Kamala Harris makes final case to voters before fateful Election Night

WASHINGTON

Vice President Kamala Harris is making her final case to voters in a series of radio interviews Tuesday, the final day of voting in a historic election that could make her the first woman president of the United States or reinstate former president Donald Trump.

“I think this is an inflection point,” Harris told a radio host in Atlanta Tuesday morning. “This is the moment where we have two very different visions of the future of our nation. And mine is focused on progress. Mine is focused on investing in the ambitions and the aspirations and the dreams of the American people.”

Polls show the race between Harris, a Democrat, and Republican former President Donald Trump are locked in a close race for the presidency. The two candidates and their surrogates have focused their efforts on a handful of swing states that will determine who enters the White House next year.

Harris’ campaign is hosting an election night watch party at Howard University, her alma mater, in Washington, D.C.

“The first office I ever ran for was freshman class representative at Howard University, and to go back tonight to Howard University, my beloved alma mater, and be able to, hopefully recognize this day for what it is, is really it’s full circle for me,” she said Tuesday.

Harris has often spoken about the important role the historically Black college played in her life, including her decision to become a lawyer. As a sophomore at Howard, she interned with Sen. Alan Cranston of California – the same seat she would later hold herself.

An Oakland native, Harris has already made history as the first woman of color to hold the vice presidency and hopes to become the country’s first female president.

Though she had a Jamaican father and Indian mother, Harris largely avoided talking about identity politics on the campaign trail, choosing instead to focus on kitchen-table issues like the economy, housing costs and reproductive freedom.

She spoke often during the campaign about being raised in a middle-class family, her mother’s excitement at purchasing a home after saving for years, and working summer jobs at McDonald’s to earn spending money.

Harris worked as a prosecutor in Alameda County and San Francisco before winning election as San Francisco district attorney in 2003. She later won elections as California attorney general and U.S. Senator before becoming President Joe Biden’s vice president in 2021.

As Attorney General, she cracked down on sex trafficking and won better settlements for California homeowners in the wake of the mortgage crisis, a victory she often touted during the campaign.

Harris has been criticized for not staking out strong positions on polarizing issues or changing her tone. For example, she opposed legalizing recreational marijuana in 2010, but supported it nearly a decade later. She also took heat from communities of color for dubbing herself California’s “top cop” and later styling herself as a reformer.

Harris got a late start in the presidential race after Biden stepped down in July following a disastrous debate against Trump and concerns about Biden’s ability to beat him.

Biden withdrew from the race July 21 and immediately endorsed Harris, allowing her to quickly consolidate support from other Democrats.

Her elevation to the top of the ticket was met with relief and hope by many in the party, particularly young voters. She received a historic jolt in fundraising and has far outraised Trump this election cycle, though polls show the race virtually tied in a handful of crucial swing states.

This story was originally published November 5, 2024, 8:44 AM.