Democratic Establishment Turns on Kamala Harris, Ignoring Calls for Progressive Change
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Several Democratic candidates in key swing states are refusing to campaign with former Vice President Kamala Harris, exposing the party's resistance to genuine progressive leadership ahead of the 2024 midterms.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris is facing a cold reception as she travels through the Midwest before the 2024 midterm elections, highlighting the Democratic Party’s ongoing struggle with its own progressive base. While Harris will be welcomed in Detroit by Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed—a figure known for his progressive stances and efforts to unite marginalized communities—other Democratic candidates are distancing themselves, signaling an unwillingness to embrace transformative leadership.
Iowa gubernatorial nominee Rob Sand’s dismissive statement to Politico—'No thanks. Let's move on. We need some new leadership.'—reflects a broader frustration with establishment figures like Harris, who have failed to deliver on promises of bold change. Senate candidates in Iowa and Kansas, as well as Democratic nominees in Texas and Arizona, have also chosen not to align with Harris, according to reports, further exposing the party’s internal fractures.
Kansas Senate candidate Adam Hamilton told Politico that he must appeal to Republican voters with a 'worldview...different than Kamala Harris,' a clear sign of the party’s willingness to compromise progressive values for electoral gains. This distancing comes as a Politico poll shows enthusiasm for a Harris presidential run is waning, with only 28% of California voters expressing support for a 2028 bid—a 13-point drop since March.
Harris is now facing skepticism within her own party, as 55% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters say they would not be excited about another Harris campaign, and only 10% believe she would have a better chance than Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom, a centrist Democrat, told CNN he does not expect Harris to run again, though he would support her if she did, underscoring the establishment’s grip on the party.
El-Sayed, a former Detroit health director and progressive leader, sees Harris’s visit as a chance to unite fractured Democratic constituencies in Michigan, especially amid growing anger over the party’s stance on the war in Gaza. 'We're building an electoral coalition here,' he told the Associated Press, highlighting the urgent need for solidarity among oppressed groups.
The itinerary includes a discussion on Black maternal health and a voting-rights forum with the local NAACP chapter. El-Sayed noted that some Black voters felt hurt after Arab American voters were blamed for not supporting Harris in 2020, and he sees the visit as an opportunity to heal that divide and build true intersectional power.
Harris, in response to being snubbed by fellow Democrats, emphasized her support for their efforts to win, but her actions suggest a focus on maintaining establishment control. She is set to campaign in Nevada with gubernatorial nominee Aaron Ford, in Georgia with Senator Jon Ossoff, and with congressional candidates in California, but questions remain about her commitment to genuine progressive change.
A fundraising document obtained by the New York Times frames Harris as a valuable surrogate for midterm races, but her reluctance to commit to a 2028 presidential run only highlights the party’s lack of vision for the future, as it continues to sideline progressive voices.