Donald Trump Wins: What went wrong for Kamala Harris and what¡¯s next for this Democratic Party politician?
Democratic Party¡¯s politician and Vice President Kamala Harris has lost the 2024 US elections to Donald Trump. Here¡¯s what could be the possible reason and what the future holds for her and her party.
Donald Trump¡¯s dramatic victory in the 2024 US Elections has shaken the stance of Kamala Harris, though briefly. The Internet is abuzz with conversations wondering what went wrong for the Democratic Party politician that led to her high fall. Followed by a thought piece on what the future holds for Harris.
The economic turbulence
Vice President Harris was unfortunately not able to appeal to American voters affected by an inflation surge during her term in the White House alongside Joe Biden. Even though US economic statistics have got a little better lately, polls have continued to reflect increasing negative voter sentiment. And around the same time, Trump bombarded Harris mercilessly on the campaign trail with accusations that she and Biden had raised grocery and gas prices to record levels.
Bernard Yaros of Oxford Economics told AFP, "People still (view) inflation as a problem, because they are not thinking of the year-over-year rate as economists do, but in terms of price levels. It may upset people that essentials are taking up a much larger share of their household budgets¡±.
The Immigration debate
As per University of Richmond School¡¯s Law professor Carl Tobias, immigration was clearly a factor in Trump's 2024 victory because Donald openly vowed to initiate a full-scale deportation operation to deport millions of immigrants who had entered the country under the Biden-Harris administration. Illegal border crossings have relatively reduced in recent months after Biden pulled the chords after record-high immigrant numbers infamously characterized as an ¡®invasion.¡¯
Harris's portfolio did include Central American immigration issues but the Republicans believed that the border bill was too little, too late. Hence, a flock walked the Trump¡¯s way.
The Demographic divergence
Initial exit polling suggested that Harris took around 40 per cent of white voters, more than 80 per cent of Black voters, and approximately half of both Hispanics and Asians. Although Trump did not carry a majority of any minority group, those same polls said that his favourability among African Americans increased by single digits, while it jumped by double digits with Hispanics, certainly a profoundly disturbing trend for Democrats.
Professor Roberto Suro of the University of Southern California, Annenberg opined, ¡°We've definitely seen among Mexican American males, evangelicals, not college educated, working class... a steady movement towards Trump. The trend could also be seen "geographically along the border and in places where that have been impacted very directly by this new migration.¡±
Contrary to all expectations, Trump performed better than in 2020 with women -- despite abortion rights being a key campaign issue -- and among youth.
A late arrival to the party!
Biden¡¯s decision last year to seek re-election raised worries among many Democrats, but no major competitor ever chose to challenge him for the party nomination. Harris quickly claimed the mantle, but was left with only three months to reset a trailing campaign. "Much of this Democratic disaster can be laid at Joe Biden's feet. He never should have tried to run for reelection in his 80s, eventually leaving Harris to manage a short substitute campaign that proved inadequate," Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia said.
The heavy Biden baggage
Harris found herself unable to establish a difference between herself and Biden or his lack of popularity. The vice president found herself locked into a box on October 8, as one of the hosts of the ABC chat show The View asked what she would have done any differently than Biden. After a pause, she said, ¡°there is not a thing that comes to mind.¡± The exchange proved to be ¡®disastrous¡¯ for the Democratic candidate, as former Barack Obama adviser David Axelrod said Wednesday on CNN. Trump didn't miss his chance and played the clip at his rallies and many television ads.
What¡¯s Next for Kamala Harris?
As the Democratic Party looks for its future after Trump¡¯s victory, Kamala Harris¡¯s path forward remains a little uncertain. While some see her as a natural choice to continue representing the party at the national level, others suggest that fresh faces are needed to renew voter enthusiasm. Harris, however, brings a unique background, as the first female and first Black and South Asian Vice President, that still appeals to a diverse range of voters. This could make her a key figure in rebuilding trust and unity within the Democratic base, especially if she focuses on issues that align with grassroots movements.
For Harris, this moment presents an opportunity to reset and redefine her political narrative. She could focus on rebuilding relationships within her party, advocating for specific policy areas like criminal justice reform, climate action, and healthcare that the younger and more progressive voters are looking for. Alternatively, she could pursue state-level influence or even shift toward a non-elected role in public service, where her experience and international connections could still contribute to U.S. political and social discourse.
Kamala Harris¡¯s journey within the Democratic Party is far from over. As the party regroups and strategizes for the future, Harris¡¯s experience and unique appeal will likely remain central to how she chooses to navigate the next phase of her career.
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Aditya Sagar is a journalist at Indiatimes, blending his love for entertainment with sprinkles of lifestyle and whatever's catching fire at the moment. With a pulse on Bollywood and an ear to the ground for the latest trends, he steers the world of cinema, style, and viral stories with finesse. Your go-to guide for the glitz, gossip, and everything in between, find him @theadityasagar across all social platforms.
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