Vice President Kamala Harris has been identified as one of the most liberal senators during the 116th Congress.
An analysis by GovTrack places her just behind Senator Bernie Sanders, challenging prior descriptions of her as a moderate, The Daily Caller reported.
The assessment by GovTrack, which evaluates legislative behavior, shows a shift in Harris' political alignment from her perceived moderate stance in past roles. This revelation emerges as Harris campaigns for the presidency, aiming to reshape public perception.
GovTrack shows that Kamala Harris mainly sponsored and cosponsored legislation with Democratic colleagues, reflecting a liberal approach.
In the 116th Congress, she engaged in bipartisanship on only 14.4% of bills, ranking 97th out of 100 in Senate bipartisanship. Despite her active role in proposing legislation, only one of her sponsored bills became law.
Before joining the Senate, Harris, as California's attorney general, enforced strict policies on marijuana, resulting in nearly 2,000 cannabis-related incarcerations.
However, her stance evolved in the Senate, where she proposed decriminalizing marijuana possession, signaling a shift to progressive drug policies.
Harris also initially supported Bernie Sanders' "Medicare for All" plan but later proposed a modified version allowing limited roles for private insurers. This shift highlights a significant change from her earlier tough-on-crime stance.
Amidst the complexities of her political past, Harris launched her presidential campaign on July 23, 2024, in West Allis, Wisconsin. She was endorsed by President Joe Biden, signaling strong Democratic support for her candidacy.
Harris shared her vision for America during her campaign launch, including a strong emphasis on healthcare reforms. These reforms concentrate on Medicaid expansion and improving transparency in pharmaceutical pricing, building upon her legislative interests in the Senate. The campaign event marked a significant step in her political career and set the tone for her presidential aspirations.
Josh Tauberer, the founder of GovTrack, commented on Harris's political persona discrepancy, saying, "Our analysis is at odds with her documented pre-Congress career of being pragmatic or moderate. It remains to be seen which part of her career – her actions as an Attorney General, or her policy proposals in Congress – would be reflected greater in a Biden administration."
Vice President Harris' focus on liberal policies during the 116th Congress significantly aligns with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, distanced from earlier descriptions by prominent publications such as The New York Times, which labeled her a "pragmatic moderate."
Experts suggest that Harris' presidency could potentially deepen America's border crisis, reflecting concerns about her capability to manage complex national issues based on her legislative and executive record. In conclusion, Kamala Harris' legislative record and evolving political stance reveal a complex figure, straddling pragmatic enforcement and progressive reform. Her presidential run will test whether these elements resonate with the broader electorate.
