Vice President Kamala Harris has offered her most direct suggestions yet about a potential 2028 presidential campaign, advocating for a return to progressive policy ideas including revisiting the Electoral College, expanding the Supreme Court, and granting statehood to Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. These remarks were made during a speech at the National Urban League Conference in Nashville.
Harris acknowledged the controversial nature of these proposals, stating, "I know this is going to be controversial coming from me in particular, we need to revisit the electoral college. We need to revisit the point of expanding the court. We need to revisit, if they so want, statehood for Puerto Rico and DC." With the exception of statehood for Washington D.C., these policies were not central to her 2024 presidential campaign.
Liberals have long championed these three ideas, which could potentially increase Democratic influence across branches of government. Expanding the Supreme Court could allow for more justices to be appointed, potentially balancing the current 6-3 conservative majority. Abolishing the Electoral College could also benefit Democrats, as Donald Trump was the only Republican to win the popular vote since 1988.
During the conference, Harris also commented on foreign policy, criticizing former President Trump's approach to Iran and a potential peace deal. She drew parallels between the proposed deal and the one negotiated under the Obama administration. "The deal would basically be what Barack Obama got. That he pulled us out of. I think that it's important to not be a conspiracist, but you can listen to what people are saying. And wonder. Is it just a full on distraction from the things he can't handle or has not handled?" she said, adding that she would have opposed war with Iran and not struck Tehran even with Congressional approval.
Despite these forward-looking policy discussions, Harris stated she has not made a decision regarding a 2028 presidential run, emphasizing her current focus on the midterms. However, her public presence and policy pronouncements suggest continued presidential ambitions.
Early polling indicates Harris is a leading contender for the Democratic nomination. A recent survey by Big Data places her significantly ahead of other potential candidates, with 30 percent of the vote. This puts her ahead of California Governor Gavin Newsom, who received 10 percent, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with 9 percent.
Harris has consistently expressed that she is considering a presidential run, having previously stated in April that she was "thinking" about it. She has also spoken about the importance of leadership that takes risks and prioritizes listening to the public, echoing past statements about her determination to pursue elected office without seeking permission.