immigration reform, seeking pathways to citizenship for immigrants in the U.S. without legal status, with a faster track for young immigrants |
| Abortion | Restoration of abortion rights |
| Climate change | Government that aggressively addresses climate change |
| Democracy | Supports increasing the number of Border Patrol agents, criticized Trump for opposing the bill and promised to sign it into law as president |
| Electoral College | Open to discussing abolishing the Electoral College |
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What You'll Learn
Kamala 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, shifting from more progressive views to a greater emphasis on enforcement.
As a senator in 2017, Harris supported progressive tax programmes and co-sponsored a bill with Bernie Sanders to expand social security for the elderly by increasing the tax rate on investments. In 2019, she supported a corporate tax rate of 35%, up from 21%. As a presidential candidate in 2020, Harris supported more liberal immigration positions, including an openness to decriminalizing unauthorized border crossings and overhauling Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, during her 2024 presidential campaign, Harris's immigration stance became more moderate, focusing on border security and enforcement.
Harris has long been involved in international border issues, particularly during her time as Attorney General of California from 2011 to 2017, when she worked to maintain border security while addressing drug cartels and human trafficking issues. As Vice President, 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. She worked with Mexican and Guatemalan leaders to improve conditions in those countries.
Harris has expressed support for a bipartisan border security bill that includes increased funding for border agents, expanded detention facilities, and improvements to the asylum process. This bill also targets drug trafficking and provides support for cities and states assisting new arrivals. While Harris supports enforcing immigration laws, she also believes in creating legal pathways for people from other countries to become US citizens. She has promised to create a clear pathway to citizenship for longtime undocumented residents and to safeguard immigrants from deportation.
Harris's critics argue that her immigration stance has moved away from the more progressive reforms promised by President Biden, focusing more on enforcement and border security. They also claim that her policies have created a humanitarian and national security crisis on the southern border. However, experts note that addressing the root causes of migration takes time, and it is challenging to measure the immediate impact of her efforts.
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Her views on abortion
Kamala Harris, the former Vice President of the United States, has been very vocal about her support for abortion rights. Harris has chosen a strategy of being explicit about her support for abortion rights, and it is central to her platform. She has pledged to restore reproductive freedom by taking bold action to ensure that everyone can get an abortion if they need one, regardless of their identity, location, or financial situation. Harris has promised to call for and sign legislation that codifies abortion rights, overrides state bans and restrictions, and eliminates discriminatory barriers to abortion care, such as insurance coverage bans.
Harris's stance on abortion has the potential to shift the national conversation about women's health. She has linked the inability to access abortion care in states that have criminalized it to the closure of clinics that provided other types of healthcare services. As a result, people are now unable to obtain that type of care. Harris has highlighted the negative consequences of strict abortion policies, such as higher rates of infant and maternal mortality, reduced access to OB/GYN services, and financial barriers to healthcare appointments.
Harris's candid stance on abortion has energized voters, particularly in battleground states like Arizona. According to public opinion polls, support for abortion rights is higher than ever, with almost two-thirds of Americans in favour of abortion rights. This shift in public sentiment has been reflected in voting patterns, with voters consistently expressing their support for abortion rights in states like Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Harris's commitment to abortion rights is expected to be a key focus of her presidential campaign. She has visited a Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Paul, Minnesota, becoming the first vice president or president to visit a clinic that provides abortions. Harris's willingness to speak openly about abortion and its impact on women's health could mark a turning point in the national dialogue, challenging anti-abortion extremism and advocating for reproductive freedom.
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Harris's position on global alliances
Kamala Harris, the former Vice President of the United States, has expressed her positions on various key policy issues, including global alliances. Harris has outlined her commitment to strengthening international relationships and addressing global challenges.
In April 2023, Harris visited the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland with the South Korean president, Yoon Suk Yeol. During this visit, she emphasised the importance of strengthening the space alliance between the United States and South Korea. This joint initiative demonstrates Harris's support for international cooperation and her recognition of the significance of space exploration and development.
Harris has also addressed the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border, which has been a contentious issue in American politics. She has faced criticism from Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, who blame her for a perceived lack of control at the border. However, Harris has countered these accusations by highlighting Trump's role in blocking a bipartisan Senate compromise that could have strengthened border control and immigration policies. She has endorsed comprehensive immigration reform and sought pathways to citizenship for immigrants living in the U.S. without legal status, demonstrating a more inclusive approach to global migration.
Additionally, Harris has expressed her support for Israel's right to defend itself, particularly during the conflict with Hamas in Gaza. She has criticised Israel's actions and called for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate the release of hostages and the delivery of humanitarian aid. This stance reflects her recognition of the importance of global alliances in addressing international conflicts and ensuring the protection of civilians.
Harris's foreign policy agenda also includes a focus on economic alliances. As vice president, she worked with President Biden to pass major economic legislation, known as "Bidenomics," which included significant investments in infrastructure and green energy. This indicates her support for international economic cooperation and the use of economic tools to address global challenges, such as climate change.
Overall, Harris's position on global alliances emphasises the importance of international cooperation and the need to address global challenges through collective action. She recognises the value of strengthening alliances in various domains, including space exploration, border control, conflict resolution, and economic development. Harris's approach to global alliances is characterised by her commitment to finding diplomatic solutions and promoting inclusive policies that benefit people across international borders.
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Her policies on climate change
Kamala Harris has called climate change an "existential threat" and has said that the United States needs to act urgently to address it. As vice president, Harris has helped pass some of the most important climate laws in US history, including the Inflation Reduction Act, which provided about \$370 billion to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 40% below their 2005 levels. The Act also set the US on course to significantly reduce domestic GHG emissions by allocating billions in subsidies and other investments.
Harris has also introduced an 82-page economic plan that charts a course for cleaning up climate pollution and building a more prosperous and affordable country. The plan includes lowering energy costs by helping Americans transition from costly fossil fuels to cheaper, longer-lasting clean energy options. It also includes speeding up the permitting of clean energy and other infrastructure, and investing in innovative approaches to create a safer climate future.
Harris has also been a strong supporter of the Green New Deal and was the first candidate to proclaim her support during the 2020 Democratic debates. She has also advocated for a blend of government action and market forces to combat global warming, including a climate pollution fee to reduce emissions and hold polluters accountable. As California Attorney General, she prosecuted oil companies for environmental violations.
Harris has also been a champion of electric school buses and cleaner water, with billions of dollars committed to these efforts. She has also introduced legislation to replace lead pipes, with \$15 billion being spent across the country to replace 1.7 million of them. Additionally, Harris has supported banning new fossil fuel leases on federal lands and waters and has co-sponsored legislation to limit or repeal tax breaks to oil companies.
Overall, Harris's policies on climate change focus on clean energy and climate resilience, with the goal of creating millions of new jobs in the green economy and protecting the environment for future generations.
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Harris's views on democracy
Kamala Harris is a member of the Democratic Party and served as the 49th vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2025 under President Joe Biden. In 2024, she became the Democratic Party's nominee for president, selecting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate.
Harris's political views on democracy are reflected in her voting record, public speeches, and interviews. She has been described as a ""pragmatic moderate" by the New York Times, with policy positions that broadly mirror Biden's. CNN, however, has called her voting record in the Senate "one of the most liberal".
Harris has been a strong advocate for comprehensive immigration reform, seeking pathways to citizenship for immigrants in the U.S. without legal status. She has endorsed faster tracks for young immigrants living in the country illegally who arrived as children. As a senator, she was an outspoken critic of the Trump administration's treatment of people, especially pregnant women, trying to immigrate to or seek asylum in the U.S. In April 2018, she sent a letter to the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), requesting that pregnant women not be held in custody except under extraordinary standards.
Harris has also co-sponsored legislation to improve election security and protect American votes. In December 2017, she introduced the "Secure Elections Act", which authorized block grants for states to update outdated voting technology and create an independent panel of experts to develop cybersecurity guidelines for election systems. In May 2019, she co-sponsored the Protecting American Votes and Elections (PAVE) Act, which would have granted the Department of Homeland Security the authority to set minimum cybersecurity standards for elections.
Additionally, Harris has been open to discussing the abolition of the Electoral College, stating that the popular vote has been diminished in deciding the U.S. president. She has also supported expanding publicly-funded healthcare programmes covering the elderly, youth with disabilities, and the poor. This included backing Medicare-for-All, a progressive policy that would make all healthcare publicly funded, although she later softened her support for this during her vice presidency.
In terms of foreign policy, Harris has been a strong supporter of Israel, stating that she would always stand up for Israel's right to defend itself and decrying Hamas as a terrorist organization. She has also worked with President Biden to pass major economic legislation, including investments in infrastructure and green energy.
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Frequently asked questions
Kamala Harris's political positions are reflected in her voting record, public speeches, and interviews. She is a member of the Democratic Party and is widely seen as a moderate, with policy positions that mirror Joe Biden's. She has supported tax cuts for the middle class, tax hikes on the wealthy and corporations, a restoration of abortion rights, and a government that aggressively addresses climate change. She has also endorsed comprehensive immigration reform and supported expanding publicly-funded healthcare programmes.
Kamala Harris was the Democratic Party's nominee for the 2024 presidential election. She selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate and released a detailed policy guide focused on economic and foreign policy agendas. Harris ultimately lost the election to the Republican nominees, former President Trump and Ohio Senator JD Vance.
Kamala Harris has been critical of the Trump administration's treatment of immigrants, especially pregnant women. She has endorsed comprehensive immigration reform and seeks pathways to citizenship for immigrants in the US without legal status. She has also supported increasing the number of border patrol agents and improving border security.
Kamala Harris has expressed support for Israel and its right to defend itself. She has also reiterated her commitment to securing a ceasefire deal and protecting civilians during conflicts, such as the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
