With the 2024 election behind her, Kamala Harris now faces an uncertain future after a decisive loss to Donald Trump, who secured 312 electoral votes compared to her 226. Running on a platform of hope and optimism, Harris found her message largely unaccepted by voters.
Trump not only maintained strong support but also made inroads among Hispanic and Black Americans, as well as voters in both rural and urban areas. To compound the setback, her support among women was lower than President Biden’s had been in 2020, coming in at 53 percent versus Biden’s 57 percent.
Harris’s journey from civil rights roots to Vice President leaves lasting impact
The scale of the defeat leaves open questions about Harris’s next move. She could consider another presidential run, step away from the political arena altogether, or possibly engage in the nonprofit sector, advocating for civil rights in a different capacity. Alternatively, she could choose to enter media or podcasting, or perhaps follow in the footsteps of John Quincy Adams by joining Congress to represent those without a voice.
Harris’s early life was steeped in civil rights activism, as her parents, who met at UC Berkeley, were engaged in the movement and brought her along to protests as a young child. These experiences left a lasting impact, inspiring Harris to seek a position of influence, which she wrote about in her memoir, noting that she saw “justice from the outside” and aspired to attain power to enact change.
Climbing through the ranks of law school, Harris eventually became California’s attorney general, then a senator, and later the vice president. In her own words, she aimed to be “on the other side to let them in” when activists rallied for change. But with the election behind her, the influence that once defined her career has faded.
Harris came close to a breakthrough moment during a 2020 Democratic debate, challenging Biden’s previous stance on bussing policies. She invoked a personal story about being one of the early students to integrate her school, a moment that underscored her desire to gain power to support others with similar backgrounds. Her voice shook as she shared, “That little girl was me,” emphasizing how access to education paved her path to that debate stage.
At 60, Harris has time and potential for continued civil rights work, even outside the presidency. In the 1828 election, John Quincy Adams faced defeat against Andrew Jackson. Rather than retreat from public life or pursue retribution, Adams shifted his focus to Congress, where he represented Massachusetts starting in 1830.
As a congressional representative, Adams staunchly defended civil rights, opposing the “gag rule” that sought to suppress discussions of slavery and fighting for the right of representation. His most famous case involved successfully arguing for the freedom of captured Africans aboard the Amistad in 1841.
Harris considers a new chapter after a career devoted to advocacy
Adams’s post-presidency legacy in Congress became more impactful than his time as president, as he championed substantial reforms over symbolic status. He is remembered not only as Jackson’s political adversary but as a principled leader who stood for the unrepresented, even collaborating with Jackson during the Nullification Crisis of 1832.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 tackled segregation and bolstered voting rights, advancing the representation Adams had fought for. However, with the U.S. population nearly doubling from 191 million to over 330 million since then, the fixed number of 435 representatives has stretched representation thin. In 1964, each representative served about 439,000 people, whereas today, each represents roughly 756,000.
Harris could pursue a congressional role, advocating for apportionment reforms that would allow more Americans a voice in government. By leading such an effort, she could form a bipartisan coalition prepared to sail through any constitutional challenges before the next election.
While a position in Congress lacks glamour and might even fade into obscurity, it has traditionally been a post for dedicated public servants. It’s a role not commonly held by the rich or powerful but by those prioritizing representation and unity.
Figures like John Quincy Adams showed that the role could be wielded for meaningful impact on behalf of the unrepresented. Harris’s choices now will shape how her legacy is remembered in the years to come.
