US Vice-President Kamala Harris, after securing the Democratic presidential nomination, has been actively campaigning against Republican candidate Donald Trump for the upcoming November election. Her campaign speeches have highlighted several key issues, including middle-class support, expanding reproductive rights, implementing gun law reforms, and advancing voting rights.
Since Joe Biden ended his re-election bid on July 21 and endorsed her, Harris has solidified delegate support, received the Democratic nomination, and chosen Tim Walz as her running mate.
The official policy agenda for the Democrats will be crystallised at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, scheduled for August 19.
In her campaign speeches, Harris has presented herself as the “solution” to former President Donald Trump, claiming that her presidency would advance the country while Trump’s would regress it, reported USA Today.
As the Democratic National Convention in Chicago approaches, Harris’s priorities may become clearer.
Here are some of her major campaign promises to date.
MIDDLE-CLASS SUPPORT AND AFFORDABILITY
Kamala Harris has emphasised her commitment to the middle class, stating, “Building up the middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency.”
At a rally with her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, she reiterated, “Our campaign is not just a fight against Donald Trump. We fight for a future with affordable housing, affordable health care, affordable child care, and paid leave.”
HEALTH CARE
Harris, who previously had varying stances on health care, confirmed in late July that she no longer supports a single-payer system.
In her 2020 campaign, she advocated for a government-backed health insurance system while keeping private insurance, reported CNN.
Her plan aimed to transition to a ‘Medicare-for-All’ system over 10 years without raising middle-class taxes, funding it by taxing Wall Street trades and offshore corporate income.
To reduce drug costs, Harris proposed allowing the federal government to set drug prices based on prices in other countries.
If manufacturers were found price gouging, the government could import drugs or use “march-in” rights to licence patents to lower-cost producers.
STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS
Harris supports student loan forgiveness, aligning with the Biden administration’s goals. She emphasised this at an American Federation of Teachers convention in Houston, underscoring her commitment to easing the financial burden on students.
As Vice-President, Harris has supported the Biden administration’s student debt initiatives, which have forgiven over USD 168 billion for nearly 4.8 million borrowers. In mid-July, she mentioned in a post on X that nearly 9,50,000 public servants have benefited from student debt forgiveness, compared to only 7,000 when Biden took office.
A Harris administration could continue this progress, although some of Biden’s efforts have faced legal challenges, such as a program designed to reduce monthly student loan payments for about 3 million borrowers.
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
Reproductive rights are a key focus in Harris’s speeches. She has promised to sign a law restoring federal protections for abortion rights if Congress passes it.
“We will ensure national protections for reproductive freedoms,” she said in Atlanta, Houston, and Indianapolis, reported USA Today.
This was highlighted by her visit to a Planned Parenthood clinic in Minneapolis, making her likely the first president or vice-president to do so.
GUN LAW REFORM
Gun law reform is another priority. Speaking in Wilmington, Harris called for universal background checks, red flag laws, and an assault weapon ban.
“We will work to ensure freedom from gun violence,” Harris stated.
As Vice-President, she oversaw the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which built on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022.
VOTING RIGHTS
Harris has also committed to advancing voting rights legislation, including the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act.
These measures aim to extend protection and require federal approval for some local election law changes.
Despite past challenges in the Congress, Harris remains focused on these goals.