Why Kamala Harris Should Be the Democratic Nominee for President in 2024

I haven’t felt excited about a Democratic presidential nominee since 2008, when I was all in for Barack Obama at 20 years old. By his second term, my enthusiasm waned as I saw the limitations of his liberal policies. Since then, I’ve shifted left and see voting more as an obligation than something to get excited about. After Bernie Sanders lost to Hillary Clinton in 2016, I reluctantly voted for her and did the same for Joe Biden in 2020. Now, as we face another election, I have a plea for the party: don’t make me vote for an 81-year-old who recently fumbled a question about abortion. Instead, give me Kamala Harris.

If Sanders were younger, I’d be singing a different tune, but he’s not, and he’s still crucial in the Senate. Our choices are limited. Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan is a capable politician with potential but lacks national recognition and hasn’t won a national race. The same goes for Governor J.B. Pritzker of Illinois. So, Kamala Harris stands out. She’s known, has democratic legitimacy from previously defeating Trump on a ticket, and a new CNN poll shows her close to Trump, suggesting a switch wouldn’t harm Democratic prospects.

The recent debate made it clear: Biden’s time is up, regardless of what his family or inner circle might think. Americans need a solid alternative to Trump’s grim vision for the country. Harris isn’t just a practical choice but a moral and material one. A second Trump term could destabilize the country, hurt the working class, and roll back rights for women and LGBTQ+ people. If Democrats are serious about protecting marginalized groups and building on their economic legacy, they should acknowledge the obvious: Biden can’t win. It’s time for Harris.

Four years ago, I wouldn’t have imagined supporting Harris. In 2020, she wasn’t my first or even second choice. As a former prosecutor, she was prone to gaffes, and her policies seemed overly technical. She flip-flopped on Medicare for All, making her appear less appealing compared to Sanders’s conviction or Elizabeth Warren’s progressive policies. Her campaign didn’t gain traction, and she dropped out before the primaries. But Biden’s choice of her as a running mate changed things.

For many on the left, voting is a compromise. Our elected candidates often fall short of our ideals, even those claiming to be socialists. Biden, entrenched in the establishment, wasn’t expected to be a radical change-maker. Yet, the Biden-Harris administration exceeded my expectations in some ways. Biden has largely kept his pro-labor promises, and the thought of a GOP-controlled National Labor Relations Board worries me. A stronger labor movement is crucial, and while it doesn’t solely depend on the Democratic Party, Harris seems a better option than Trump. I believe she would continue Biden’s broadly progressive economic policies, which, despite their flaws, are better than what Trump would offer. While the administration hasn’t fully tackled student-loan debt, Harris’s previous Pell Grant plan seems modest compared to the current discussions on debt forgiveness. Supporting Harris also means supporting an administration focused on economic progress over tax cuts for the wealthy.

I’m also frustrated with Biden, his advisers, and his family urging him to stay in the race. Though I sympathize with the embarrassment he felt after the debate, my role as a voter isn’t to shield him from reality. If he can’t handle a debate with Trump, it’s unlikely he can manage the presidency, one of the toughest jobs. Biden’s team has shielded him from press and public interaction, making it hard to trust their claims about his fitness. What we saw in the debate was concerning, and dismissing these concerns insults both Harris and the voters’ intelligence.

If the Democratic Party truly believes this election is critical, it can’t rely on Biden. It needs a steadier hand, and Harris is the best choice. It’s unfortunate this might be how we get our first woman president, though representation isn’t my main political goal. I still want Medicare for All, free public college, and comprehensive student-debt forgiveness. I want a president with a humane foreign policy and a real commitment to reproductive rights. But if I can’t have everything I want this year, I’d rather settle for Harris.