Why Kamala Harris Lost — And It Wasn’t Even Close
It happened again: Democrats lost a winnable election to a morally bankrupt, orange-makeup-wearing carnival barker, despite his corruption and odiousness. This time, Donald Trump campaigned on a darker agenda, focusing on mass deportation of migrants, calls for violent policing, and retribution against opponents. He didn’t need to steal the election through legal means or a coup. In battleground states, he seemingly dominated, likely winning the popular vote for the first time in two decades.
Several factors explain Vice President Kamala Harris’s loss, including Joe Biden’s unpopularity, pervasive sexism, racism, xenophobia, and a culture that glorifies the ultra-wealthy. The Harris campaign opted for a cautious approach, relying on the Democrats’ failed strategy of emulating Republicans. She also refrained from criticizing Biden’s support for Israel during the Gaza conflict, which has particularly impacted young voters.
The primary reason for Harris’s defeat, however, is fundamental: Americans are unhappy with a harsh economy. After the government ended Covid-era aid programs, inflation soared for two years, raising the cost of living, along with higher interest rates affecting credit cards, mortgages, and loans. In this context, voters punished Democrats.
Exit polls from the 2024 election clearly indicate the economy was the decisive issue. Edison Research exit polls reveal that two-thirds of voters view the economy as poor, with 69 percent of them voting for Trump. When asked about their primary voting issue, 31 percent cited the economy, with 79 percent supporting Trump.
Similar findings emerged from the Fox News Voter Analysis: 63 percent described the economy as poor, and 68 percent backed Trump. Among those prioritizing the economy and jobs, 60 percent supported him. Furthermore, 40 percent identified high prices for essentials as the most crucial factor in their votes, with 64 percent backing Trump.
Despite doubts regarding Trump’s 2025 agenda benefiting average Americans, his plans for tariffs and maintaining tax cuts for the wealthy suggest that the richest will gain the most. Trump intends to appoint Elon Musk to a key role, who has promised significant spending cuts leading to “temporary hardship.”
However, voters weren’t endorsing Trump’s economic proposals; they were voicing their frustration with the current economic state. Some Democrats and pundits have maintained that Americans misjudge the economy’s health, claiming it’s actually strong despite the gloom. They question whether people are remembering their financial conditions inaccurately from the Trump years or if they are aware that inflation has slowed.
The U.S. Census Bureau has been tracking Americans’ financial situations, noting that 34 percent found it hard to pay bills when Trump lost in 2020. This percentage dropped when Congress introduced pandemic aid, but spiked again as those programs ended and inflation rose. As of September, 37 percent of Americans reported difficulty covering household expenses, a slight increase from earlier this year.
This harsh financial reality has created a challenging political landscape for Democrats in 2024, allowing Republicans to deliver a decisive blow.