Simone Lawson
Kamala Harris is an American politician who has dedicated her career to fighting for vulnerable people. Harris, who was raised in a middle-class family by a working mother, decided at a young age that she wanted to pursue a career in advocacy after a close friend confided in her about experiencing abuse at home. Harris has since gone on to become a prosecutor, specialising in cases of child sexual abuse, and has taken on issues such as domestic violence and gun violence. Harris has also led the fight to restore reproductive freedom following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. As a sitting Vice President, Harris has faced criticism and opposition from both sides of the political aisle, but she continues to be a prominent figure in American politics, with some speculating about a potential presidential bid in 2028.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Career choice | Fighting for vulnerable people |
| Specialization | Cases of child sexual abuse |
| Issues tackled as district attorney | Domestic violence and gun violence |
| Achievements as district attorney | Increased conviction rate to put rapists and murderers behind bars |
| Achievements as district attorney | Created innovative programs to rehabilitate low-level, non-violent offenders |
| Fight since Roe v. Wade was overturned | Restore reproductive freedom |
| Firsts | First sitting Vice President to visit a reproductive health care clinic |
| Top economic priority | Lowering costs |
| Running for governor |
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What You'll Learn
Reproductive freedom
In her speeches, Harris has highlighted the impact of abortion bans on women, particularly those from marginalized communities. She has also emphasized that reproductive freedom is not a partisan issue, as people from both red and blue states have marched to the polls to have their voices heard. Harris's leadership on this issue is significant, and she has been described as a courageous woman fighting against attacks on reproductive rights.
One of Harris's key messages during her reproductive freedoms tour is that the government should not dictate what a woman does with her body. She has pledged to work with President Joe Biden to push back against state-level assaults on reproductive rights and restore the protections of Roe v. Wade. Harris has also prioritized reproductive freedom in her campaign, indicating her support for abortion access and improved reproductive healthcare protections.
The ACLU has outlined a roadmap for Harris to secure federal abortion protection, which includes advocating for federal legislation that safeguards reproductive freedom and ensures access to abortion care for those who need it. Harris's commitment to reproductive freedom is evident in her words and actions, as she utilizes her position to elevate and give voice to issues of injustice and harm.
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Women's access to healthcare
Kamala Harris has been a vocal advocate for women's access to healthcare, particularly in the areas of reproductive health, maternal health, and abortion rights. Since the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Harris has led the fight to restore reproductive freedom and support healthcare providers. She has spoken out against state abortion laws that restrict abortion access and criminalize healthcare providers, arguing that women deserve to make decisions about their own bodies and lives.
As a U.S. Senator, Harris introduced legislation to advance research and improve care for women with fibroids, a health issue that disproportionately affects Black American women. She has also championed equal pay for women, addressing pay disparities in healthcare, and highlighted the impact of violence and poverty on the mental health of communities.
Harris played a key role in the Biden administration's efforts to improve maternal health, including the creation of national health and safety standards for maternal care. As Vice President, she stood at the forefront of these initiatives, drawing attention to the alarming maternal mortality rate in the United States, especially among Black women.
Kamala Harris's commitment to women's access to healthcare is deeply rooted in her belief in fighting for vulnerable people. Her work in this area aims to ensure that women have the freedom and resources to make informed decisions about their health and well-being. If elected president, Harris could bring about a new era of prioritizing women's health and continuing to address disparities in access to healthcare.
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Lowering costs for Americans
Kamala Harris has been fighting to lower costs for Americans. She believes in a future where every person has the opportunity not just to get by, but to get ahead. As president, her top economic priority would be to continue lowering costs.
Harris was raised in a middle-class family by a working mother who taught her to believe in the promise of America. Her mother, Dr. Shyamala Gopalan Harris, saved for years to buy a home for her family, finally achieving that dream when Harris was a teenager. Her mother also taught her the value of hard work, bringing Harris to her breast cancer research lab and showing her how to clean test tubes as a child. Harris worked a summer job at McDonald's while attending Howard University for her undergraduate degree.
At a young age, Harris decided she wanted to pursue a career fighting for vulnerable people after a close friend confided in her that she was experiencing abuse at home. Harris became a prosecutor, specializing in cases of child sexual abuse. After winning the election as district attorney, she took on issues like domestic violence and gun violence, increased the conviction rate to put rapists and murderers behind bars, and created innovative programs to ensure low-level, non-violent offenders did not reoffend and were able to get their lives back on track.
As the first sitting Vice President to visit a reproductive health care clinic, Harris has been fighting to restore reproductive freedom since Roe v. Wade was overturned. She has crisscrossed the country to stand up for women's access to healthcare, supporting healthcare providers, and shining a light on the crisis.
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Fighting for vulnerable people
Kamala Harris has been fighting for vulnerable people since her youth. As a child, Harris worked a summer job at McDonald's while attending Howard University for her undergraduate degree. She decided at a young age that she wanted to pursue a career fighting for vulnerable people after a close friend confided in her about experiencing abuse at home. Harris's mother, Dr. Shyamala Gopalan Harris, instilled in her the value of hard work, bringing her to her breast cancer research lab and showing her how to clean test tubes as a child.
Harris became a prosecutor, specializing in cases of child sexual abuse. After winning the election as district attorney, she tackled issues such as domestic violence and gun violence, increased conviction rates to bring rapists and murderers to justice, and developed innovative programs to help low-level, non-violent offenders get their lives back on track and avoid a return to crime.
As Vice President, Harris has continued her fight for vulnerable people. She has led the battle to restore reproductive freedom after Roe v. Wade was overturned, advocating for women's access to healthcare and supporting healthcare providers. She understands the challenges faced by working families, believing in a future where every person has the opportunity not just to get by but to thrive. As president, her top economic priority would be to lower costs and make essential goods and services more affordable.
Harris has also faced challenges in her political career. During her presidential campaign, she encountered opposition from prominent figures, including former President Barack Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Despite these obstacles, she persevered and became the Democratic nominee for the 2024 election. Although she was ultimately unsuccessful in that race, she continues to be a strong voice for those in need, urging action on issues that affect vulnerable communities.
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Opposition to gun violence
Kamala Harris has a long history of fighting against gun violence. During her first campaign to become San Francisco's top prosecutor in 2003, she promised to take a tougher track on gun crimes. While in office, she opposed pretrial release for people charged with gun crimes and emphasized domestic violence cases. She also worked with then-San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom to implement some of the country's strictest local gun regulations.
In 2008, as the U.S. Supreme Court considered the landmark case D.C. v. Heller, Harris led a group of prosecutors that tried to convince the justices to reject a broad right to gun ownership, arguing that it would endanger state and local firearm laws. Unfortunately, their efforts were unsuccessful.
As California's Attorney General, Harris continued her fight against gun violence. She led the effort to pass a Red Flag law, becoming only the third state at the time to do so. As a U.S. Senator, she co-sponsored legislation to close the "boyfriend loophole" and prohibit stalkers from purchasing or possessing firearms. This loophole was ultimately addressed in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which included increased funding for the STOP School Violence Act grants and state and community violence prevention efforts.
Harris has also been a vocal supporter of stricter gun control laws at the federal level. She was appointed by President Biden to oversee the first White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, established in September 2023 to coordinate federal efforts against gun violence. In this role, she has helped lead the strongest gun safety administration in American history, breaking a 30-year logjam on federal gun safety legislation and taking executive actions to combat gun trafficking and ghost guns.
In March 2024, Harris visited Parkland, Florida, where she met with survivors of the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. During this visit, she announced the launch of a national center to increase the effectiveness of Extreme Risk Protection Order laws, also known as red flag laws. She also supported the Biden administration's plan to crack down on unlicensed gun dealers and expand background checks on gun sales.
Gun violence prevention advocates view Harris as a strong ally in the fight for gun reform. As a result, she has received endorsements from some of the nation's most prominent gun violence prevention groups, including Giffords, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Everytown, the Community Justice Action Fund, and the Newtown Action Alliance.
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Frequently asked questions
Kamala Harris was raised in a middle-class family by a working mother, Dr. Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who taught her to believe in the promise of America.
At a young age, Kamala Harris decided she wanted to pursue a career fighting for vulnerable people after a close friend confided in her that she was experiencing abuse at home.
Kamala Harris has taken on issues such as domestic violence, gun violence, and reproductive rights. She believes in lowering costs for Americans and creating a future where everyone has the opportunity to get ahead.
Kamala Harris has served as Vice President of the United States and has also considered running for governor of California and president of the United States.
Kamala Harris has faced opposition from members of her own party, and there have been concerns about her ability to win elections and connect with voters.
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