WASHINGTON — As Donald Trump nears his return to the White House, Kamala Harris and her team gathered in her official office to partake in a longstanding tradition: signing her desk. With a Sharpie in hand and her husband Doug Emhoff capturing the moment in a photograph, Harris remarked, “It is not my nature to go quietly into the night,” assuring those around her that she will stay engaged.
What lies ahead for Harris remains uncertain. Her immediate plan is to return to California, marking the first time since 2004, when she started her political career as the district attorney of San Francisco, that she will not hold an elected office. There are rumors she may pen a memoir or even consider running for governor or another presidential bid. At 60 years of age, Harris still holds a youthful position in the political arena, especially in light of recent record-setting ages of presidents.
Donna Brazile, a prominent figure in the Democratic Party, shared her thoughts with Harris, suggesting she take some time off to experience life beyond the political spotlight. “Yeah, you’ll never go back to being ordinary,” Brazile quipped, underscoring the unique challenges that Harris faces moving forward. Brazile, who managed Al Gore’s campaign, reported a significant interest in Harris’s next steps, noting more inquiries about her future plans compared to those she received for Gore.
Harris’s tenure has been a blend of the typical and the extraordinary. She tackled a wide array of issues, including immigration, abortion rights, and maternal health, while also representing the U.S. internationally. Nevertheless, her journey has not been without difficulty, as many vice presidents often struggle to carve out a distinctive role in a position laden with limited constitutional duties.
Notably, Harris made history by becoming the first woman, the first Black individual, and the first person of South Asian descent to assume the role of vice president. Last year, under unexpected circumstances, she found herself campaigning for the presidency after President Joe Biden suspended his reelection plans and endorsed her. This left her with a mere 107 days to challenge Trump, shifting the dynamics of the election race. Although she did manage to present a refreshing perspective against the former president, she ultimately fell short.
Many in the Democratic Party voiced criticism towards Biden’s decision to run, arguing it placed Harris in a challenging scenario. She faced her own scrutiny, with some suggesting her campaign lacked a more populist approach, while others felt she failed to adequately differentiate her platform from Biden’s, who has faced low approval ratings. Minyon Moore, involved in last year’s Democratic National Convention, remarked that the challenges were unprecedented, emphasizing there was no clear path for Harris to follow under such unusual circumstances.
In her final days in office, Harris sought to remain active on the global front. She planned a trip to Singapore, Bahrain, and Germany but redirected her focus to the worsening wildfires affecting Los Angeles, where her Brentwood home faced evacuation. Officials confirmed that her decision to stay was driven by a desire not to divert emergency resources needed to combat the fires.
Regardless of her cancelled overseas trip, Harris continued to engage with global leaders, making important calls to figures such as King Abdullah II of Jordan and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, among others. On Wednesday, she witnessed Biden deliver his farewell address in the Oval Office, where he acknowledged her contributions and the partnership they formed during their time in office, further strengthening their bond.
Biden selected Harris as his vice-presidential candidate following the struggles of her initial presidential campaign four years ago. Throughout her time in office, Harris found herself navigating various responsibilities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. She stepped up as a crucial vote in a closely divided Senate, often assisting in advancing significant legislative measures. “She had to find her role,” remarked historian Joel Goldstein.
Reflecting on her experiences, Moore recalled a pivotal meeting regarding Supreme Court nominations where Harris emphasized the importance of selecting candidates who could provide strong dissenting opinions. This culminated in Biden choosing Ketanji Brown Jackson, fulfilling a promise to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court.
Harris’s involvement with immigration reform became a political hurdle, branded by some Republicans as the “border czar.” Nevertheless, her initiatives led to decreased migration from targeted regions. During her tenure, she engaged with key global leaders, including a significant meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before the onset of the Russian invasion. Her efforts in Africa and Southeast Asia also aimed to reestablish U.S. influence in those regions.
The abortion rights debate became a defining aspect of Harris’s agenda after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, leading her to accelerate her advocacy efforts. Lorraine Voles, her chief of staff, pointed out that the court’s decision marked a pivotal moment for Harris, opening avenues to discuss maternal and reproductive health more extensively.
Georgetown University professor Nadia Brown highlighted Harris’s historic role in shattering racial and gender barriers, stating she expanded the public’s understanding of leadership. The lingering question remains what direction Harris will take now, as Brown expressed hope for continued involvement in public life. “It’s not over,” she stated, pondering the future chapters of Harris’s narrative in politics.
