As the midterm elections approach in November, Democratic candidates are divided on how much to showcase their political ties to former Vice President Kamala Harris. The political calculus surrounding Harris, who served as the second-in-command during the Biden administration and is considered a strong contender for the next presidential election, is influencing candidates' strategies.
On August 29, The Hill reported that Josh Turek, an Iowa state representative, expressed in a recent meeting with reporters that he does not want Harris to campaign on his behalf. Similarly, Rob Sand, who is running for governor in the same region, has distanced himself from both Harris and former President Joe Biden.
Mary Peltola, a centrist candidate from Alaska, also voiced her dissatisfaction with the 'Fight for the People PAC' associated with Harris, which issued a fundraising appeal on her behalf. Peltola's campaign stated, "We do not want support from anyone in the 48 contiguous states," emphasizing that "Peltola's focus is always on Alaska," according to The New York Times.
Conversely, some candidates are strengthening their ties to Harris as part of their campaign strategies. Senator Jon Ossoff from Georgia has a support group called 'Women for Ossoff,' which Harris has joined, and she has also campaigned for Ossoff on his Facebook page. A spokesperson for Ossoff's campaign told The Hill, "Senator Ossoff appreciates the support and assistance of former Vice President Harris during the campaign."
Abdul El-Sayed, a candidate for the Michigan state senate, publicly thanked Harris for her support during the primary.
The differing strategies among candidates regarding their association with Harris stem from the realities of running in Republican-leaning or competitive states, as well as questions about Harris's viability for a second presidential run. Jamal Simmons, who served as communications director in Harris's office, noted, "The former vice president has had very good results in some areas, but not in others," adding that for candidates in states where Harris did not perform well in the last election, campaigning alongside her might not be beneficial. Anthony Cole, also from the Biden administration, stated that candidates in Republican strongholds need to distance themselves from the unpopular Democratic brand, with Harris being a prominent representative of that brand. Democratic strategist James Carville remarked, "The Democratic Party needs to move on from the 2024 election loss," in comments to ABC News.
In response, Democratic strategist Maria Cardona said, "It is too early to speculate on what this means for the 2028 election based on minor issues right now," adding, "What we want is for Democratic candidates to win, no matter where they are." Election strategist Fred Hicks noted that candidates are concerned that receiving Harris's support could be perceived as an endorsement for her in the 2028 presidential election.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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