Did Kamala Harris Deliver on Delegate Expectations?

Robert O’Gorman, a Washington State delegate, walks to his seating section on August 20, 2024, the second day of the DNC. Photo by Morgan Kirsch.

The highly anticipated debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris allowed both candidates to make their cases for who is best suited for the presidential office. 

In an election year for the history books, the Democratic and Republican tickets have faced a whirlwind of shocks and changes. For the Democratic ticket, there was a shift from President Joe Biden to Vice President Harris because of the mounting concerns about Biden’s age and cognitive ability. Now, Vice President Harris is lauded as the candidate to finally break the presidential glass ceiling for women of color.

Trump faced two assassination attempts: the first at his own rally July 13 before the Republican National Convention, and the second two months later, September 15, when a shooter was found at a golf course he attended.

While attending the DNC, I had the opportunity to discuss hopes and expectations for Harris’s potential presidency with delegates from a variety of states. Ashley Fedan, a delegate representing Washington state, and a veteran and nurse, is one of several who praised what Harris represents for women as a nominee. 

Washington State delegate Ashley Fedan stands with the rest of her state seating section August 20, 2024 at the DNC. Photo by Morgan Kirsch.

“As a young woman, I didn’t have that role model in politics. I’m from West Virginia. We barely had any women in significant roles anyway. Seeing that glass ceiling, seeing that bridge crossed—the future is wonderful. The future is so bright,” Fedan said. 

The question is, did Harris’s debate performance align with the hopes delegates expressed for her candidacy? On issues like healthcare and national unity, her stances seemingly align with some Democratic delegates’ hopes. Gun access, however, is another story.

A variety of topics were broached in the debate like international affairs, the border, the economy and abortion. For some delegates, healthcare was their utmost priority.

Trump and Harris exchanged an impassioned back-and-forth on their healthcare stances, particularly reproductive rights and medicare affordability. Trump claimed his personal stances on abortion didn’t matter, stating: “I’m not in favor of an abortion ban. But it doesn’t matter because this issue has now been taken over by the states.” 

Trump continued on that he had been a champion of in vitro fertilization in the U.S. and claimed Harris was in favor of late-term and terminating babies after birth, which is illegal. Harris vehemently denied the claim. Trump said he will continue to attempt to improve the Affordable Care Act, which makes affordable health insurance more available to people and expands the umbrella of those who qualify for Medicaid. He says he plans to continue until a better and cheaper option is available for people but did not delve into the details of his plan.

Conversely, Harris exhibited hard stances on specific areas of healthcare. She mentioned throughout the debate her desire to support private healthcare options as well as “maintain and grow” the Affordable Care Act. 

“Access to healthcare should be a right, and not just a privilege of those who can afford it,” Harris said. The vice president also took a firm stance on abortion access, citing the harm of instances of incest and carrying stillbirths to term, as well as the injustice of traveling out of state to receive abortion care and other emergency care.

For delegates like Fedan, healthcare access is of utmost importance. Fedan said she provides anesthesia for transgender people and for women who undergo various surgeries, including abortion care. 

“Whenever you work in a system, you know the system needs improvement,” Fedan said.

Dr. Tracy Wilson is a Texas delegate who also works in the healthcare industry. For her, Black maternal health is one of her greatest hopes for improvement under the potential Harris administration. 

Texas delegate Dr. Tracy Wilson poses for a photo while leaving her seating section August 20, 2024 on the second day of the DNC. Photo by Morgan Kirsch.

“We’re really struggling with women’s health. Black women are hurting,” Wilson said.

According to the CDC, over 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. are preventable, and Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. Harris did not directly address Black maternal health during the debate.

Harris’s historic stance on abortion access is well-received by party members like Wilson, who have concerns for their families’ access. “The previous administration is what has stripped that away, so I’m hoping for the future administration can get that back,” Wilson said.

There was little to no discussion nor questions posed by debate facilitators regarding gun control. Harris only briefly mentioned gun issues after Trump claimed she supported taking away gun accessibility. In response, she said: “Tim Walz and I are both gun owners. We’re not taking anybody’s guns away.” 

The debate between Harris and Trump took place September 10, six days after the tragic school shooting in Georgia at Apalachee High School, which left two teachers and two students dead, and nine others injured, seven of which were shot.

One DNC delegate noted at the convention that gun issues need to be examined more in depth by the Democratic Party. Though the DNC occurred before this tragedy, gun violence in schools has been a prominent issue for years. In 2023 alone, there were 346 school shooting incidents across the country.

Alabama delegate and state Rep. Juandalynn Givan hopes future administrations will begin cracking down on both gun violence and distributors: “We’ve got to address guns in our communities. How are these young kids getting these guns?” 

Alabama delegate and State Representative Juandalynn Givan poses in her seating section August 21, 2024 on the third day of the DNC. Photo by Morgan Kirsch.

One sentiment shared by several delegates was the hope for unity and cooperation between parties. Harris’s debate performance wove in themes of unity between both polarized parties. 

“I’ve only had one client: the people. And I’ll tell you, as a prosecutor, I never asked a victim or a witness, ‘Are you a Republican or are you a Democrat?’ The only thing I ever ask them—are you okay?” Harris said.

Harris continued, “I intend to be a president for all Americans.”

Texas delegate Dr. Wilson also emphasized the importance of cooperation between parties. “Both sides have to work together. That’s the only way this government is going to work,” Wilson said.

Header by Morgan Kirsch