The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, historically known for counting Vice President Kamala Harris among its distinguished alumni, has embarked on a critical political initiative by establishing its own political action committee. This development marks a rare move for a sorority, driven by the ambition to support one of its own in reaching the highest office.
As a member of the “Divine Nine,” a network of the country’s oldest and most esteemed sororities and fraternities, AKA benefits from a powerful alumni base exceeding 2 million individuals. This extensive network represents a political force that both major parties are keen to engage in the upcoming November election.
Vice President Kamala Harris’s sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, launches a PAC to boost her political ambitions
During the 2020 campaign, when Harris was named as Joe Biden’s running mate, the campaign received a surge of donations, each precisely $19.08, a nod to the founding year of Alpha Kappa Alpha. Harris’s tenure has seen her host Divine Nine leaders at the White House—a historic first—and continue to engage with these leaders, including a recent visit in May aimed at bolstering support among Black voters.
Following Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race and his endorsement of Harris, the Divine Nine presidents committed to an expansive voter registration and mobilization effort. Their statement, however, avoided specifying candidates or party affiliations.
The newly formed AKA 1908 PAC will be authorized to accept donations of up to $5,000 from sorority members and their families to support federal campaigns and political causes. Kiahna Davis, a regional director for AKA, is listed as the PAC’s treasurer, though neither Davis nor the PAC have commented on the new initiative.
Harris has consistently celebrated her affiliation with AKA and other Divine Nine organizations. Her first major public event as the presumptive Democratic nominee was at a gathering for Zeta Phi Beta, another Divine Nine sorority, and she recently addressed an AKA event. Additionally, a rally she hosted in Atlanta showcased several Divine Nine alumni holding political positions.
AKA joins other Greek organizations in federal fundraising efforts; Phi Beta Sigma, a Divine Nine fraternity, operates its own PAC, and in 2005, leaders from various fraternities and sororities established the Fraternity & Sorority Political Action Committee to support candidates who advocate for the fraternity and sorority experience.
