What to know about Kamala Harris' policy proposals
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Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally at the Enmarket Arena on Aug. 29, 2024 in Savannah, Georgia. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Vice President Kamala Harris has pitched policy positions on the economy, immigration and abortion in the weeks since she became the Democrats' presidential nominee, even as her flip-flops have attracted press coverage.
Why it matters: Harris has benefited from a surge of voter enthusiasm since she entered the race — and one of her greatest challenges in the final stretch of the campaign will be sustaining that momentum while giving voters a clear understanding of what she'd do as commander in chief.
- She's taken the lead in polling over her opponent former President Trump in several swing states where President Biden largely trailed when he was the presumptive Democratic nominee. Her campaign reported raising more than $300 million in August — nearly triple Trump's haul.
- Trump has scaled back campaigning in New Hampshire, Minnesota and Virginia and poured more resources into Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin as his team navigates the new competition, Axios' Sophia Cai and Tory Van Oot reported.
Some of the major proposals Harris has announced or backed, across policy areas:
Economy
First-time homebuyers could receive a $25,000 tax credit as a shortage of available homes keeps prices high under an economic plan Harris outlined in August.
- Harris also pitched tax breaks for homebuyers who build starter homes and those who rehabilitate older housing stock.
Capital gains tax of 28% could affect wealthy Americans, a pitch more than 10 points lower than what Biden has proposed.
- This marked a move to the center, Axios' Hans Nichols reported.
A small business tax credit could expand tenfold from $5,000 to $50,000.
- She proposed reducing barriers to getting occupational licenses across state lines with a goal of 25 million new small business applications in her first term.
A ban on grocery price gouging could mirror existing state laws, although Harris hasn't provided details on this policy.
- 38 states prohibit companies from increasing prices during emergencies.
On child tax credits, new parents could receive $6,000 during the first year of their child's life.
- The earned income tax credit would expand for lower-income adults who aren't raising kids.
Taxes on tips could be eliminated, in a rare policy position where Harris copied what Trump has promised service and hospitality workers.
- Such a policy could incentivize workers to push harder for more tips, Axios' Emily Peck reported.
Health
Abortion and reproductive care have been central to Harris' campaign.
- She said she would sign a law to restore Roe v. Wade, which protected federal abortion access, though incompletely as women across the U.S. faced barriers to accessing abortion and states could still enact strict bans.
- The campaign kicked off a 50-stop bus tour focused on reproductive rights, zeroed in on battleground states. It started in Florida on Tuesday.
- Programming at the Democratic National Convention in August reflected a frank approach to discussion abortion rights by platforming women who shared how bans impacted them, Axios' Ivana Saric reported.
Out-of-pocket drug costs would cap at $2,000 per year for everyone and insulin copays at $35 per month.
Immigration
New security measures at the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico would be funded under a bipartisan border proposal that Harris said she'd support.
- Trump, earlier this year, successfully urged congressional allies to oppose the bill.
- Her stance on the border and immigration has flip-flopped from previously held, more liberal policy positions, Axios' Alex Thompson and Hans Nichols reported.
- Migrants would largely be barred from seeking asylum under the bipartisan proposal, CNN reported.
Energy
Fracking could survive under a Harris presidency.
- She said last month in her first formal interview with CNN as the nominee that she wouldn't ban fracking, a reversal from a position she held during her first presidential run.
- Reality check: A fracking bill would take an act of Congress that is unlikely anytime soon, Axios' Ben Geman reported.
Foreign policy
Harris called for a hostage and ceasefire deal during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in July. While her tone has been perceived as more critical of Israel than Biden, she's been playing a similar balancing act.
- Harris said during her DNC keynote speech weeks later that said she would "always stand up for Israel's right to defend itself." She said she and Biden were working to secure a deal and protect Palestinians' "right to dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination."
- The pro-Palestinian activists, including the Uncommitted National Movement, have protested at the DNC and at her campaign rallies.
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