As Kamala Harris is set to become the first female President of the United States in 2021, many Americans are voicing their opinions on this momentous development. From her ascent to one of the highest offices to be held in the world to being only the second person of color to be elected, the anticipation of her journey is unprecedented.
The majority of Americans nationwide have welcomed the news with open arms. Polling data released by the Pew Research Center found that more than half of U.S. adults think Harris will do a very good or good job as president, the highest approval rating of any recent president-elect in recent years.
Americans are particularly excited about Harris’ groundbreaking achievement, with nearly three-quarters of people saying they are proud of the accomplishment. However, there are also some reservations expressed by a portion of the population, and this is seen in the data – approximately a third of Americans are less than sure about Harris.
This could be attributed to a few reasons. While Harris is a woman of color and has been a powerful advocate for civil rights, she has also received criticism for her past work as a prosecutor. Her prosecutorial record has been called “inconsistent,” and some activists view Harris as furthering the criminalization of Young Black and Brown people.
The other issue that could be contributing to the mixed responses is Harris’ politics. Her Democratic roots have been called “too progressive,” and have been used to criticize her potential policies. This could be a potential sticking point for some people, as the country is divided on issues relating to immigration, climate change, taxes, and health care. Yet for other Americans, these progressive policies could be seen as a long-overdue breath of fresh air.
Thus, as Americans get ready to witness Kamala Harris’s ascension to the White House, the outlook appears to be somewhat divided. While there is excitement and a sense of optimism for the possibilities of a Harris presidency, there is also real concern from some people who feel her views are too extreme. And as the incoming president nears her inauguration, the conversations about her can help to build an understanding of how Americans truly feel about her journey so far.
