Letters to the Editor: Reflecting on Kamala Harris’ Defeat
The Problem: Various factors that contributed to Vice President Kamala Harris’ defeat in the presidential race.
I believe that the Democrats’ loss was largely due to the way Vice President Kamala Harris was chosen as the party’s nominee. Instead of going through a primary process where the public could have a say, she was handpicked by the party. This kind of selection makes the candidate more accountable to the party than to the public.
This lack of public involvement in the selection process deprives the candidate of the ability to set policies and take full responsibility as a true leader should. A leader needs to lead and not just follow party directives. Otherwise, the public loses sight of who is truly in charge.
Without a meaningful connection to the candidate, voters are left without a sense of ownership over their choice. We need leadership that is independent and responsible, not a mere puppet following orders.
Matthew Pease
Demarest, NJ
In 2020, approximately 81 million individuals voted for President Biden. In 2024, about 69 million people voted for Harris, according to current figures.
Where did those nearly 12 million votes go? Not all of them went to President-elect Donald Trump.
James Foley, Airmont
As the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee, Harris seemed to assume the political support of Arab and Muslim American voters, particularly in the swing state of Michigan.
This demographic is generally pro-Palestinian and has been deeply affected by the ongoing violence in Palestine. Given Harris’ stance, it was unlikely that the most pro-Palestinian and anti-war voters would compromise their values by voting for her on Election Day.
Frank Sterle Jr.
White Rock, Canada
To those media pundits wondering where the Democrats went wrong, I can offer some insight.
The same party that tried to hide Joe Biden’s mental decline also attempted to present Kamala Harris as the nation’s savior.
The fact that they tried to persuade the American public to vote for someone as incapable as Biden – the least mentally sound president in history – speaks volumes.
It’s not surprising that the Democrats are not challenging the election results. What is surprising is that they managed to garner 70 million votes for her in the first place.
Don Whitman
Cross River
Essentially, Harris ran a lackluster campaign without a clear message or a convincing argument for moving away from the Biden-Harris era and its so-called “achievements.”
Like Hillary Clinton’s loss in 2016, this defeat was primarily due to the candidate’s incompetence – there is no one else to blame.
Alan Brooks
Brooklyn
Perhaps Harris shouldn’t have associated with former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, a vocal critic of Trump. Cheney is a polarizing figure disliked by both Democrats and Republicans. I doubt Kamala will want to be associated with her in the future.
Carol Meltzer
Manhattan
Those Democrats who want to play the gender card in the aftermath of President-elect Trump’s victory are missing the point. The issue was not that Harris was a woman, but that the woman was Kamala Harris.
Joe Zeloof
Hamilton, NJ
Despite her campaign’s failure, Harris remains a successful politician, and her policy positions should still be considered important for our country.
Wayne E. Williams
Camden, NJ
Senior Democrats lamenting their loss after the election need to acknowledge their failure to take the process seriously. If they had consulted the public and not resorted to a last-minute replacement, things might have turned out differently.
A more appropriate response would be to accept their missteps and reflect on how they could have approached the election more effectively.
Brian Goldenfeld
Thousand Oaks, Calif.
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