Progressive national security professionals are already positioning themselves for roles in a potential Kamala Harris administration, seeking to influence the White House’s stance on Israel and other key issues after being sidelined during President Joe Biden’s tenure.
Activists are preparing lists of potential hires for positions at the National Security Council and the Defense Department, while others are updating their résumés and preparing policy proposals to align with Harris’s worldview.
Progressives are eyeing influential positions in Harris’s potential administration to push for a new direction in U.S. foreign policy
This initiative reflects the anticipation that Harris will face pressure from her progressive base if she takes office. The challenges experienced under Biden, who relied heavily on long-standing aides from the Clinton and Obama eras, underscore the difficulties progressives have faced in securing influential roles due to their limited government experience in foreign policy.
Matthew Duss, a progressive foreign policy expert and advisor to Senator Bernie Sanders, hopes Harris will help build a more experienced bench of policy experts capable of shaping foreign policy to meet contemporary challenges. The longstanding influence of Clinton and Obama’s associates was a known factor during Biden’s administration, where progressives found fewer opportunities for high-level roles.
With Biden’s presidency potentially ending, and top aides like Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expected to move on, Harris may need to appoint her own team. While she might maintain some Biden-era officials for continuity, she also faces pressure to bring in new perspectives, possibly from progressives eager to influence policy.
Progressives acknowledge the competitive nature of securing such positions but remain hopeful that Harris will introduce new ideas into U.S. foreign policy. They recognize the need for experience and strategic positioning to increase their chances of being included in a future administration, emphasizing the importance of engaging actively in her campaign to make their ambitions a reality.
