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As the 2024 election approaches, Americans are deciding what direction the country will take for the future, whether it is replacing the current Democratic party's power in the White House or returning the keys to the Republican nominee, Donald Trump. The path to victory remains a mystery, but the American people know one thing, and that is what policies each candidate has to offer for America. Here are the policies each candidate plans to enact if elected in November.
Kamala Harris (Democratic Nominee)
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Kamala Harris was born in Oakland, California on October 20, 1964. She graduated from Howard University in 1986 and from the University of California, Hastings College of Law in 1989. She began her political career working for the Alameda County District Attorney's Office in California, and in 2003 became District Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco. After serving two terms as District Attorney in San Francisco, Harris was elected Attorney General of the State of California.
She was the first African American and the first woman to hold the position in the state. She would later become a United States Senator from California in 2017. During her time as a senator for California, Harris served on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the Select Committee on Intelligence, the Judiciary Committee, and the Budget Committee. She would announce her candidacy for the presidency on January 21, 2019.
Although she lost her bid to become the Democratic nominee for the 2020 presidential election, she was selected as the Vice-Presidential running mate for Democratic nominee Joe Biden. After winning the 2020 election, she became the first African American and Asian American woman to be sworn in as Vice President. In 2023-2024, after much debate about President Biden's age to serve another term, President Biden stepped down from his bid to run for another term and chose Vice President Harris to be the Democratic nominee. Her nomination was certified during the Democratic Convention in Chicago.
Foreign Policy
Harris' foreign policy continues the Biden Administration's approach to global issues around the world, such as diplomacy, defending U.S. interests, and supporting U.S. allies around the world. Harris will continue the global support of allied nations and NATO against Russian aggression in Ukraine by continuing to provide military assistance to the Ukrainian government.
Harris will also continue his support for the Israeli government, ensuring that Israel can defend itself from aggression. While also diplomatically negotiating an end to the Gaza conflict, her campaign website states “…that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination. She and President Biden are working around the clock to get a hostage deal and a ceasefire deal done.”
Domestic Policy
Vice President Harris according to her campaign website, is committed to ending gun violence in America. As president, she is committed to banning assault rifle weapons and high-capacity magazines. She also backs more universal background checks and supports red flag laws for gun buyers. She also supports investing in law enforcement, including gun violence prevention programs to help reduce crime in the country.
For the border crisis, Harris is committed to a bipartisan border security bill and reforming the immigration system in the U.S. In the border security bill, the legislation would add 1,500 border security agents to the American border and invest in more detection technology to detect drug smugglers across the border. Harris is committed to ending the Opioid and Fentanyl Crisis in America and is determined to deter smugglers with illegal drugs.
Harris is committed to defending reproductive rights for women in America. After Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court, she and the Biden administration have been focused on defending reproductive rights for women in America. As president, she will not sign legislation banning abortion nationwide and will immediately sign a bill to restore reproductive rights when Congress passes that bill.
Economic Policy
Under the Harris Administration, she will focus on cutting taxes for the middle class and supporting labor unions in America. She is committed to rolling back Trump's tax cut policy which her campaign states “…tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.” Her policy will also focus on an ambitious goal of 25 million job applications for her first term as president. Her campaign states its plan “…will expand the startup expense tax deduction for new businesses from $5,000 to $50,000 and take on the everyday obstacles and red tape that can make it harder to grow a small business.”
Her policy will also focus on more environmental initiatives to help fight off climate change. She will focus on lowering householders' energy costs, advancing environmental justice, increasing the nation's ability to defend against climate change disasters, creating new jobs, and holding companies that pollute accountable for their actions.
Donald Trump (Republican Nominee)
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Donald Trump is an entrepreneur and was the 45th President of the United States from 2017-2021. Born in June 1946 in Queens, New York. His father, Fred Trump, was a successful real estate developer. In 1964, Trump graduated from the New York Military Academy and graduated from the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. Trump took over his father's business, rebranding it as the Trump organization. His company built many projects through the years such as resorts, residential, office buildings, and casinos. Trump is also a TV reality star with his appearances in movies and TV shows, such as “The Apprentice” which he hosted.
In 2015 he announced his bid for the presidential election under the Republican party. After many wins against his opponents in the Republican primaries, he was nominated to be the presidential nominee for the Republican Party. Some people saw his attitude as “arrogant” and “divisive” while others saw him as a “outsider” and “bold.” In the controversial 2016 presidential election, Trump would win the election through the electoral college and not the popular vote. He would be in office from 2017-2021 in which he saw many challenges including the North Korean missile crisis, being impeached in 2019, and the COVID-19 pandemic. He would run for a second term in 2020, but would lose to his Democratic opponent Joe Biden. Trump claimed that the election was “far from over” and claimed that there was widespread voter fraud. When it came to the process to certify the vote in Capitol Hill on January 6th, 2021, Trump supporters would breach the capital that would stop the certification of the election.
The January 6th insurrection was a sad day for American democracy. It was widely blamed for Trump's rhetoric and divisive politics of his administration. However, it remains very controversial of the role of the former president in the January 6th insurrection. He was impeached again for his actions but failed to be passed again. He would be rumored to run for a non-consecutive term in the 2024 presidential election. When he announced his bid for the nomination of the party, he would be the unanimous leader of the Republican Party. He would be nominated after his attempted assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024, only being shot in the ear. Another assassination attempt would happen on Trumps life again on September 15 by another gunman outside a golf course in Palm Beach. However, Trump would not be harmed in the second attempted assassination.
Foreign Policy
Former president Trump wants to implement a non-interventionist foreign policy for his next administration. Trump has argued that the war in Ukraine would escalate to a Third World War which would be nuclear. Trump has said that he would end the conflict on “day one” when he enters the office. He has touted an “American First” policy of focusing on American interests at home, for example, the U.S. border with Mexico. Trump is also committed to the defense of NATO if they “…meet their obligations to invest in our Common Defense and by restoring Peace to Europe.”
Trump has been criticized in the past for his comments about NATO and the U.S. commitment to the alliance. Trump stated about Russia and the NATO alliance; “I said: 'You didn't pay? You're delinquent?'... 'No, I would not protect you, in fact, I would encourage them to do whatever they want. You gotta pay.'" On the issue of Israel, Trump has also advocated for an end to the conflict. Trump is supportive of Israel to fight on its “War on Terror” and to “win it fast.” This could mean that Trump could not intervene in a peace deal between Hamas and Israel.
Domestic Policy
Trump if reelected would make an executive order to end veteran homelessness in America. Trump has also touted ending drug addiction in America, even working with companies to give training to former drug addicts while also supporting faith-based counseling. Under his administration, Trump would pass an executive order to end birth right citizenship for illegal immigrants and outlawing “birth tourism.”
Trump has focused on securing the U.S./Mexico during this campaign. He has promised to bring back his policy for his second term for the border. He would deploy the necessary needs to the border like military assets and a naval blockade on the oceans. Under his administration in 2025, he would designate drug cartels as terrorist organizations and call Congress to give drug smugglers the death penalty.
Trump promised to protect “…students from the radical left and Marxist maniacs infecting the educational system.” He also went on to say; “For many years, tuition costs at colleges and universities have been exploding, and I mean absolutely exploding while academics have been obsessed with indoctrinating America's youth," President Trump said. "The time has come to reclaim our once great educational institutions from the radical Left, and we will do that.”
Economic Policy
Trump plans to unleash American energy. He has promised to continue fracking and support nuclear energy production. Trump will also reduce the taxes on gas, coal, and oil producers. Trump is committed to protecting American infrastructure from China by enacting heavy regulations for China to get a hold of American products. On his 2024 campaign website, it states that “The United States will also pressure the Chinese to sell off any current holdings that threaten the country’s national and economic security.”
Under his administration, he will commit to building 10 new “Freedom Cities” that would create new paying jobs. He would commission a contest for developers willing to build these new “Freedom Cities.” Trump has stated; “When I'm back in the White House, I will immediately unleash energy production, slash regulations, like I did just three years ago, and repeal Biden's tax hikes to get inflation down as fast as possible, and it will go quickly, so that interest rates can get back under control.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, both candidates have different paths and ideas for the future of America. However, elections are the civic duty of the American citizens. Make your own conclusion about your candidates and go vote.
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