The United States Senate - Office of Senator Kamala Harris, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Since announcing her intent to secure the Democratic presidential nomination on July 21, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris has taken an offensive stance on women's reproductive rights.
As Harris promotes these legislative initiatives through her campaign, this reflects a pivotal moment in American politics. Harris promises to challenge the status quo and continue to publicize her beliefs to protect the fundamental rights of women across the U.S., an initiative that has only become more pertinent following the Supreme Court’s decision in 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Kamala Harris's commitment to upholding women's rights goes back to her experience serving as Attorney General of California. As a prosecutor, Harris specialized in cases involving crimes against women and children. Additionally, her previous role as U.S. Senator for California supports her reputation as an integral advocate of reproductive rights. Harris has consistently supported legislation that protects women's access to reproductive healthcare and remained vocal in her efforts to restrict anti-abortion laws in California. Now, these are Harris’s national campaign initiatives.
In April 2024 , Harris became the first vice president, or president, to visit an abortion clinic. This visit pushed back against White House officials who have claimed “they have largely reached the limits of their power to protect abortion rights.” Reproductive rights have remained one of the most divisive topics in the U.S., especially in the wake of the Supreme Court's 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which has allowed fourteen states to enact total abortion bans.
As she races for the presidency against former President Donald Trump, Kamala Harris has made reproductive rights a central pillar of her campaign. She has already made bold claims of intentions to restore Roe v. Wade, no longer recognized as of 2022, through federal legislation that would prevent additional states from creating their own restrictive abortion laws. Prior to Harris dropping out of the 2020 presidential race, she proposed that states that have traditionally adopted anti-abortion policies should have new abortion laws federally approved prior to their enactment. This initiative is no longer possible with the dissolution of Roe v. Wade. Harris has also committed to holding those responsible for anti-abortion measures in individual states accountable for their actions.
If Harris is able to follow through, Harris' policies may have unprecedented impacts on the stigma that surrounds, as well as the laws that restrict, reproductive rights in the U.S.. Harris’s goal for uniformity in the realm of abortion accessibility would be a significant step towards ensuring that all women have access to safe and legal abortion services.
Compared to her rivals, Kamala Harris has opted for a more assertive stance on reproductive rights. Current President Joe Biden, as well as other democrats, have been recognized as taking more cautious stances on women's reproductive health, primarily to appeal to more moderate voters. Harris has mostly neglected this strategy, allowing herself to gain the support of more progressive voters.
According to a Pew Research Center Poll from April 2024, “63% of adults said abortion should be legal in all or most cases and 36% said it should be illegal in all or most cases.” This shift has also become more prevalent with female voters, with roughly half of female Republican voters now supporting the right to abortion. This data demonstrates an increasing interest among voters to protect reproductive rights.
Kamala Harris's campaign for the Democratic nomination is a turning point for the women's reproductive health movement, though the issue remains of if she will be able to deliver on her promises should she become the next president. However, her proactive and assertive approach in her current presidential campaign may very well leave a lasting impact for the future demands for changes in U.S. reproductive healthcare.
As the battle for these rights continues, Harris's leadership will likely play a central role in shaping the conversation and influencing future legislative efforts.