Kamala Harris, if Elected, Intends to Govern as a Progressive

In her early days as the likely Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris is making it clear that she intends to push forward with key elements of President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda that have yet to be realized.

Harris has laid out plans to invest nearly $2 trillion in several major areas: establishing universal pre-kindergarten education, improving care for the elderly and children, and offering a permanent tax cut for working-class families. According to a report from Axios, she is also in favor of raising corporate taxes, with Harris aiming for a 35% rate, which surpasses Biden's proposed 28% rate.

No child must grow up in poverty, says Kamala 

Speaking at her campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, on Monday and at a rally in Milwaukee on Tuesday, Harris emphasized her commitment to these goals. "We believe in a future where no child has to grow up in poverty," she said in Wilmington. "And where every person has access to paid family leave and affordable child care."

Will Harris attract independents? 

These statements resonate strongly with progressive voters. As a senator, Harris was a strong advocate for expanding the child tax credit, which provided families with up to $3,600 per child annually. Although this credit was part of Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill, it expired after a year, and Harris had previously led efforts to reinstate it.

During her 2020 presidential campaign, Harris positioned herself as a progressive, supporting Medicare for All and a fracking ban, though she later adjusted her stances once she joined Biden’s ticket.

As of now, it isn't clear if her progressive credentials will help her win over independent voters.