With Kamala Harris quickly thrust into the role of presidential nominee, many critics are questioning her qualifications. Luckily, her time as vice president has been filled with many positive milestones.
On January 20th, 2021, Harris made history as the country’s first female and first Black vice president. She’d had a successful run in politics leading up to that point, serving as California’s attorney general from 2011 to 2017 and representing the state in the U.S. Senate from 2017 until she became the VP. Throughout her White House tenure, people have accused Harris of being absent or even silent on certain issues, which launched a common social media joke questioning, “Where is Kamala?”
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Thankfully, her work is well documented and solidifies that she is fully equipped to run the nation.
Championing abortion rights
Harris spent much of the 2022 midterms speaking out about the White House’s plan to protect abortion rights. She offered strong pushback against the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn federal abortion rights. In March 2024, she became the first president or vice president to visit an abortion clinic as part of her “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour.
Pushed for stronger voting rights protections
As vice president, Harris helped President Joe Biden push for stronger voting rights protections. She campaigned for the passing of the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, which extended the protections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in voting.
Establishing partnerships with Northern Central America
Harris launched a Call to Action for Northern Central America in May 2021. The Call to Action and the Partnership for Central America (PCA) attracted over $4 billion in contributions and called for U.S. enterprises to invest in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
Funding for HBCUs
In February 2023, Harris, a proud graduate of Howard University, announced $175 million in funding to improve internet access in historically Black colleges and universities.
Harris has long stayed true to her goals of improving the lives of people both in and outside the United States. If elected president, it is likely that her commitment to such interests will persist and likely expand.
